Distributor installation

1977 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO
10,000 MILES • 5.7L • V8 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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DAVID DABBS
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I brought the engine to top dead center. When I took the cap off and I noticed the rotor was not facing the number one spark plug. Do I install the new distributor the same way it came out or do I turn the engine over with a wrench and line the timing marks to o on the harmonic ballancer?
May 19, 2018 at 10:06 AM
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CARADIODOC
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If the engine ran with the old distributor, it was in right, so put the new one the same way.

If you go by the timing marks, you still have a fifty percent chance of getting it wrong. To be sure it is right, you would also have to remove number one spark plug so you can be sure that piston is coming up on the compression stroke, not the exhaust stroke.

Why are you changing the distributor, or what problem are you trying to solve? How far off was the rotor from the spark plug terminal on the cap? If it was exactly 180 degrees off, rotate the crankshaft once more and it will be right on.
May 19, 2018 at 6:39 PM
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DAVID DABBS
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Thanks, I put the new distributor in brought the number one piston top dead center and lined the harmonic balancer to 0 the new distributor dropped in perfect! Thanks for your advice. Running great!
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May 23, 2018 at 10:11 PM
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CARADIODOC
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Dandy. Happy to hear you solved it. Come back and see us again.
May 24, 2018 at 7:04 PM