5.2 Magnum Distributor Question

THIS HAS BEEN POSTED MANY TIMES. The DRIVE TANG is not in the same relative position on all distributors. As someone earlier^^ posted, you can either "walk" the pump drive up and change the gear, or just time it where it wants to be IE off a hole or two.

Pull the no1 plug. Bump or wrench the engine until you start to feel compression. Then continue to bring the timing marks "up" NOT to TDC but rather 'where you want' initial timing. Depending on cam this could be 10-15--20* BTDC. Install the dist so the rotor is "corner to corner" at the cap contacts approaching no1 or if the gear is off, either change the gear or drop the dist in so the vacuum advance has room to move, and so the rotor is towards driver side front corner. it can only go in 2 ways.

Now, with engine timing marks "where you want" IE 10-15 BTC, or so, move the dist so the pickup coil and reluctor are aligned. Drop no1 wire into the hole that is aligned with the rotor.

YOU CAN CHECK timing with a light on the starter (Thanks Cracked back for reminding me)