I need help with timing my 396. I have pulled the distributor and must have moved the shaft. It has been so long since I have done this that I have forgotten what all needs to be done. I have the plugs out and the timing marks set at the 10 degree mark at the top of the index, before the balancer comes to the A. The contact of the rotor is not even close to pointing at the #1 position on the distributor cap and the distributor cannot be turned far enough to make it line up. Can someone give me the routine for setting this up?
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Re: 396 timing
Gene,
The first thing to do is make sure #1 cylinder is at TDC on its compression stroke. You mentioned the spark plugs have been removed so have someone tap the starter while you place you finger over the spark plug hole on #1 cylinder until you feel compression. Now that you know the engine is on the #1 cylinder compression stroke, bump the motor until the slot mark on the harmonic balancer lines with the TDC mark on the timing cover. Install the distributor into the engine with the rotor tip pointing to the #1 spark plug tower on the distributor cap. If big block is like small block, the #1 tower is on the right side of the point adjust window.
The other thing to make sure of is the proper orientation of the vacuum advance canister when the distributor is installed in the engine. This position is necessary so the distributor can be turned far enough either way to adjust timing. Again, if it's like small block the vacuum can is approximately at the 2 o'clock position looking forward. If you install to where the vacuum can is in the correct position in the engine and the rotor tip points to #1 on the cap, the engine will start right up then you can adjust inital timing.
One other thing you may want to check before installing the distributor is to make sure the dimple (or drill start) on the distributor bottom gear is in line with the rotor tip. If it's not, tap the roll pin out and turn the gear 180 degrees and install the roll pin again then procede as explained above.
If you have service or tune up manual it will help to check where #1 spark plug tower is on the cap. There is usually a picture showing this as well as firing order. Hope this helps you and sorry it's so long winded. -
Re: 396 timing
sometimes you need to turn the oil pump shaft a little to the left with a long screw driver to get the dist. to drop in the correct position...BillComment
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Re: 396 timing
I don't think the 396 is covered in any '65 service publications, but the '66 CSM should show proper wire indexing and orientation of the dist. when it is installed and timed properly. I'm only familiar with the SB setup.
Start with the engine at the proper initial timing mark, NOT TDC. Once the shaft is indexed properly rotate the dist. until the rotating pole piece tips are just past (CW)the stationary pole piece tips, and you should be within a couple of degrees of the correct initial timing, and it should start right up.
As mentioned, verify that the drive gear dimple is pointed the same direction as the rotor tip, wires are indexed properly ('66 CSM), and as also mentioned you might have to tweak the oil pump drive slot slightly to get the gears to mesh.
DukeComment
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Re: 396 timing
Also, keep in mind that as you drop the distributor down the rotor will turn a little bit as the distributor gear engages. So you cannot just set the rotor where you want it and drop in the distributor. You have to start a little further back and then it will rotate into position. If you find that the distributor doesn't drop all the way down, then your oil pump shaft will need to be rotated a little (as Bill Williamson said). Don't force anything by trying to pull it down with the distributor clamp on the intake manifold. In addition, when you attempt to get the engine to TDC firing on #1, make sure the #1 cylinder is on its compression stroke and not on its exhaust stroke.Comment
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Re: 396 timing
Thanks for your help. The oil pump shaft must have rotated when I pulled the distributor. Adjusting it allowed me to put the distributor in correctly. Thanks again to both of you for helping.
GeneComment
Comment