first time installing distributor

[merlin3]

can anyone recommend any web sites online on how to find tdc and installing a HEI distributor in a new chevy motor?thanks

[litew8]

How to Find Top Dead Center :: Modern Muscle X -...

[Casaba]

Pull number one plug and put your finger over the hole. Spin the engine until the pressure blows your finger off the hole. That's just passing over TDC.

Many opinions will vary BUT you can install the distributor one of two ways I've used plenty. Either line up the oil pump shaft with a Long screwdriver or just set the distributor where it should be (rotor pointing at number one when at TDC) and if it doesn't fall all the way down due to oil shaft, simply bump the starter one time and it will drop right in place. Number one on the cap should be the 2nd tower clockwise from the coil connection with the vacuum canister pointing roughly at the number 2 piston

Hope that helps a little.

[litew8]

If you are the only one working on it without help, you could plug the sp hole with tightly bound paper towel, it'll blow out.

[myyamr7]

I've always used the mark on the balancer, line that up with the 0 on the timing tab, that should be top dead center. Pull the valve cover off on the #1 side and check to make sure both pushrods spin free for #1 cylinder. If they spin free, that's TDC compression, if they don't spin free, rotate the motor 1 full turn, line the timing mark back up, and it's good to go

[merlin3]

so this is what i have tried,screwed a brass adapter into spark plug hole with a hose going into the cab,with thumb over the hose end ,turn motor over till thumb blows off,check zero mark to see if close, if close turn motor by hand to get to zero,[not far] install dist. and rotor facing #1 cylinder,make sure #1 on cap lines up with rotor,checked the firing order,truck will sputter for a second but will not run.thanks for the help.

[Boog]

You may have to rotate the dist counterclockwise a little at a time to make it run. Only a couple of degrees of rotation. 1/4" maybe.

[litew8]

If that doesn't work, I'd be thinking carb. (depending on what you mean by "new" engine)

[merlin3]

the engine[509 merlin 3] has very low miles maybe 500 at the most i installed a new Holley 850,new wire harness,cap,rotor,HEI dist.air gap intake,wires plugs and starter.i open flap on top of carb and can see fuel squirting in.thanks boog i tried rotating the distributor like you said and nothing changed.

[Lee H]

What size is this motor?

[merlin3]

509 cu in.

[Lee H]

Have you verified 12 volts at distributor with key on?

[merlin3]

thanks i will try that tomorrow,i don't have a volt meter handy.had to install a new starter today because somehow a weird bolt from i don't know were fell into the nose cone of the starter and locked up the starter.

[Boog]

Well if the engine sputtered you at least had spark. Could be a weak dist module connection. Verify spark at the plugs.
A bolt in the starter nose? Now that's strange.
Big ol Merlin, alright.

[litew8]

The bolt from nowhere agree strange, and really bad luck

[merlin3]

thanks i will check the spark t the plugs

[Steve Cole]

Does anyone set timing for maximum vacuum?

[litew8]

^ You can or should I believe, but timing isn't the only factor.

[merlin3]

i have 12 volts to distributor, spark and fuel still no start.

[69chevytrucker]

If your timing is set right and you have fuel spark but sputter your rockers might be too tight back them off a 1/4 of a turn , I spent 4 days once with the same prob and when I was about to give up I tried backing the rockers off a bit and bam just like that it fired right up

[merlin3]

it used to sputter for a second but now it turns over and nothing else.the motor ran fine in the 67 vette . it came out of,thanks i will try your tip.

[69chevytrucker]

If your getting spark and fuel even if your 180 out it should still do something eg fire out carb or pop and bang a bit ... So find Tdc easy way take a piece of coat hanger turn motor by hand with hanger in #1 hole when it goes to the top put dist in facing #1 try that if it doesn't work pull dist out and rotate 180 degrees and try again one way or the other has to work air fuel spark = boom you can leave the dist bolt a little loose so you can move it back and forth a few degrees till it fires

[Lee H]

Between the running fine and now did the heads come off? Did the cam come out?

[merlin3]

no the heads and cam did not come out i installed the following;timing chain cover, proper cam button for the cover,remove and reinstall harmonic balancer,new intake,carb ,distributor,cap,rotor, [HEI] ,plugs, wire harness new ground and pos. cables,battery and starter.i did a spark test with a inline tester and the spark is a dull orange color,should it be a bright white color? thanks for the help i will try the coat hanger trick and also removing the valve cover and checking push rods.

[88fordf150]

You had 12 volts at the distributor but are you getting anything out of it to the plug wires?