Re: Mooing, Burping, just not startin, Rambler - UPDATE

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

On Sat, 27 Nov 2004, Brian Hagen wrote:

> The thing i have problems with is how the distributor "turns" as you insert it
> or remove it when it meshes with the teeth. I have been making sure that when
> it is finally 'seated' is where I wanted it to be.  So im constantly inserting
> and reinserting trying to get it to line correctly.

Don't freak out about it -- the trick is, you want the rotor
to point to #1 when #1 is TDC on the power stroke, of course,
and in such a way that the distributor has room for adjustment.

Once you install the distributor, you'll ahve to rotate it to
set the timing anyways, as if you never had the distributor out
int he first place. As long as the vacuum advance unit isn't
klunking into the block or dipstick (6 cyl) it's fine.

It's long past the time to "just try things", you need to
understand how it works. AMC is no different than any other
car of the period, all the principles are precisely the same.

You know it will work as the factory intended. If you "have to"
use crazy settings, there's still smething wrong.


ALSO -- if you have points, you can actually get the timing
close enough to start without a timing light. This is real
side-of-the-road repair stuff!

Matchbook covers are about .015", pretty good for setting points.

With the distributor installed right (...) turn the engine so
the timing mark as at 5BTDC or so, then in the dark, with the
ignition ON but the coil wire pulled, rotate the distributor
so that the points are CLOSED, then sloooowly turn them til
they OPEN -- you'll see the spark. Tighten the holddown nut,

timing will be correct within a few degrees.