Distributor drive gear position at TDC
My first car was a 57 chev, 265. Hell for a long time I didn't know there WAS a "right way" to install the dist. One time I pulled into a service station (this was when they checked your oil and actually gave you "service.") The operator says, "how does it run it's all out of time?"
"How can you tell that, it runs fine?"
"The distributor is all wired wrong, IT CAN'T RUN!!"!!!
In those early years ---66-67-- I did not know "how to" get it on the compression stroke. I DID know about "180 out" so (on Chev) I used to just throw it in, crank/ bump it until the oil pump drive lined up, then bring it up on the marks, and stick no1 in. If it backfired, I'd rotate everything around to the no6 hole, and set it up.
I learned about "static timing" fairly early as someone went through timing a Vee Dub with me and my Dad worked on outboards. In fact RIGHT NOW I have a couple of the old OMC/ Johnson/ Evindrude timing tools to set up twins timing. You can usually also use the flywheel itself on a Johnnyrude, but it is tougher to reach through the holes on top to test points continuity. I have on little 3hp that does not have flywheel holes. Fortunately, I had a junker (froze up) with a different flywheel.
You just set it up where you want the timing, rotate the dist retarded, then with a test light, rotate the dist advanced until the points open. And it is timed, and it will start, and it will run.
My first car was a 57 chev, 265. Hell for a long time I didn't know there WAS a "right way" to install the dist. One time I pulled into a service station (this was when they checked your oil and actually gave you "service.") The operator says, "how does it run it's all out of time?"
"How can you tell that, it runs fine?"
"The distributor is all wired wrong, IT CAN'T RUN!!"!!!
In those early years ---66-67-- I did not know "how to" get it on the compression stroke. I DID know about "180 out" so (on Chev) I used to just throw it in, crank/ bump it until the oil pump drive lined up, then bring it up on the marks, and stick no1 in. If it backfired, I'd rotate everything around to the no6 hole, and set it up.
I learned about "static timing" fairly early as someone went through timing a Vee Dub with me and my Dad worked on outboards. In fact RIGHT NOW I have a couple of the old OMC/ Johnson/ Evindrude timing tools to set up twins timing. You can usually also use the flywheel itself on a Johnnyrude, but it is tougher to reach through the holes on top to test points continuity. I have on little 3hp that does not have flywheel holes. Fortunately, I had a junker (froze up) with a different flywheel.
You just set it up where you want the timing, rotate the dist retarded, then with a test light, rotate the dist advanced until the points open. And it is timed, and it will start, and it will run.
