bbeep71
Well-Known Member
Does it matter if the distributor intermeadiate shaft is not lined up correctly in the engine? ( gear slot in line with front left of intake at TDC#1).
Thanks
Thanks
In theory, it doesn't matter. In practice, I've seen varying degrees of problems. I know it doesn't make sense. It is what it is. I'd line it up properly.
moved the engine so that the timing marks on the balancer and the timing chain cover line up...
pop distributor cap to see if rotor is lined up with no 1 on distributor cap...
how old is your balancer? the outer ring on the balancer might have slipped if it really old...i had a 318 do that...could not time with a line...but ran great went timed by ear....
the outer ring had slipped....
so make sure no 1 on the balancer is no 1 on the distributor....
I checked TDC with a piston stop and halfway between cw and ccw marks the damper was at zero with the timing cover and distrib rotor was at #1 of cap after moving because of the misaligned distrib shaft.8)
In the LA engines, the slot in the intermediate shaft should draw a straight line to the farthest forward bolt on the drivers side of the intake manifold. The engine must be on TDC for the #1 cylinder, and both valves should be closed. If the valves are not closed, you are on the wrong TDC, and need to rotate the engine one revolution. TDC should be verified with a check of the piston if there is any doubt as to the accuracy of the damper.
Drop the distributor in with the rotor tip aimed at the front bolt on the manifold, just as the slot was lined up. This will put everything at TDC, firing #1 cylinder.
I've had several engines that just didn't run right when the distributor was not properly aligned. The worst was a Ford 360 that either wouldn't start or wouldn't run at 3500+ RPM.
A piston stop is screwed into the #1 spark plug hole and adjusted to stop the piston. When the engine is rotated CW by hand it will stop the engine from turning when the piston is near the top. You mark the damper and then rotate the engine in the opposite direction CCW and mark the damper again. Half way in between the marks on the damper is zero or TDC. Summit and Jegs sell piston stops. Be sure the engine is on #1 compression stroke when you perform this test.8)
it does not matter where the intermediate shaft is pointed...as long as #1 on the rotor is pointed at #1 on the cap.....yes..the service manual shows it pointing toward the intake bolt on right front of the engine...you can move the intermediate shaft by using a large screw driver and turning the opposite direction as the engine turns...it will move up the cam gear...then move it to where you feel a warm and fuzzy feeling...
but it does not matters...
and a ford has a timing gear on the end of the distributor...a mopar does not...
The problem I'm trying to fix, is that when you put a timing light on the engine, it is way off. When you time the engine by ear, it runs fine. If you check the timing with a light after wards, it's way off. The only build problem is that this shaft was put in incorrectly and the wires relocated. Is it possible that this is upsetting the use of a timing light.
Thanks
it does not matter where the intermediate shaft is pointed...as long as #1 on the rotor is pointed at #1 on the cap.....yes..the service manual shows it pointing toward the intake bolt on right front of the engine...you can move the intermediate shaft by using a large screw driver and turning the opposite direction as the engine turns...it will move up the cam gear...then move it to where you feel a warm and fuzzy feeling...
but it does not matters...
and a ford has a timing gear on the end of the distributor...a mopar does not...