Distributor installation

DAVID DABBS

MEMBER
1977 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO
5.7L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
10,000 MILES

I brought the engine to top dead center. When I took the cap off and I noticed the rotor was not facing the number one spark plug. Do I install the new distributor the same way it came out or do I turn the engine over with a wrench and line the timing marks to o on the harmonic ballancer?

3 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,871 POSTS

If the engine ran with the old distributor, it was in right, so put the new one the same way.

If you go by the timing marks, you still have a fifty percent chance of getting it wrong. To be sure it is right, you would also have to remove number one spark plug so you can be sure that piston is coming up on the compression stroke, not the exhaust stroke.

Why are you changing the distributor, or what problem are you trying to solve? How far off was the rotor from the spark plug terminal on the cap? If it was exactly 180 degrees off, rotate the crankshaft once more and it will be right on.

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Saturday, May 19th, 2018 AT 6:39 PM

DAVID DABBS

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thanks, I put the new distributor in brought the number one piston top dead center and lined the harmonic balancer to 0 the new distributor dropped in perfect! Thanks for your advice. Running great!

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