Starting engine plus setting timing on my 383 HP

[beanhead]

It is to my understanding that the #1 plug wire is in the 7:00 to 8:00 position from factory….I never took the distributor drive gear out…..my past mechanic set it up and it ran fine….I’ve seen some post that said the 383 came this way….the #1 plug wire lines up with the rotor in the 7:30 position now …..the way I rotated it on TDC “0” on the balancer it can only go the way it is or 180 degrees opposite which I know can’t be correct….I’m no timing expert….that’s why I’m asking the forum guys to help me out….please advise me if the setup I have now will work…. Thanks, Steve

You can orient it however you wish, *if* you're confident that the piston really is at TDC when the balancer is at zero. Whichever tower the rotor points at when the #1 piston is up at TDC, now becomes the #1 plug tower. You just maintain the same firing order in the same direction (CCW for big-block) and connect the wires accordingly. They came from the factory in the position shown in the diagram for standardization, and that's how most people set them up.

Since you said it ran good, the mechanic *probably* just installed the pump drive shaft in a different position from stock, which as I said is fine but it can confuse the person that owns the car (you!)

There is though, the possibility that the balancer may be slipping and not reading correctly. In that case you'd verify true TDC with a piston stop (always a good idea anyway, even with a new balancer..)

 

[Steven Bowers]

I greatly appreciate everyone’s input on this project….I did find a paper that I had written down the wiring on a buddies 70 Challenger and after looking it over it was wired the same as my engine….anyway talked to my speed shop guy today….he did state that I had it in properly….and as you stated that there are different configurations that we all could have on our engines….I also put a pencil in #1 plug while turning over the crank and indeed I could feel the top of the piston…it was real close to the top….My car is slowly beginning to come together…..thanks to you and again all the fellas that offered me positive input….

 

[MoparLeo]

Here is some info from your Service Manual. You can just look it up.

 

[mopar 3 B]

My bad. For some reason I was thinking he removed the drive gear.

Even if he had it's TDC compression and distributor drive in line with the cam. Rotor to number 1.

 

[69 Charger]

It is to my understanding that the #1 plug wire is in the 7:00 to 8:00 position from factory….I never took the distributor drive gear out…..my past mechanic set it up and it ran fine….I’ve seen some post that said the 383 came this way….the #1 plug wire lines up with the rotor in the 7:30 position now …..the way I rotated it on TDC “0” on the balancer it can only go the way it is or 180 degrees opposite which I know can’t be correct….I’m no timing expert….that’s why I’m asking the forum guys to help me out….please advise me if the setup I have now will work…. Thanks, Steve

It's a year late, but here is my input on this issue: I am the original owner of my 1969 Charger with 383 HP engine. The distributor has never been out of the car. At 0 deg. TDC on the compression stroke, the rotor is pointing to 5 o'clock, which is the #1 spark plug terminal. I don't know if that is Eastern, Central, or Pacific time....