Re: Finding TDC with a dowel

[Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>]

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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