Distributor Woes

Hello -.......

well I got my new distributor and threw the HEI system in the trash. I brought the cylinder up on one and set the plug wires in place. I got fire everywhere however the car won't start.......any ideas? I do have a question about determining positioning for deteriming #1. I noticed that when I'm setting number 1 and bumping the ignition with my thumb over the spark plug hole on the first revolution it pushes air out when it comes around, however if I go around again, it pushes air out again, put starts sucking air if I keep going..........."Intake Stroke" i am guessing. My question is, is it critical that one be set on the intake stroke or no?

Also, I posted a problem I was having with my gas guage a while back. I noticed today that the gauge was slightly resting above teh F but when I turned the key on, it went clear over to the right hand side way past the F........any ideas?

James

It shouldn't push air out on the exhaust stroke or suck air in the spark plug hole on the intake stroke. The exhaust and intake valves should open. If you let air out on the compression stroke it will suck air on the power stroke when both valves are closed. Do you have a compression tester? Maybe you need a friend who knows what he's doing. But if you find one he'll probably want to switch it back to HEI and fix your original problem.
AL

You want TDC #1 on compression - set timing mark to TDC and you may be on or off 180 degrees (one rev of crank).

Any idea where the rotor pointed BEFORE you took out hte old dist? It should be about the same place now...#1 plug wire.

Remember, when inserting the dist, the rotor will turn a bit as the dis gear seats in the cam..so check for alignment after teh dist is sitting all the way down in.

As to fuel guage...you say it rises when the key is turned on? I see that on 50% or more of all cars...may be normal. Could be bad or weak ground, most likely at the tank end of things.