Have you ever done anything so many times ...

[Clois Harlan]

that you can do it with your eyes closed? Recently I pulled my distributor to replace my rubber o-ring and check the teeth on my distributor gear (routine winter maintenance) in addition to replacing head, intake, and valve cover gaskets. During re-assembly I made sure that all my silicone was of proper thickness to prevent oil from leaking from the front or rear of my intake, I ran my valves (solid lifters), I did a once over of everything.

I cranked my engine to TDC by removing #1 spark plug and using a remote starter to bump my engine while I had my finger over the plug hole. At compression stroke my finger would be forced away from the spark plug hole and I knew that my timing pointer should be close on my harmonic balancer. Sure enough up comes my timing mark and I turn my crank the rest of the way with a break over until my timing mark is on about the 25 degree mark. Now I stab my distributor back in the engine being ever so careful to place the #1 spark plug wire on my distributor cap in line with the rotor on my distributor, perfect. I button everything down and start to crank the engine over expecting it to start..... Nope spins like a top but I am backfiring through the carb. You guessed it I am 180 degrees off with my distributor. I pulled my valve covers off and at TDC my valves on cylinder #1 should have some slack in them but instead they were tight and when I went over to the #6 valves they had the slack I was looking for in the #1.

Sure enough I had my distributor in 180 degrees out. I pulled my distributor out enough to rotate my rotor 180 degrees and stabbed it back in my engine. Again, I am careful to line the rotor up with number 1 spark plug wire on my distributor. re-checked all my wires to see that everything was still in the proper firing order and it was. This time it fired right up just as strong and healthy as ever. I forgot to mention that I had already hooked up my timing light so I was ready to dial in my timing once the engine fired. I had to advance my timing about 2 degrees and everything is perfect. I let my engine run until my temp reached 180 deg F and then I shut everything off. I will let it set overnignt and then the next day I will re-torque my heads and re-check my clearances on on valves.

It just goes to show you that everyone makes mistakes no matter how often you do something. The truth be told, before I pulled the valve covers off to check my valves I pulled the distributor out and re-stabbed it a couple of times because I was sure I had done this right the first time.....NOT! Have fun everyone and don't take yourself or your car to seriously.


Clois Harlan