Help-I can't get my car ignition right

[Lawrence S.]

My distributor was off one tooth so I pulled the distributor out set the iginiton per the timing section in the CSM. I.e. set the engine at 0 TDC on the compression stroke using the number one cylinder with the plug removed. I aligned the distributor with the rotor facing straight forward turned the rotor 1/8 turn towards the left bank an set the distributor back down. Bumped the motor slightly to get the oil pump to engage with the distributor. The rotor button is pointing towards the number one plug on the distributor cap. The car trys to start but will not continue running. I have the vacuum canister at 45 degrees facing forward. I have been working on this all day with no luck. Dont know what to do next.
I have a Mallory breakerless ignition otherwise everything else is stock.
Any help is appreciated.

[Gene M.]

Re: Help-I can't get my car ignition right

Aligning rotor to point at #1 cylinder is correct position. Make sure the distributor gear dot is aligned with rotor and not backwards. Number one plug wire next to cap window as the rotor point to it (just a wee bit ahead) installed.

Did you have someone hold the distributor down as you bumped the starter? This is not the best way to engage the pump. Better to use a long wide screwdriver to position the pump. Then slide in the dristributor in so you know you have the correct position. Be sure you have #1 firing cylinder and not #6. Valve covers off so you can verify valve rocker arms positions?

[Timothy B.]

Re: Help-I can't get my car ignition right

Lawrance,

Do the install over only this time bring #1 up on compression stroke to about 10BTDC.

Install distributor with rotor set to point to #1 and if the oil pump does not engage lift the distributor up just enough to walk it around clockwise until you engage the oil pump and them lift just enough to walk the oil pump slot aroung with the distributor one tooth at a time until it's at #1 and installed all the way down engaged in the oil pump. You do not need to turn the engine over to do this.

Try to start the car and if it does not start with the distributor all the way against the manifold or coil bracket remove it and turn the bottom gear 180* and install again as above. These breakerless switches signal at points that are different than regular points so the lower gear change is sometimes needed.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Help-I can't get my car ignition right

Tim;

Sounds like you and I have been doing this a long time. I think I was 16 when I first walked a distributor into time (55 years ago). The gear off 180 though I only learned from here on the board a couple years back, and I don't mind admitting it.

Stu Fox

[Lawrence S.]

Re: Help-I can't get my car ignition right

Guys,

Thanks so much for the help. I finally got it.

I have the car running well but still feel like the vacuum canister is too close to the intake manifold.

I did have the vacuum canister at 45* once, car running fairly well but I could not get the timing in spec...it was way too advanced. So I retarded the distributor one tooth and now I have it in spec. If I remember correct the rotor is pointing just a wee bit past number 1 plug towards the drivers side of the car.

During this exercise I checked the distributor end play and have .067 play...I believe that is in spec. I also checked the distributor with a dwell meter at high rpm and did not get a gauge bounce. But I don't know if this is an accurate reading since I have breakerless ignition?

During one of the attempts to get it right today I did use a screwdriver to align the oil pump. I will use that method again.

Again thanks very much.