I am working on a 78 I-6 300. I installed a new distributer into a disturbed motor. Followed instructions out of the Chilton manual on how to install in a disturbed motor. I have tried this several times, but it still won't start. Thanks

 

Try turning the distrubutor 180.

 

Always remember #1, Top Dead Center, COMPRESSION stroke. That is all you need to know with any disturbed engine. If you went by the book then that should be right. If you were 180 deg. off you would be getting some backfiring. Tell us more. Do you have spark, backfiring, nothing at all, what?

 

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Before you pull it and turn it, try rotating it as far as it will one way, and then the other. Maybe you skipped a tooth and it is just a long ways off.

 

I do have backfiring out the carb. Yes i have spark. I have turned the distributer both directions, and have pulled and reset distributer 4 or 5 times. Thank you for your suggestions.

 

Have you tried talking to it? You know, like on TV when parents talk to their disturbed children? Punishment and medications are not always the answer.

Then again, based on you posts so far, I suspect you have tried "talking" to it already!

I just couldn't resist! Welcome to FTE!

Did you find TDC using a "feeler" into cylinder #1, or did you just assume that the timing mark was correct? Timing mark of course comes around twice, one of which will be off by 180. The other problem is that the harmonic damper may be spun and the timing mark may have nothing to do with TDC anymore.

Best bet is to pull plug #1, loosen all the others (and the wire off your coil too, just to make sure that your truck doesn't pick this moment to finally fire), rotate using a ratchet on the damper bolt (clockwise). Drop a soft rod, like copper or a 1/4" wood dowel down in plug #1, and see when the cylinder gets to the bottom.

Now, best of all worlds is a compression tester attached to #1 as it comes up, to verify that it is compression stroke. Or your thumb and a little luck. Or the plug back in, and see if you can feel the compression building.

Once you are sure you are on the compression stroke, then move it all the way to TDC. That is a little tricky to find at times. Hopefully, your timing mark will be there. IF not, post back and I will tell you how to make a TDC finder (and pics). If the timing mark is way off, make a temporary mark with a marker (white nail polish is good too, as it can be removed) where your approximate TDC is located, based on your feeler.

Now move the timing mark back (counter clockwise) 8 degrees or so.

Now, with the cap attached to the dizzy, make a little scratch on the dizzy housing, right under plug #1. Pull the cap, rotate the dizzy till the rotor or pickup appears to be perfect to your scratch. Tighten everything back up. Do not pull the dizzy unless the mark is in a position such that it is impossible to rotate the dizzy to the correct location (as in, the vacuum advance is banging into the engine)

Fire it up! Fine tune with Timing Light or vacumn or "ear".

Someone correct me if I have led him astray. I have done this ONCE -- but using the above methods described by an old timer. I think I got it right. I had the additional problem of an incorrect location of timing mark as well.