I installed a whole new distributor after I broke the gear on the shaft trying to replace the pickup coil in my old dizzy.
It's been about a month between pulling the broken dizzy and installing the new dizzy. Damned if I didn't forget to transfer the orientation from the old dizzy to the new one.
I got the engine set to top dead center just fine, but she won't fire up, she only knocks.
Does anybody know how I go about finding out where to orient the dizzy when I drop it in?

Thanks.

1995 I6 300 TFI

 

Did you pull the #1 plug when you got TDC? Just setting the damper on the mark it may be either # 1 or 6 cylinder is up on compression, you need to have the plug out and feel the compression. Then take the distributor put the cap in the index slot and mark the housing where #1 wire is. Install the distributor so the rotor points to that mark. If the distributor doesn't drop all the way in turn the engine a bit (leaving the dist. where it is)
and it will drop into the oil pump drive hex. I usually use the fan or a wrench on the crank bolt to do this as if you try by yourself with the starter the distributor may jump
out of time. Hope this helps. kotzy

 

I'll try it again. I'll reset it to TDC. I had all the plugs pulled out to make it easier turn the engine by hand, I use a wrench on the crankshaft bolt. I think I need an extra set of hands to feel for compression on cylinder #1. I'll do like you say and mark the dizzy housing where the #1 plug wire goes on the cap. Thanks for the tip. I'll let you know when I get it going. http://images.ford-trucks.com/forums...es2/bounce.gif

 

I got it running, BUT I took it for a spin and it overheated and wouldn't start again after I shut it down for a few minutes. Here's what happened.
I found a notch on the crankshaft pulley, thought that was the timing, set it to TDC on the timing marks and hoped the piston was truly at TDC. Set the dizzy in just so that it was seated all the way. I figured I'd have to experiment till I got it right.
Second time. I actually tried to get the piston to TDC by feeling for compression, couldn't feel any, but I could shine a light into plug hole #1 to see the piston come all the way up. Turns out the notch wasn't anywhere near the timing marks. I couldn't find any other marks on the crankshaft so I painted my own. Nothing. Wouldn't fire, some knocking, however this time I has set the dizzy rotor toward plug wire #1.
Third time. Realized I HAD found TDC, but it was the exhaust stroke. DUH!
Turned the motor another revolution, visually confirmed TDC looking through the plug hole, dropped the dizzy in, rotor towards #1 and it fired up!!
Thought I had it. I drove to Autozone to buy some wiper blades. That's where it overheated and wouldn't restart. While I was waiting around for someone to bring me my tools I poked around and finally found the timing mark on the crankshaft. A tiny line on the wide edge of the pulley. My mark was about 20 degrees off, I scratched that mark off. I bought a 15/16" socket finally, to move the crankshaft bolt with (the crescent wrench was a pain to use).
It started up after it cooled off, so I got my truck home.
And the fourth attempt will be in the morning. I found the true mark on the crankshaft pulley, my timing marks are only on the passenger side, and I know to find TDC on the compression stroke.
I'm learning lots about dropping in the distributor and setting the timing.
Sorry if this post is sort of long. I spend a lot of time searching posts when I need help and I hope my problem can help someone else doing this for the first time.

fordtrucks.com is THE best automotive forum around. I really appreciate everyone on this site and all the help they give out. Thanks.
Hopefully I'll have only one more post left in this thread to tell you my problem is solved once and for all.
http://images.ford-trucks.com/forums...s2/compute.gif

 

If you have it running all you need to do is get the timing exactly where it needs to be, Autozone should have a timing light and by useing that you can get the engine timed correctly. The overheating was due to the distributor being retarded, if you can rotate the distributor to where the engine picks up speed your advancing the timing and that is what it needs. If you can't your one gear tooth off, that means pulling up and rotating the distributor shaft just one gear tooth in the right direction. Then your ready to time it with the light. Hope this is of some help. kotzy