[*67firebird*]

and thats it? its timed?

[71 Ventura II]

Provided your using the #1 cylinder for your timing, aka the dots on your timing set were both at 12'oclock.

Bring the engine to TDC #1 on the firing sroke. Now back the engine to read 10 degrees BTDC. Decide how you want your distributor oriented and select the #1 terminal. As you install the distributor, the MOST IMPORTANT aspect is the mating of the distributor gear to cam gear, which happens above/before the oil pump shaft contact, to point the rotor at the #1 terminal on the cap. The position of the oil pump shaft does not matter in terms of timing the engine.

As long as you can "Mesh" the distributor gear to the cam gear while getting the rotor to point to the #1 terminal on the cap you are phased properly. MORE than likely the distributor housing WILL NOT sit flush with the block. All that's required is to slowly rotate the engine until the distributor drops down the final 1/4" onto the oil pump shaft, sitting flush to the block. Leaning over the engine, trying to guess where the oil-pump shaft needs to point is a waist of time, not to mention frustrating.

Remember, once the distributor and cam are phased/meshed you've achieved the proper install, now seat the dizzy, and finish by setting the timing with the light. Turning the engine "slowly" to seat the distributor will not change the installed position in terms of timing the engine. Any questions let me know. JD

[Motor Daddy]

Originally Posted by *67firebird*

and thats it? its timed?

Nope, not quite yet.

To static time the engine you can turn the crank until the line on the damper lines up with the 12 BTDC mark on the timing marks when on the compression stroke of the #1 cylinder (front drivers side). Then install the distributor in such a fashion that the rotor lines up with the #1 wire on the cap when the distributor is fully seated. Hook up a timing light, and leave the distributor clamp bolt loose, and make sure the vacuum advance hose is disconnected. Then just start the engine and check the timing with the light. Turn the distributor to adjust the initial and total. Tighten the clamp bolt and recheck to ensure nothing moved. You can check the total advance by increasing the engine RPM and watching the advance come in. Increase engine RPM until the advance stops climbing. That is your total.