Distributor install

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NCcruiser1970

NCcruiser1970

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Threads
26
Messages
281
Location
Sanford, NC
Hi All,
I am back from the desert and enjoying this change in climate. I am snowed in (unless it is an emergency) with not much to do so I am tinkering with my 40.
Question: How do I install a "new" distributor and get the timing close without a timing light? I don't have access to a lot of my stuff and need to know how to find TDC of #1. I have pulled my 74 points dizzy and coil and have swapped in a large cap 60 dizzy, coil and igniter. I have spark, but need help lining up my distributor.
Thanks,
 
Back when I used to do midnight rebuilds on our muscle cars with my friends we would turn it little by little untill it ran the smoothest, one way or another. Sometimes we would be so drunk we would forget the timing light so this was the easiest way to do it. Then later get a light on it and do it right.
 
The drink is what got me into trouble in the first place. I took the old one out without paying attention to where it was pointing. My friends always get me in trouble.
 
Never worked on a 40 but this stands true with the motors ive had previous experience with (mostly Jeep.....I know I know....im new here and to cruisers. You can pull the plugs and You should be able to rotate the crank by hand and wrench till the notch on the pulley lines up with TDC or 0 on the timing marks. This should be TDC but make sure your on the compression stroke. You can do this by putting your thumb over the #1 spark plug hole. If it builds pressure then your on the compression stroke. Make sure the crank pulley notch lines up with 0 or TDC. Then install dist. with the rotor at #1 plug. This should get you close enough to fire...then rotate the dist. slightly until it runs best. Then of course get a light on it.

Like i said not exactly sure this will work on a 40 but its worked for me many times on other trucks.
 
Barnes said:
Never worked on a 40 but this stands true with the motors ive had previous experience with (mostly Jeep.....I know I know....im new here and to cruisers. You can pull the plugs and You should be able to rotate the crank by hand and wrench till the notch on the pulley lines up with TDC or 0 on the timing marks. This should be TDC but make sure your on the compression stroke. You can do this by putting your thumb over the #1 spark plug hole. If it builds pressure then your on the compression stroke. Make sure the crank pulley notch lines up with 0 or TDC. Then install dist. with the rotor at #1 plug. This should get you close enough to fire...then rotate the dist. slightly until it runs best. Then of course get a light on it.

Like i said not exactly sure this will work on a 40 but its worked for me many times on other trucks.
Click to expand...

That is what I was trying to say but left out the TDC part...... was having trouble writing that as well as a paper for school at the same time. :cheers:
 
Patrick--

make sure you are at top dead ctr on the compression stroke as mentioned. Pull the #1 plug and either use the cotton ball trick and place it in the spark plug hole and turn untill it pops the cotton ball out or use a non metallic object like a straw or skewer to feel for when the cylinder is at the top.

If you are at your pass fender looking at the dizzy, look to your left at the bell housing and there should be a lil slide cover exposing a window. As you turn the crank you will see a line (top dead ctr) and a dot or BB (7* before top dead ctr). Line the pointer up with the BB with #1 at TDC on compression stroke and your ready to install.

the dizzy shaft will rotate as you install it when it engages the cam gear. Look down the chamber at the slot that accepts the dizzy and note its position (you can change it with a screwdriver) I lined mine up like I and then started my dizzy install with the tip like / as it rotates about 30* on install.

Make sure its completely seated and you have oil pressure upon starting. Then as mentioned twist and adjust till its running best, ive heard its from 7 to 12 degrees advanced depending.

HTH, let us know as there are some good threads on this on the Nat'l forum and Ill look for the scan of the fsm i have here
 
Question: When I have everything prepared correctly (#1 at TDC on the compression stroke) and am installing the dizzy, do I want to end up with the button pointed at the #1 spark plug or where the #1 wire connects to the dizzy cap? Crazy, but I have phoned a couple of friends and have gotten both answers.
 
you want the contact end (metal end piece) of the rotor to be lined up and in position underneath the #1 spark plug wire connection on the dist. cap. This will allow the #1 spark plug to fire when the engine is at TDC. While your at it double check your firing order and make sure that you have your wires hooked up to the proper plug and proper firing order and spot of the dist cap.
 
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