I tried to find an older post but the search function won't work.

I have my T-5 and engine installed in my car. I replaced the dizzy during the rebuild.

I beleive my dizzy might be 180 degrees out, is there any way to verify this??? The car acts like it wants to start and will even idle very high and then die. I have also been backfiring out of the carb some.

Any ideas? This is my first engine rebuild. I have fuel, I tested compression on cylinder number 1 to 120 psi. I also have spark.

 

1. mess with your timing. if its 180 out youll be able to hear the motor through the exhaust jumping around before the motor starts. if it starts at all i don't think your 180 out. 2.find TDC again and make sure your firing order is correct.

 

It is jumping around like crazy and will not fire off enough to actually run. My firing order is correct and my rotor points to the number one cylinder at TDC.

 

I'm probably suckin' wind here, but did you make sure #1 is on compression and not exhaust when you checked for TDC? Pull thespark plugand feel for it.

 

xswoopr. That's what he meant with 180 degrees out.
There's a very easy test for this:
Pull #1 spark plug and push an old rag into the spark plug hole.
I mean DONT push the rag into the cylinder, just block the hole with the rag just as you want to seal it.
then disconnect the spark plug on coil so the car can't start.
Then start the car with your key, but always only shortly so the engine oinly turns a bit
again and again.
Once the rag pops out of the cylinder (you'll hear it as well) you are NEAR #1 compression.
Check your distributor rotor if it points near #1 spark plug.

If it's around 180 degrees off, either pull the distri and put it back in or re-arrange your spark plugs on cap.
Make sure you have the order the right way round (i think they all turn anti-clockwise)

now if your rotor is nowhere near #1 or 180 out, then I'd say your problem is a slipped harmonic balancer.
In that case: have you ever adjusted ignition _before_ you changed the distributor? this way you'll know if your timing mark actually still is correct