When I put my distibutor in last night, I was setup at 8 BTDC, installed the distibutor at #1 wire, could not get it to start. Had a friend bump motor while I plugged #1 cylinder. Now I am at 10 BTDC and the rotor is 180 out. Why?

This is a fresh rebuild. 383, CS 280H cam, MSD pro billet w/ slip collar, trick flow 23 degree heads.

It did start once but kept dying, thats when I discovered the vacuum port for the brakes was not yet hooked up. Has not really started since then.



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Kevin

68 Camaro SS - In Resto -- ALMOST DONE!!

The vacuum hose off was definately your stalling problem.

As for the timing, well make sure you take the vac hose of the distributor and plug it (if you haven't already) while you set the timing. 2 degrees isn't really too much of a difference if you are setting base timing - especially if an engine won't idle to begin with. The mechanical advance will add advance if you have to idle it fast to keep it running - this will goof up your readings.

If you put in the distributor at #1 with the marks on the timing gears lined up you were probably at the top of the exhaust stroke, not the compression stroke.

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'69 RS Camaro
355 5-speed 4.11

I am sure it was on compression stroke. When I plugged the spark plug hole with my finger, it blew off on the compression stroke. My mark on the balancer was then @ 8 BTDC.

Since the MSD Pro Billet does not use a vacuum advance, there should be nothing to remove and plug. However, is there anything special regarding the MSD for start up? I wouldn't think so.

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Kevin

68 Camaro SS - In Resto -- ALMOST DONE!!

GOT IT!! THANKS http://www.camaros.net/forum/biggrin.gif

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Kevin

68 Camaro SS - In Resto -- ALMOST DONE!!

If your distributor was 180 out the engine would not run period. Your timing has to be close - within like 20 or 30 degrees for the car to run at all.

Why would you want to use a non-vacuum advance distributor on a street engine? It'll be a bear to tune and get any kind of driveability, throttle response, or fuel economy.

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JohnZ
CRG
'69 Z28 Fathom Green

John,

Thought I would give it a try. Fuel economy is the least of my concerns though. It's all for fun anyways, right? If I don't like it, I will put in a vacuum advance.

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Kevin

68 Camaro SS - 383, Edlebrock Performer RPM, Trick Flow 23 degree heads, edlebrock 750cfm carb, dynomax headers, Tremec TKO, 4.10 Posi

Kevin,
Without vacuum advance, you are probably going to have to be close to 22-25 deg initial timing for the engine to idle worth a crap. Same with mid range power. Thats why a strictly mechanical distributor usually is not worth a darn on a street driven car. Most vacuum advance units add about 16-18 degrees of timing at idle/low rpm. With initial set at 10, that gives you 26-28 idleing. It is next to impossible to get the proper timing curve for a street engine without it.
As far as being 180 out, it was probably like that from the start. If this is a fresh motor that has never been started, the lifters are probably collapsed and it is very dificult to find compression tdc with the "finger" method. You probably had it 180 out.
Hope this helps,

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Bill Koustenis
Owner
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
1971 Chevelle "Heavy Chevy" original owner
1973 Z-28 ..one family car...Brother bought it new in 73

Bill should your vacuum advance pull vacumm at idel and if so wheres a good place to pull from jethro81z28

Well, after reading several opther post on the subject and replies to this one, I went and swapped the distributor today for a vacuum advance. I did a lot of thinking about the setup and agree that mechanical is not the route for me. Thanks for the thoughts guys....now to go stab this one in.

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Kevin

68 Camaro SS - 383, Edlebrock Performer RPM, Trick Flow 23 degree heads, edlebrock 750cfm carb, dynomax headers, Tremec TKO, 4.10 Posi