Sbc Distributor help

[skyshark186]

Finally started the intake manifold gasket project, after it completely blew yesterday. Got everything apart ok, and in place ok, but the distributor seems like it doesnt want to drop down all the way. There is too much space between the bottom seal of the distributor and the gasket on the motor side. Id say it needs to drop maybe, 1/4 inch or so. Its got quite a bit of side to side play left and the mounting bracket that holds it down isnt close to lining up till it drops. Did i unitentially move the gear and now its not lining up?

 

[VTFJ40]

oil pump shaft is off. line it up with a long screw driver.

 

[Wayneraintree]

sounds like to end of the distributor shaft to the oil pump with the notch in it is not lined up..... turn it slightly and see if it drops or take a long flat head and turn the oil pump by sticking it down the distributor shaft....then reinsert your dist...

 

[skyshark186]

Did that. And now it seems like my timing is way off. It cranks but wont start. Doesnt smell like its burning any of the fuel.

 

[skyshark186]

Ok. Went back out. Removed the dist again, and rotated it a little farther. Seated again, but still wont start. Once i got everything put back together this time, it cranked very slowly. As if it were having trouble, but after a couple cranks went back to normal. Still wont start though. It still seems like its timing is off, but ive never messed with timing so i wouldnt know.

I kinda need to drive to finals tomorrow morning, so any help would be wonderful.

 

[Gumby]

Gotta find TDC again. Take the number one plug out. Have someone bump the motor. That would be just hit the key long enough for it to turn a little. With your finger over the hole you will feel when the piston comes up on compression because air will come out. it's very important it's on compression. When air comes out, turn the engine by hand until the timing marks line up. Line up your oil pump shaft agian. Drop the dizzy in so that the rotor will line up with the number one plug terminal on the cap. Know that it will turn a bit as the gears engage as it drops in so you have to compensate a bit. If the oil pump shaft does not line up this time, press lightly on the dizzy housing while your lovely assistant turns the engine over. It will drop that last little bit. Turn it over again until your rotor lines back up with the number one terminal. Double check your timing marks. Start it up.

If I was too precise, I try to assume you don't know anything. It's way easier than assuming you do and skipping a vital step.

cranking very slowly suggests that the timing is too far advanced.

 

[skyshark186]

This will be interesting by myself.

Call me retarded, but where will i find aforementioned timing marks?

 

[74k5]

I realise this is an older post but if youre ever in need of finding top dead center and dont have the tool b*&ch/ beer grabber person around to put their finger in the hole grab some toilet paper or a paper towel wad it up like you would to plug a bloody nose, push it into the #1 spark plug hole and keep bumping the ignition over for just long enough to turn the motor a little until you hear a "pop"... then its real close to TDC if not dead on, to find TDC youre timing chain cover should have a little metal tab on it with little pointy ends on it, if you clean this off you will see numbers and lines. One of them is marked"0" and on your harmonic balancer should have a groove in it. The groove should be within the marked areas of the tab on the timing chain cover. This will work for any motor, for a small block chev, when you put the distributor back in imagine a straight line going through the center of the distributor to the center of the #1 piston and thats where the rotor should point after you turn the oil pump to allow the distributor to drop all the way in. If you place the distributor over the hole in the manifold and check the imaginary line and look at the key/metal pin on the bottom of the distributor it should get you in the ballpark of where the oil pump needs to be turned to. If your wires are disconnected put the number one wire to the plug on the cap that sits in the closest relation to the rotor and follow the wiring order from there on out. If youve got an HEI try starting it with the coil sitting square with the firewall to give you a starting point for timing. If it doesnt work, say some bad words/have a cigarrette/throw a little fit, then go back double check everything, make sure that your coil is hooked up and you have gas in it and it should run. If you get too fed up and it still doesnt work just remember that rednecks with three first names have been doing this in trailer parks since the 1950s and their gene pools havent improved the odds are in your favor that itll work.