#1 cylinder location on Distributor - 440 engine

[NorthWestcuda]

I think I have my distributor in 180deg backwards?  When you look at the picture "my engine" number #1 is sitting at the "pictures" #6 position.  My firing order is correct, I'm just wondering if I put my Dist in 180deg backwards and does that really matter?  BTW this is a 440 engine

Thanks,
Jim

[cudabob496]

on my 440, when standing in front of car, and looking at distributor rotor,
with number one cylinder at TDC, rotor is about 5 oclock , if 12 oclock
is in direction of rear of car. Or, rotor points towards front left tire.

yes, 180 degrees out is big problem

[NorthWestcuda]

If a distributor is installed 180 off, or in backwards, would it still run but not great?  Remember all the firing order is still correct.

[dutch]

nope. it will mainly boom...

[HP_Cuda]

You can run a distributor 180 degrees out with no problem as long as you have your plug wires hooked up correctly.

It's all in the starting point.

[Strawdawg]

You can run a distributor 180 degrees out with no problem as long as you have your plug wires hooked up correctly.

It's all in the starting point.

This...distributor can be installed in any position as long as the rotor points at the terminal in the cap that runs to number one plug when number one is on TDC and the firing order around the cap is followed.

[NorthWestcuda]

This...distributor can be installed in any position as long as the rotor points at the terminal in the cap that runs to number one plug when number one is on TDC and the firing order around the cap is followed.

Stawdawg,  Assuming engine at TDC, the distributor and gear drive can only fit into the oil pump gear slot two ways?  From the picture mine is 180 off but it still runs but not great.  Could be other issues though, which I'm working on now. I seem to remember back in my old chev 350 days, that you could run an engine 180 backwards but it would not run the way its suppose to. 

Is yours setup almost the same way as the picture?

[Strawdawg]

you can rotate the oil pump to fit any orientation of the distributor shaft (the difference between the chevy and the mopar is that the mopar gear is not pinned to the shaft but is dropped into the cam gear...see the manual)....No, my car is not set up like the diagram you posted.  I rotated it a couple of positions to better accommodate my plug wires.

The engine will not run if you are 180 out.  It will backfire and pop...If it does not run as well as it should, it may be timing is not set right, you crossed a couple of wires in the firing order, or some other problem...be sure all the plug wire connectors are firmly on the plugs as well as pushed in the cap

to boil it down to the nitty-gritty, put your engine on TDC (both valves closed and timing mark lined up on zero), remove the distributor cap....wherever the rotor is pointing is number one.  Then check the wiring order to make sure it follows the firing order as you go around the cap.  Verify that #1 at the cap goes to #1 plug and check for all 8 plugs to eliminate any possibility of a crossed wire.

Then crank it up and set the initial timing at idle to at least 12 degs and see how it runs....Many of us limit the total mechanical advance to 20 in the distributor and set the initial for about 16 degs but that probably makes more of a difference if you have a longer duration cam installed.

[Strawdawg]

and, I did not answer your first question...the distributor can be dropped in two ways once the gear is installed....it will run in either position as long as the wires are installed in the cap to match up the firing order to the rotor...don't think I ever tried one that was 180 out from my firing order but I am pretty sure it will just pop and bang or run extremely badly if it were to run

[HP_Cuda]

Funny thats exactly what I said.
 

This...distributor can be installed in any position as long as the rotor points at the terminal in the cap that runs to number one plug when number one is on TDC and the firing order around the cap is followed.

[7212Mopar]

I am planning to pull heads, distributors, change cams etc and doing a lot of readings up front. So I am a total novice. I plan to follow the the instruction from Hughes, see page 6 at the bottom that can be found here:

http://www.hughesengines.com/Upload/productInstructions/camshaftsinstallJuly2013X.pdf

[Strawdawg]

Funny thats exactly what I said.
 

That is the reason I started my comment with "THIS" after quoting your post...sorry I ruffled your feathers but it seems quite easy

[Strawdawg]

Stawdawg,  Assuming engine at TDC, the distributor and gear drive can only fit into the oil pump gear slot two ways?  From the picture mine is 180 off but it still runs but not great.  Could be other issues though, which I'm working on now. I seem to remember back in my old chev 350 days, that you could run an engine 180 backwards but it would not run the way its suppose to. 

Is yours setup almost the same way as the picture?

What is crucial is to be on TDC of the compression stroke which can be verified either by looking to see that both valves are closed when the valve cover is removed, or by removing the spark plug from number one and listening for the puff of air to come out as you turn the crank...this will indicate that you are on the compression stroke

[HP_Cuda]

Never heard "this.." As shorthand before, as for ruffling my feathers - they are made of titanium so not to worry.
 


 

That is the reason I started my comment with "THIS" after quoting your post...sorry I ruffled your feathers but it s :wow:eems quite easy

[Strawdawg]

Never heard "this.." As shorthand before, as for ruffling my feathers - they are made of titanium so not to worry.
 

Yep... Short hand for "this is correct" :-)

Steve