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Distributor install

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by piffey263, Jun 24, 2013.

  1. Jun 24, 2013
    piffey263

    piffey263 Active Member

    Medford, OR
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    Oct 16, 2008
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    Okay, got another question for you guys.

    I installed new timing chain, eccentric, oil pump rebuild, water pump and replaced cover with one from a Buick 215 on my 225

    I also have a Petronixs

    My question is I found TDC on the compression stroke, I lined up rotor with where spark plug wire goes on the cap. All the engine does is crank over be back fire a little.

    Is the vacuum advance part supposed to be pointed a certain way? Am I not doing something right. I'm new to the engine stuff as far as installing distubutors (watched a few MSD videos on YouTube for install distubtor)

    Any opinions/recommendations welcome,

    Thanks
     
  2. Jun 24, 2013
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Bring the motor up to TDC #1 by first taking out all the plugs and putting a hose or your finger in the edge of the #1 spark plug hole to a point that your thumb or finger is blocking air from coming out. Slowly turn the motor over until you feel pressure against your finger , which is the pressure in the cylinder bore created by the piston coming up which pushes your finger off the spark plug hole.....That is near TDC....look at the vibration dampner and verify the mark with the pointer on the cover by now rotating the motor over by hand with a breaker bar. Now at TDC check where the rotor position is versus where the wire position is for #1 cylinder...............If your off more than a few degrees then you may have to pull the distributor out and rotate it a tooth or two until you get it close and or you can rewire the cap to get the correct wire position for #1 cylinder.
    The Vacuum advance points where it points once the rotor is pointing to #1...........if there is a reason that the Vacuum needs to point in a certain direction that may again be accomplished by either rotating the distributor base and or rewiring the cap. Hope that is not confusing and if you have already done the first step but not the second step it sounds like the motor is out of time.
     
  3. Jun 24, 2013
    piffey263

    piffey263 Active Member

    Medford, OR
    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2008
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    I refound top dead center, and I moved the plug wires, lined up vacuum advance the way I think you where talking about it started right up first try.

    It went up to 25 psi on oil and I stupidly revved engine and distributor moved and the fan cut the vacuum hose and oil pressure dropped. I turned off engine real quick.

    But it started!

    Thanks Tarry,
     
  4. Jun 25, 2013
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Piffey............well looks like your moving forward............fix the vacuum hose and put a timing light on it. Take the vacuum hose off the vacuum pod and plug the hose before you time the motor.........once you have established your static timing degrees before TDC tighten the Dist. bolt and put your hose back on...........
     
  5. Jun 25, 2013
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    Uh - be sure the 0* mark is at the SAME POINT on the 215 cover as on the 225. I know they are different between the 225 and 231 covers.
     
  6. Jun 25, 2013
    piffey263

    piffey263 Active Member

    Medford, OR
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    Yeah the mark is on other side so I'm can't use timing light unless there is another way?

    I was thinking using vacuum gauge sense I got timing marks on left side instead of right
     
  7. Jun 25, 2013
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Most timing lights have wires long enough to get across the motor...........If you have an induction clip on light just catch the wire at the distributor. And the side's of the motor L/R are as if you were sitting in the drivers seat.
     
  8. Jun 25, 2013
    piffey263

    piffey263 Active Member

    Medford, OR
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    Really, I didn't know the timing marks would be correct.

    I will try that, I just assumed if you put a different cover and the timing marks went from drivers left to drivers right you would need to change the harmonic damper or something.
    I will try that tonight though.
     
  9. Jun 25, 2013
    JAlves

    JAlves Sponsor

    Yuba City, CA
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    Oct 8, 2009
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    You are correct, you would need to use the matching damper and even that assumes the crank key is cut in the same spot.
     
  10. Jun 25, 2013
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Piffey,

    Sorry I went back and read your post so you changed a timing cover but kept the same crank hub and your timing marks are on the opposite side? Sorry can't time it that way!
    The only way to fix that is to pull the head off and use a Dial Indicator on #1 to establish TDC then mark your cover in the correct position opposite the mark on the hub..........the other way would be to use a degree wheel and a positive stop in the plug hole but not nearly as accurate.
     
  11. Jun 27, 2013
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    You can also get the TDC and scribe a new mark on the hub to align with the new cover - just keep track of which is which ;)
     
  12. Jun 27, 2013
    piffey263

    piffey263 Active Member

    Medford, OR
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    Thank you both,

    Tarry: I think doing the dial indicator route is a little much. I know it's the right way but I was planning on switching to a different cover down the line.

    Warlock that's a good idea

    I have just roughed in the timing with a vacuum gauge it's smooth and quiet. I got a few leaks before I test drive, I'm pulling 12.5 psi for oil now but the engine is at a really low idle. I'm thinking of switching to 30 weight after short test drive.
     
  13. Jun 27, 2013
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    No Problem take it out and drive it.......if when starting the starter seems to struggle and the cadence is UH......UH and UH then fires up its probably to far advanced or if under acceleration it is pinging also an indication of too much timing. If the motor is sluggish probably needs a little timing..........as your doing with the vacuum gauge will get you close.
     
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