I'm about to install a stock distributor in the 5.0 motor that I'm putting back into my '88 5.0. I know that cylinder 1 has to be at top dead center and that the rotor should point towards the contact on cylinder 1 with the distributor, but I've heard that for every rotation of the crank shaft, there's 2 rotations of the distributor. Any tips on how to install the distributor right the first time?

 

I usually just pull the valve cover off to see where the valves are. Then as you turn the crank by hand to TDC, you can watch the valves to see which stroke it is on, and as long as you have the damper on correctly you should be able to find TDC with the timing mark. If by chance you get the wrong stroke, your dist is just 180deg out, and all you have to do is flip it around...

 

Damper? I guess I know less that I thought I did. What's the damper? Where is it? What does it do?

 

Harmonic Balancer....the big wheel behind the crank pulley

 

pull the valve cover off. rotate the engine until the harmonice balancers marks line up with the pointers to show TDC. make sure both valves are closed on cylinder 1. both rockers will be up. then stab the distributer. Some times youwill need to turn the oil pump shaft a little to get it started i think its a 1/4" socket us a long extention (i tape the socket to the extention for safety). good luck

 

Thanks for the tips. I really don't feel like pulling the valve covers, but I was able to set in the distributor with the exhaust valve closed, I can check it because there's no exhaust manifold on motor right now. so I'm pretty sure it's in ok. If not, I'll flip it 180 degrees. Thanks again.

 

it's two rotations of the crank for 1 rotation of the distributor.
If you are going to watch the exhaust valve, it should be the rotation that the exhaust valve does not open. In other words, start with the timing mark on 0 slowly rotate the engine, the exhaust valve should be closed or go closed early and stay closed for the rest of the rotation back to zero. If the exhaust valve opens during this rotation, this is the exhaust stroke and you need to go around again.

 

does replacing the distributor add any hp?

 

If you change just the distributor, no. You can just change the advance springs( if you have them) to advance the timing curve, which will give you alot better throttle response, because the distributor reaches the full advance at a lower rpm.