Thread: Installing HEI distributor from scratch!!!

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I need to know if this method will work -->
1. Stick distributor into hole and bolt it down.
2. Click engine over until spark plug number one blows your finger off the hole at the same time that the timing mark is about 11 degrees before zero.
3. When those two things happen simultaneously, wherever the rotor lands is the number one position - follow the firing order clockwise around the distributor cap.

1. Stick distributor into hole and bolt it down.

Do not bolt didtributor down

2. Click engine over until spark plug number one blows your finger off the hole at the same time that the timing mark is about 11 degrees before zero.


3. Turn distributor slowly until it one of the reluctors points is directly across from the pickup. Wherever the rotor lands is the number one position. follow the firing order in the correct direction for the engine being timed

your close just a little off with the dist out rotate eng till you are on compression stroke stop buy hand turn eng till you have your desired timing on the harmonic balancer it is a lot easier if you have all the plugs out now set the dist cap on with felt tip pen mark the base of the dist in line with # 1 remember to put the gasket on remove the cap slide the dist. with the rotor facing your # 1 mark make sure the dist is all the way down if it is not turn the rotor back and forth kind of jiggle it until it drops in this will engage the oil pump put the hold down in leave it lose enough to turn dist put the plug wires on in the proper firing order for your type eng. connect the wire to a keyed 12v source not a resister wire start it up and hook up timing light and set timing to the desired advance this may sound overwhelming to some body new but its not after your done you be amassed at how simple it is ....ted

Thanks for your reply.

1. so i dont bolt the dist down - ok
2. this step i must have correct
3. i have a chevy 350 v8, so i believe it's clockwise, but i'm not understanding what you mean by: Turn distributor slowly until it one of the reluctors points is directly across from the pickup. Please explain?

sorry mike we must have been typing at the same time I'm a one finger typer so it takes me a wile....ted

It realy is easy.. Take the cap off the existing dist. turn engine over till rotor is pointing to fire wall...MARK the fire wall at point of rotor... Pull dist. out. Drop new dist. in and get rotor to line up with mark on fire wall by turning the dist. Drop it down making sure it (rotor) lines up where the old one was. You may have to turn the oil pump drive with a screw driver to make this happen. Change the primary wire

Thank you, but that method won't work for me - the dist that was on it was a different kind of dist, and the old one has been out of the engine. I'm checking my method for installing from scratch without the reference points of the previous dist.

You can check the pointer on the damper line it up for "0" put an air hose in the #1 plug hole if it blows out the rear then you are on exhaust stroke If it dose not the you are on compression. Put the new dist in with rotor pointing toward #1 wire on the cap

Turn motor over till its at the top of its compression stroke on no1 cylinder (thumb pressure through plug hole on No1), then install dizzy with rotor pointing at No1 plug lead, Then start up and adjust.


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Originally Posted by zextrot

I need to know if this method will work -->
1. Stick distributor into hole and bolt it down.
2. Click engine over until spark plug number one blows your finger off the hole at the same time that the timing mark is about 11 degrees before zero.
3. When those two things happen simultaneously, wherever the rotor lands is the number one position - follow the firing order clockwise around the distributor cap.

You got this out of order.
1. Click engine over until spark plug number one blows your finger off the hole at the same time that the timing mark is about 11 degrees before zero. Line up the balancer tdc line to 0 degrees on the balancer indicator on #1 cyl.

2. (on sbc and bbc) Line the oil pump shaft so the slot in the dist drive will line the #1 cap post to where the rotor is pointing (move the rotor) Stick distributor into hole don't bolt it down tight. Leave dist so you can turn it to time the engine with a little force.

3. When those two things happen simultaneously, wherever the rotor lands is the number one position - follow the firing order clockwise around the distributor cap.

Then you can use a timing light to time the engine to specs.

At the Chevy engine plant it is TDC on the compression stroke on number 1 with the H/B at 0 on the timing mark and take a flashlight and a long screwdriver to line the oil pump drive slot so it is facing straight front to back.The dizzy will drop right in.

Never knew there were so many ways to put in a distributor

Charlie,
Just it is the way it's done at the Chevy Engine plant.

If you're doing a new installation, for the easiest sparkplug wire routing, the rotor should be pointed directly at the #1 spark plug (left/drivers side front cylinder) with the crank at TDC on #1 compression stroke. This will result in only two wires crossing from the cap to the other side of the engine! Any other rotor position will require longer plug wires.