Thread: Swapped Distributor problems

Tweet

Yes it matters where the number one plug lead is on the cap,,,because of the amount of rotation of the distributor while adjusting advancing or retarding will be affected,,usualy if you have it wrong your vaccume advance unit will prevent rotation of the distributor on some motors when it hits the intake.
Do this:
When you align your rotor with the #1 on the cap and hold it there,,,,then make sure you have got your #1 cylinder at TDC,or just a couple of degrees before.,,then install your distributor,,,,,sometimes it may help to hold the rotor slightly anticlockwise to #1 and as you install the distributor,, the rotor ( if everything is in alignment ) will want to turn clockwise to the #1 position.
thats when you know you've got it right........that is of course if your timing chain is installed correctly.
And dont forget to disconnect the vaccume advance line while using the timing light,,,and then connect it when you have finished.

(You said: Here's what I did:

Wwhen I removed the old distributor I lined up my timing marks on the balancer to 6 degrees BTDC (what the motor was timed at. I removed the old cap and the rotor was pointed just before the #1 plug. (Actually pointed directly at the notch on the distributor cap where it lines up with the housing to seat properly.)

My first question is: Does the notch on the distributor cap always designate which plug contact is suppossed to be #1 or does it matter which wire you plug into as #1 as long as you have your firing order set properly? If it matters then I know what I did wrong )