• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Distributor Drive shaft timing position

drdodge

Member
Local time
1:06 PM
Joined
Sep 1, 2014
Messages
20
Reaction score
5
Location
mississippi
The Oil pump and distributor drive shaft have to be timed so that the slot for the distributor shaft is parrallell with the crankshat or pointing fron to back with the engine while the engin is on top dead center. I think the electronics can get by with being off but I ran into a problem cranking an old engine that had the distributor shaft off time or the wires one plug off. Realized with points even with the electronic breaker this can affect the timing and really mess up the spartk delivery if the pick up and the dist cap were out of time to much. Hope this helps. from service manual of 89 dodge pu.
 
The oil shaft can be at any position. You have to adjust your wires accordingly on the dist cap. When at TDC, drop the dist in & see which way the rotor points & that is #1 basically.

Chuck
 
I hear this all the time. "Just drop the distributor in and set the wires accordingly". I look at that as a little "back yard" mechanics. If the manufacturer took that approach, each car would be wired up different.
The #1 wire was ment to be in the same location on the cap. Then the firing order followed as intended.
Any time I had a distributor that didn't want to drop in where it was suppose to be, I would either take a long screw driver and turn the oil pump in the direction it needed to be. Also, I have just bumped the engine over, with some down pressure on the distributor, until it dropped in. Then find TDC to check the rotors location.
 

Attachments

  • Chrysler-Big-Block-V8_Firing-Order.jpg
    Chrysler-Big-Block-V8_Firing-Order.jpg
    13.7 KB · Views: 322
Main thing to remember is, per the book, setting the distributor in correctly, was also to mount it so, with vacuum advance, you can have clearance for the advance canister to swing. Have to be able to rotate the dist, to get your timing.
 
That's how it goes

image.jpg
 
The oil shaft can be at any position. You have to adjust your wires accordingly on the dist cap. When at TDC, drop the dist in & see which way the rotor points & that is #1 basically.

Chuck
I do the same thing.... I'm not a purist though, and I use performance aftermarket ignition parts so where I start #1 doesn't amount to a hill of beens.... I don't even have a vac advance can to consider, so it's a simple drop it in and wire it up for me...
 
i gave the manual instruction and never realized that it may make some difference,, the breaks on the points come a a certain time and when we set the timing are moving the point pick up and the rotor conact also, if they are not timed with the cam it could reduce the effective range,, what do you think.

- - - Updated - - -

dist rotation on the small block and big are reversed,, interesting
 
The distributor cam is symmetric, the distributor gear is symmetric with the cam gear. The location of the distributor base plate determines the location of the points or pickup to when they open or make contact. The outer distributor housing locates the plug wire contacts in the cap. The distributor plate is also mounted with springs that allows advancement or retard, controlled by the vacuum canister, to adjust for timing fluctuations.
Confused yet?
 
not confused waiting on some new information. the point is that the distributor gear is supposed to be timed,,, according to the manual,, I believe it can effect the range of timing advance if it is not timed ,
 
You guys are making more of this than there really is... The dist turns 360 deg regardless of where you start #1... Its still the same distance between each plug wire on the cap..... No magic to it,,, no extra stuff to consider,,,, The only reason to set this in any particular location is simply to match some picture in some manual, or to make yourself feel better because it's close to a location where the factory might have had it...
Points, factory electronic, Mallory, etc.... they can all be dropped in with the oil pump / dist shaft in any position, and wired accordingly....
If someones wants to dispute this,,, your welcome to come over, and I'll pull my dist for you,,, spin the intermediate shaft, drop it back in, land wires accordingly and have it running again EXACTLY the same as it was within a half hour TOPS...... This is taking my time... Then Ill spin my distributor 45 deg,,, move the wires over and start it right back up again....
Any takers????
 
You guys are making more of this than there really is... The dist turns 360 deg regardless of where you start #1... Its still the same distance between each plug wire on the cap..... No magic to it,,, no extra stuff to consider,,,, The only reason to set this in any particular location is simply to match some picture in some manual, or to make yourself feel better because it's close to a location where the factory might have had it...
Points, factory electronic, Mallory, etc.... they can all be dropped in with the oil pump / dist shaft in any position, and wired accordingly....
If someones wants to dispute this,,, your welcome to come over, and I'll pull my dist for you,,, spin the intermediate shaft, drop it back in, land wires accordingly and have it running again EXACTLY the same as it was within a half hour TOPS...... This is taking my time... Then Ill spin my distributor 45 deg,,, move the wires over and start it right back up again....
Any takers????

Your right, it will run exactly the same with number one at any position, I personally like it at the factory location, just my preference and easy enough to do.
 
You guys are making more of this than there really is... The dist turns 360 deg regardless of where you start #1... Its still the same distance between each plug wire on the cap..... No magic to it,,, no extra stuff to consider,,,, The only reason to set this in any particular location is simply to match some picture in some manual, or to make yourself feel better because it's close to a location where the factory might have had it...
Points, factory electronic, Mallory, etc.... they can all be dropped in with the oil pump / dist shaft in any position, and wired accordingly....
If someones wants to dispute this,,, your welcome to come over, and I'll pull my dist for you,,, spin the intermediate shaft, drop it back in, land wires accordingly and have it running again EXACTLY the same as it was within a half hour TOPS...... This is taking my time... Then Ill spin my distributor 45 deg,,, move the wires over and start it right back up again....
Any takers????

X2 on what he said...
 
It's just like the tool box. Put it where it belongs and it will be where it is supposed to be next time you need it. Put it in where ever what a waste of time.
 

Almost funny. Way I was told on any BB Mopar, was the rotor points at #1 cylinder. That would put #6, as #1 (in the drawing).

Don't matter. By the book, or as you like it, as long as things on the dizzy line up to work right. Just have to keep in mind you'll want adjusting room, to get the timing right.
 
Almost funny. Way I was told on any BB Mopar, was the rotor points at #1 cylinder. That would put #6, as #1 (in the drawing).

Don't matter. By the book, or as you like it, as long as things on the dizzy line up to work right. Just have to keep in mind you'll want adjusting room, to get the timing right.
My point exactly,,, You can probably find several reference pictures, and Standard location positions depending on the source...
A manufactures manual for that make / model and year would likely be correct to factory specs, if you want to have it look like original...
 
I appreciate the discussion , it takes all kinds the ones that know and the ones that want to know and ones that dont worry about it, dont forget the ones that know it all.

I see now that the boints break and the pick up are aligned change with the distributor position, the old rotor is also ligned up with break cam or magnet for the fired position. the dist. has 40 degrees it can move to find the tdc cylinder and be timed but it can be adjusted to the optimum spark. appears. doing it more by the book helps when starting an engine later,, i just had one wired one spark plug off and the dist would not turn enough to start it.
 
Last edited:
Here's one for ya.....
When you build a BB Mopar, get the engine at a point where the timing dots are lined up on the crank and cam.... Don't turn the engine anymore at this point it's at TDC on exhaust stroke,,, bolt on the rest of your accessory items to the point in which your dist can be dropped in... If you want the rotor to point at #2 cyl.,, now is the time to set the intermediate shaft with the slot pointing at #2..... Drop the dist in with the rotor NOT pointing at #2 "what seems 180 out", and turn the dist so the #6 wire is exactly lined up with the rotor "I make a mark on the dist housing where the #1&6 wire will be on the cap... Next rotate the dist clockwise 1/2" distance from your reference mark and lock it down... You should be right at 28 deg full advance +- a degree....
Try it sometime.....
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top