TDC for New Dist

landtoy80

New Member
Jul 16, 2007
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grand junction, CO
I put in a rebuilt dist and something was wrong, it spit and sputtered then died.
I removed it and tried it again and it ran rough.

Now I need to know if I when you set top dead center on compression for #1 cylinder per the factory service manual, can it be 180 deg off?

The method I did was turn the crank clock wise until the lobe on the cam could be seen through the oil cap. Then counter clock wise for about 120 deg then clock wise till the notch on the pulley reaches "0" mark.

Can this method make the TDC 180 deg off?
 

GrimJack

Administrator
Dec 31, 1969
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Even if it did, it shouldn't matter, with our wasted spark system you can put the distributor in 180 off and it'll work anyway.

Have you tried the method in the manual - put the crank at 0, match up the hole in the distributor gear with the mark on the housing, insert, fire it up?

Also, have you checked that the cam gear marks line up with the notches in the timing gear cover when the crank is at 0?
 

Poodles

I play with fire
Jul 22, 2006
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pull the upper timing cover and match up the notches on the cam covers with the notches in the back of the cover

make sure the crank is at O as well

then align the dist. gear with the mark on the shaft and put it in, start it, check timing, button it up and drive.

Grim: it's an N/A, didn't think they where wasted spark?
 

AJ'S 88NA

New Member
Jul 26, 2007
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GrimJack said:
Ah, didn't notice the NA in his sig... and I have zero clue if they are wasted spark...
They are suppose to be non-interferrence. I still believe you can get it 180 out though. If the cam gears, crankshaft, TDC on #1, and rotor pointing at #1 wire are were they are suppose to be then it should start. If you have changed the timing belt, it needs to be installed properly or the cam gears will be off when you rotate it.
 

Slow66

I think with my dipstick
Apr 3, 2005
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Crank at TDC, cam gear marks up, pull distributor, line up marks on distributor, re-install disrtibutor, set timing.

No wasted spark on the NA's. If a wire is out of order or if its a tooth off, it will run like a bag of dicks....
 

landtoy80

New Member
Jul 16, 2007
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grand junction, CO
I have an idea on how to check TDC on compression.
I will put a compression gauge on #1 cylinder and set TDC per the manual to see if you can get TDC not on the compression stroke.
 

landtoy80

New Member
Jul 16, 2007
146
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grand junction, CO
I found the problemo, I cleaned off the timing marks with carb cleaner si I could see the "lines under" the numbers. That was the problem with TDC.
I also had #3 and #6 crossed so I had a miss fire.
It helps to not be tired/in a hurry when you work on the car :icon_surp

It runs now, thanks

Now all I need is a cap seal for the dist (it didn't come with one) and the rubber air intake hose going into the throttle body is cracked :cry:
 

IJ.

Grumpy Old Man
Mar 30, 2005
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I come from a land down under
Slow66 said:
Crank at TDC, cam gear marks up, pull distributor, line up marks on distributor, re-install disrtibutor, set timing.

No wasted spark on the NA's. If a wire is out of order or if its a tooth off, it will run like a bag of dicks....
Vote #1 for Bryan to be our new Tech Mod :D