Distributor install

[Heehaw-bronco]

How do I make sure my motor is at TDC before installing the distributor? The distributor is a Summit Ready to Run and is going in a 91 roller 302. The motor is rebuilt and is sitting on the stand so I can't turn it over.

 

[broncnaz]

Are the valve covers off? You need to be able to turn it over in any case. In all reality once the timing chain was installed it would have been at TDC and would have been a good time to intall the dizzy. If the engine was turned to adjust the valves then your going to need to turn it to make sure #1 is at TDC

 

[Heehaw-bronco]

The valve covers are installed, which leads to another question, does it make a difference that the valve covers are stock for the 91 motor? Any way I can tell if it's at TDC by removing the valve covers? I've heard I can turn the motor by hand if I remove all the plugs. Any truth to that?

 

[AZ73]

Pull #1 plug. put finger over hole and turn crank by hand (clockwise facing it from the front). When you feel pressure (compression) keep turning until Balancer is at 0 . Replace plug. Put distributor in with rotor at #1 position.

 

[Bferrari]

Pull the #1 spark plug and turn the motor over by hand using a socket on the crankshaft (bolt holding the harmonic balancer). While turning the motor over put your finger in the hole the #1 spark plug goes. When you feel air pushing your finger out of the hole (means your on the compression stroke) line the harmonic balancer on TDC. Stab your distributor with the rotor pointing to the #1 cylinder and you are ready to roll! You can turn the motor over by hand and TDC is when you are on the compression stroke of #1. BR549

 

[Heehaw-bronco]

I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the info guys!

 

[jckkys]

The distributor may not go all the way down at first. Most often the crank needs to be turned another 1/8 to 1/4 more to get the oil pump drive shaft to go into the socket in the distributor shaft. Don't tighten the hold down bolt until you know the distributor is fully seated.

 

[Fairlane514]

All good advice, but instead of stabbing at 0 try 10 degrees advance on the balancer. It will start easier.

 

[Heehaw-bronco]

Well, I think I got it stabbed in correctly. Pulled the plug until I felt the air through the plug hole while turning the crank. There's a white mark on the balancer that's lined up with an indicator bolted to the timing cover and when I looked through the distributor hole I could see a blue mark painted on the cam gear (I think). Couldn't really tell where or what the mark was supposed to be lined up with. But it was visible and had been put there by the rebuilder. Put the distributor in with the rotor pointed at the #1 cylinder and made sure it was seated completely. Sound right to you guys?

The distributor I put in is the summit ready to run. It came with some extra parts that I don't understand. What's the plastic piece in the pic?

 

[baddad457]

That's the flux capacitor. You only need that if you're planning on time travel. ;D

 

[Heehaw-bronco]

Haha! Nope. No time travel necessary unless I could fast forward this project to successful completion!

 

[Fairlane514]

That may be a "plug" if you want to remove the vacuum advance

 

[Bferrari]

It's a block off to lock the dist if you remove the vacuum advance.

 

[73azbronco]

All good advice, but instead of stabbing at 0 try 10 degrees advance on the balancer. It will start easier.

I think all this does it reorient the dizzy to another position, which is needed sometimes with explorer or other front end parts.

 

[Heehaw-bronco]

Going to try and pick up plug wires today. How in the world do I attach the correct wire on the distributor?

 

[bmc69]

Replace them one at a time.

 

[bronconut73]

You did get the right dizzy gear for the roller cam in that '91 Mustang engine right?
I "think" you said that was a Mustang engine.......
If you ordered it from Summit for"that" engine it is probably fine.
If it is not it is easy to change dizzy gears. Just pop out a pin that holds it on and pop the new one on.

 

[Heehaw-bronco]

Yep. Motor is from a 91 mustang.

http://m.summitracing.com/parts/sum-850303-1

Says it has a steel gear so I hope so.

1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Is what I've found on the firing order. Is that correct?

Do I just start anywhere on the cap to install the wires as long as I follow the firing order around the cap counter-clockwise?

 

[Teal68]

That firing order is correct for a roller. #1 plug wire needs to go where the rotor tip is pointing when at TDC.....but actually I agree with the previous advice about actually setting at 10 BTDC. That's about where you want initial timing anyhow. It may be a bit hard to start if you really are dead on TDC.

Be sure to arrange wires counterclockwise.

 

[baddad457]

All good advice, but instead of stabbing at 0 try 10 degrees advance on the balancer. It will start easier.

X 2 on this advice. The initial setting can be set exactly without ever cranking the engine by aligning the timing marks to where you want it set, then pulling the #1 wire, inserting a philips screw driver and with the ignition "ON", slowly rotating the distributor with the screw driver held next to a ground, and watching for the spark. Once it sparks, lock it down and the timing should be dead on if it's done right.