distributor position

[wingram]

I have a 1977 1800 carbureted spider, that I replaced the head over the weekend. I have positioned the timing marks correctly and the crank is positioned TDC. The thing I didn't do was to mark the position of the distributor before taking everything apart. As recommended by the manual, I have pointed the rotor cap to the 4th cylinder terminal in the distributor cap. I am getting fuel and plenty of spark and the starter is turning the engine over, but the engine will not start. Any ideas?

Thanks Wayne.

[rlux4]

The contact inside the cap is what has to be pointed to #4. If you're pointing the spark plug wire post to it, you'll be some 28-30° off. On my car there is a notch on the underside of the dist. cap and a line on the outer base of the dist. that corresponds to the #4 position. You might look to see if you have that also. Makes it real easy to check position.
Ron

[mbouse]

point those plug wire posts to approximately the driver's side front corner, not at #4 cylinder.

[wingram]

Thanks guys, any chance anyone would be willing to take a pic of the position of the rotor cap with the engine setting TDC?

Thanks Wayne

[So Cal Mark]

if you are standing on the right side of the car, facing the engine the plug wire posts on the cap point to about 1 o'clock

[ventura ace]

Thanks guys, any chance anyone would be willing to take a pic of the position of the rotor cap with the engine setting TDC?

'Rotor cap' is a new term for me. Are you referring to the rotor or the cap (the rotor being the rotating part, and the cap being the stationary cover that all the wires attach to)?

As Mike Bouse mentioned, most folks point the fingers of the cap toward the front left corner of the engine. This points the wires somewhat away from the hot exhaust, while giving the best clearance under the closed hood. Given that starting target position for the cap, will determine where the distributor housing has to be, since they only fit together one way. If there is no marking on the distributor housing to indicate where #4 contact is, then look inside the cap and find #4 contact and mark the cap, then mark the distibutor housing. Then pull the distributor out, and (with cap removed) turn the rotor until it ends up pointing at the #4 contact marking when the dizzy is pushed back in. It might take a few times to get it right, due to the helical gear.

The final position of the distributor will depend on where you need to rotate it to achieve proper timing when the engine is running. If you don't like where it ends up, you can always pull the dizzy out and turn the rotor one tooth in either direction to end up closer to wherever you want to be in the end.

Here's a couple of pics, you can click on them to enlarge.





Alvon

[rlux4]

Here's a picture of mine;
(thumbnail)
As Ace said, the dist. can be pointed anywhere in 360°, just so long as the rotor is pointed to where the #4 contact is located in a corresponding position. A mechanic put mine back in with the vacuum advance pointed toward the rubber air hose and it was pinching the vacuum hose. I pulled the dist. and rotated it to it's present position, making sure the gear for the rotor slid into position so that the rotor was pointing to #4 when the dist. was seated.
Hope this helps.
Ron

[wingram]

Thanks guys, sorry I should have mentioned that this is my first 4 cycle rebuild and over head cams, I am use to working on V8's (stoneage) before this. I am starting to understand the concept of rotating a distributor 360° and aligning it correctly. I will take another jab at tomorrow. Again thanks for all the help.

Wayne