setting distributor

[MoparMatt383]

I have everything together in my barracuda and tried to start it up yesterday, but with no luck.  The car turns over and I am getting spark and fuel and got a light backfire out of the carb.  I wonder if my dist is 180 out or something.  So my question is how do you initially put the distributor in on a new engine, 318?  Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Matt 

[dwbiggs]

Take out plug on #1 cylinder and find TDC.  Drop in distributor with vacuum can pointing in the direction it normally points (I don't know for SB's) then put on rotor and cap and make sure #1 plug wire goes over where rotor is positioned.  You may then need to advance distributor a little bit to get car started.  Hope I didn't miss anything.


Dan

[MoparMatt383]

Thanks Biggs.  I went out to the car earlier and pulled the cap.  It turned out that the rotor was 180 off so tomorrow I'll turn the dist around and see what happens.  I think that was probably it.

Matt

[dwbiggs]

Also double check that you have wires in correct order...I had number 5 and 7 wire crossed on my 440 and it wouldn't start.

Dan

[MoparMatt383]

Yea I put the dist in the right way and checked the wires.  The car started up, but now it wont idle without stalling.  When I put the timing light on it it showed it was way before top dead center.  When I turned to towards TDC where it should be it would run rougher and still stall.  I ran out of room to turn the dist before I could get it to TDC.  Any thoughts?

Matt 

[Bullitt-]

I suppose you had the motor apart. The gear to cam that is the dist. drive must be off a tooth or two. You can pull the dist. & with a little ingenuity pick up the gear & turn then replace. I ended up using two large flat blade screwdrivers like chopsticks I stuck em in the middle of the gear. There's probably a better way but it worked fer me. 

[ShelbyDogg]

If that's too hard for you to do, turn the distributor back and move all of the plug wires over one tower. Number 1 plug wire can be anywhere that you put it. The try timing it again. Some caps are marked for #1, just ignore it.
Rob

[MoparMatt383]

Yes I did have the motor apart.  As of now when my balencer is at TDC my rotor points directly to the fan under the number 1 plug tower.  Is this correct and if it is can my distributor gear still be off a tooth or two.  I remember when I put the motor back together it was a big pain to get the dist gear into the spot I thought was right.  Now shelby dogg if I move the plug wires all over one which way do I have to move them to advance the timing.  Looking at the dist from the front of the car clockwise or counter clockwise?

Matt

[71383bee]

It's a mopar not a chevy so moving the distributor gear is not necessary to set the distributor.  The most important thing is to make sure you are set on the #1 compression stroke and wherever the rotor is pointing start wiring the fire order from there.  It doesn't hurt anything to start the firing order from a different post as long as #1 is firing when it's supposed to fire.  

Remember that Small blocks rotate clockwise as well as the crankshaft.   On most small blocks the timing indicator is on the left side of the engine and BTDC is difficult to find becase it is under the water pump.  So if you are seeing the mark it probably is retarded too much and it needs to be advanced.  To advance turn the distributor CCW.  

These motors love advance so if it's set right it should respond nicely to advancing the timing.  I like to set around 10 BTDC on initial start up and it nhas worked pretty well for me.  

[MoparMatt383]

I think I understand what you mean.  How do I tell that I am at #1 compression stroke?  Is it when the #1 piston is at the top of its travel and both valves are closed?  Is there any way  to tell this with out taking the valve cover off?

Matt 

[Bullitt-]

The old fashioned way is to stick your finger in the plug hole & bump the starter till the pressure starts to build. look for the timing indicator on the balancer to get within the timing marks on the pump housing, then your close to TDC. 

[dwbiggs]

Or take your valve cover off and when #1 is at TDC both valves will be closed.  TDC on the exhaust stroke will show exhast valve open intake closed.

Dan