[jonm38]

How do you set a distrubitor correctly? Where the engine runs smooth? I better ask it before I forget again. My Camaro runs like the idle is rough.

 

[novaderrik]

How do you set a distrubitor correctly? Where the engine runs smooth? I better ask it before I forget again. My Camaro runs like the idle is rough.

pull it ahead to where it runs smooth- using a timing light to keep from pulling it too far ahead. of course, this assumes no vacuum leaks and a properly set up and functioning carburetor.
this is one of those things that we could spend a week explaining basic engine tuning to you online, but it would be easier to get a local friend that knows how to do it to work with you. it really is a hands on thing. it's been covered hundreds of times, and a simple search would get you well on your way.

 

[Steptoe]

Yes a search thru old posts is the best bet...
1st u get the total advance set right for under power...the important part.
Then set your mixtures for best idle...assuming no manifold leaks, pvc valve works, spark plugs/ht leads etc are all good.

 

[dnult]

Keep in mind that the distributor technically can point in any direction so long as the plugs fire at the correct time. The limiting factor is that you only have so much adjustment in the distributor (i.e. the vacuum can will hit the carb or firewall etc.). As a result, the typical installation is to install the distributor with the rotor pointing to cylinder 1 while cylinder 1 is at TDC. (Rotor pointed to 11:00 position as viewed from the perspective of the driver - just left of straight forward) This configuration will make your wires line up and give you the adjustment room you need. You may have to turn the oil pump shaft with a long screwdriver to get it lined up with the tang on the distributor shaft.

 

[Steptoe]

Stock setup and heaps of room to play
Rotor faces front of the car on #1
And the vac canistor about 45 deg to the passenger side
Too keep HT leads tidy, they all come off in order with the back 2 on each side crossing over down low out of sight.
Keep 5 and 7 HT separated, these 2 can be prone to induced cross fire

 

[JD4020]

If you don't have a timing light or vacuum gauge and just want to set it by sound (which I don't recommend) but will get you close. Rotate the distributor counter clock wise. You will notice it raise a few rpm and the further you move it, it will start to miss just a bit. Now, go back the otherway(clockwise) you should just start to here the rpm's drop. That's the sweet spot where the engine seems to idle at the highest and moving it counter clockwise a bit doesn't change it and moving it clockwise drops the rpm. This is TDC and you would think is where you want to run, but it's not. You need to turn it clockwise a few degrees. You will probably get a drop of about 300 - 400 rpm. Too far clockwise and the engine will run hot, too far the otherway and it will have hard starting.
Again, I recommend you get a timing light to do it right. But on a stock motor, this will get you close. When old timers tell you they set it by "ear", this is what they do. I used to work for a large engine remanufacturer and we test ran 200 engines a day. This is how we set timing on them to test run them for 10 minutes.

Jon