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First start for new engine

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C

Cutlass

Jedi Warrior
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After almost three years, today was the day! I've got a rolling chassis, complete with engine, trans, wiring, hydraulics (though still dry), fuel system, etc. With a new battery and some patience, she actually fired up! What aa feeling. Only one glitch, so here's the question: To get enough advance to get the engine running, I had to turn the distributor body clockwise till the vacuum advance hits the block. And I don't think even that is quite enough, though I havent had a timing light on it yet. Seems almost as if the distributor drive gear is a tooth off on the cam. I didn't assemble this part, by the way. Does this sound familiar? If so, is this an easy fix? BTW, it's a 66 BJ8.
 
Two ways to advance the timing:
1- Probably correct way, unbolt the lower drive housing, pull it out far enough for the drive pinion to clear the cam gear, & turn the distributor rotor/drive one tooth CCW. Since the distributor rotor turns CCW, this will advance the rotor one tooth which should put it back in the correct timing range/position. Then rotate the distributor body CCW to a more normal position. Since it is a spiral gear, the "pulled" position of the shaft will be different than when the drive is fully seated - so pay close attention.

2- Quick way, unplug the spark plug wires & move them all one wire position CW on the cap. This will shift the timing very advanced so that you have to rotate the distributor CCW to get back into the range.
D
 
I had much the same problem when rebuilding a mini engine, I had installed the distrbuter drive 180 degrees out, I had interpreted the details incorrectly with the engine lying on its side on the work bench. Much the same fix as Dave said but had to use a 5/16 unf bolt to recover the driveout of the cam and carefully reinstate it in the correct orientation.
 
Interestingly, since the engine did not fire up instantly, my first thought was the 180 degree out problem. This distributor cannot be installed that way, since the dog seems to be just a hair off dead center of the dizzy shaft. I will try Dave's suggestion #1 tonight. By the way, hearing that engine is a sweet experience. Now for another year of body and interior work.
 
Hold on there just a bit Cutlass! The slot in the dizzy driving spindle is not "Dead Center" but is off set. Consequently, the offset tang on the dizzy driving dog must be rotated until the dizzy drops in easily. An alternative method to set the dizzy correctly is; Set the #1 cylinder on its compression stroke to TDC. Make sure the timing marks on the damper and the timing chain cover are also aligned. Remove the dizzy driving spindle and align it's slot to agree with the hands on a clock describing a time of: 20-to-2. Make certain that the thickest part of the driving spindle faces the engine block. Now install the dizzy as indicated and you should be good to go--Fwiw--Keoke
 
Yes, Keoke, that's what I meant to say. The problem is that when I set the #1 to TDC on the compression stroke, the rotor is closer to the 6:30 spot on the clock, as seen from the distributor side of the engine. See, the engine does fire up, idle, accellerate, etc., but to achieve that, the distributor needs to be rotated clockwise so far that the vacuum advance is touching the block. Too much! As I read your post over again, it seems that we may be saying the same thing. 20 to 2 on the clock will look a lot like 6:30, if you just look at the rotor. I've got to be close, or the engine would not run as well as it does. But it sure doesn't make sense to have to rotate the dizzy so far. In fact, while doing the initial timing, I broke off the vacuum tube at the distributor.
 
Well Cutlass, it just might be that the timing chain is off a wee bit. So as Dave pointd out advance the dizzy driving spindle a couple of teeth and see where the dizzy sets then. The Vac line can be repaired just get a new olive and fit to the line and cinch down with the little brass nut.--Keoke
 
Success! Moved the spindle so that the drive is at about 25 till 1 rather than 20 till two, and the engine fired like it was being paid, ran strong and the dizzy is now positioned with plenty of room for advance or retard. Thanks for the help. As always.
 
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