stabing a distributor correctly? HEI

[Tim]

hey guys,

i put my hei distributor in the motor the other night and thought i would check here to see if i did it right or not before i atempt to fire it up.

i read threw pages and pages about installing distributors and found nothing but information about points and other style distributors, telling me about seting poles and what not

the only thing it said about the hei is that it doesnt have poles

so i followed what i could using those instructions

i stabed it in the with everything facing were i would asume it should go---didnt come off a motor i have so i couldnt just mark were it came out

made sure it meshed up with the oil gears corectly and put the plug wires on--the terminals arent marked to wich pole is witch cylinder but i looked at some basic stuff for the other distributors and some pix and im preety sure everything is were it needs to be, and tighted down the holding tab

so i guess im wondering if anyone could post the complete correct procedure on installing one of these? its just a normal old ac/delco or whatever nothin fancy.

i just keep wondering if i had to set anything under the cap or?



this close to rollin down the ave --> <---- :P


tim

[McGrath]

I start by putting #1 cylinder at TDC with both valves closed. point Rotor slightly counter clockwise of where you want it, because it will turn as it engages the drive gear. Before you drop it in, use a long screwdriver to turn the pump drive-slot to the correct position.

As for which tower to use as #1 on HEI, I usually point the Rotor at the tower just slightly counterclockwise from the Vacuum Advance Can.

[Hot Rod To Hell]

crank the motor over by hand until the timing mark reads about 10 BTDC on the #1 compression stroke. Drop in the distributor, with the rotor pointing toward where you want #1 terminal to be on the cap. Replace cap, wire it, fire it, and time it with a light.

[Deyomatic]

Well, the first thing you want to do is make sure that the #1 cylinder is on TDC on the compression stroke. Remove the spark plug and place your thumb or finger over the spark plug hole. Have someone turn (clockwise) the motor over by hand. You'll know when it is TDC on compression stroke because the air that is being compressed will exit the hole and push against your finger. Make sure the "0" mark lines up with the pointer on the timing marks. Now, take your dizzy cap off and the rotor should be pointing at the #1 post on the distributor. (As stupid as this sounds, the #1 post will be the closest to the #1 cylinder). If it isn't pointing there, then you have the dizzy installed out of phase.

The hardest part of dropping it in is getting the oil pump shaft to line up with the notch in the bottom of the dizzy. You'll have to play with it, with a flashlight and a LONG screwdriver to get everything to mesh right, and have the rotor pointing at the #1 when it is finally dropped. You may also want to use a couple or 3 distributor gaskets.

That's all I can think of, I'm sure it is confusing. Maybe someone else will clear it up if it is.

[Tim]

ic ic TDC and timing,

think ill have to have someone come give me a hand

thanx

[Deyomatic]

It probably sounds harder than it is, but like anything, it is easier when you've done it before. It is also easier to have someone to swear with and keep you from throwing and smashing shit when it doesn't go your way.
Just make sure you use 2 gaskets or you might start spewing oil down the back of the engine and onto the hot exhaust while you are 12 hours into a cross country trip with all of your possessions in the back.

[Baumi]

At first remove driver´s side valve cover . Crank cylinder #1 to tdc with both valves closed. Use a screwdriver to align the oil pump shaft slot with #5 cylinder intake pushrod( the third pushrod from the back of the engine on the driverside).There´s a connector box on on the distributor cap. Hold the cap with the box in 3 o´clock position, number one cylinder will be the one on 5 o´clock( the 2nd counted clockwise from the box.)
Put the cap on the distributor and mark the #1 firing position on the distributor housing.Now measure 2 1/4" counterclockwise from that mark. That´ll be the point where the cap contact should be pointing at while dropping the distributor.
Now remove the cap, turn the cap counterclockwise until the contact meets the mark and drop it. Be sure it is seated properly on the intake manifold, there should be no gap.
The vacuum can should point about 45° to the front as seen from the back of the engine. The engine should fire up at this position.
This procedure always worked out for me. Good luck!