Brian,
The fact that the engine is at TDC on #1 as indicated by the timing marks
and your rotor points to #4 doesn't suggest that anything's wrong other
than you don't have the distributor lined up correctly. Get the engine
back on #1 TDC (use the finger method if you have to, using a dowel
doesn't tell you if you're on the compression stroke or not and you have
to be on the compression stroke) and then all you need to do is pull the
distributor out enough so the rotor quits turning and then turn the rotor
so it points to #1 when the distributor's put back down in the block. I
would start by turning it a little less than 90 degrees clockwise from
where it ends up when the rotor quits moving (there's 60 degrees between
plug towers so 90 degrees ends up being a tower and a half which should
put you in the ball park).
Once you get the engine running again and have the timing set, you can
worry about other problems. I would concentrate on checking for vacuum
leaks and adjusting/rebuilding the carburetor before worrying about engine
internals.
Matt
At 07:48 PM 11/29/2004 -0500, you wrote:
Thats what im thinking actually...since at TDC (using the 'finger test',
and then manually turning the block til the timing mark is at TDC) on
cylinder #1 on the correct stroke of the engine.. i can only get it to run
if the distributor is turned completely so the vacuum pod is touching the
block (and would like to be turned even further!). At that point, if i
was to reset the car to TDC (by turning the block by hand, lining it up
with the timing mark) and remove the distributor cap (without rotating
it)....It would show that im currently firing on Cylinder 4. That tells
me....the TDC mark on my timing mark (or crank) is off. Either that or my
finger is lying to me. My best bet would do the
straw/pencil/hanger/linguini test to further test that im really at TDC
and not being lied to by the timing mark. Cars are women, they lie.
(appoligies to the women of the group, i kid i kid)
<snip>
mhaas@xxxxxxx
Cincinnati, OH
http://www.mattsoldcars.com
1966 Rambler Rebel
1968 Rambler American sedan
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