oil pump gear and distributor timing

[MedPhys]

If any of you followed my "not out of woods yet" post, you noticed that i was chasing a mystery 10* timing retard.  I think I may have the culprit.  I have recently use a piston stopped and confirmed that I have the correct TDC location.  When my timing computer says 28*, my timing light says 18*.

I know that there are only two ways to insert a mopar distributor.  The right way, or 180* out.  When I primed my engine I had to pull out the oil pump gear to stick the priming shaft in.  If I reinserted the oil pump gear a tooth off, this would through off my distributor/ cam timing correct?

How do I tell where the correct rotor position in the distributor is at TDC? (should be pointing at #1 cylinder in distributor cap right?)

This may sound stupid, but my distributor cap on the top  <--1Rotation1-->  Is this pointing to the #1 cylinder terminal depending on direction of engine rotation?

Please Help

[John_Kunkel]

The position of the oil pump drive gear will only affect which tower on the distributor cap the rotor is pointing to at TDC #1.

There is a preferred position for the drive gear and a preferred location for the #1 tower, but as long as the rotor is pointing to the #1 wire at TDC #1 the basic timing is correct.

[MedPhys]

Ok, that would explain why that cap points to its #1 position and I am using a different position. 

I will try to rephase the distributor, and then check the timing again to see if I made a mistake elswhere.

[Charger_Fan]

In addition to John Kunkel's post, just make sure you're finding TDC correctly...
* piston at the top of the compression stroke,
* turn crank slightly by hand to align timing pointer on zero (to make sure you're at the absolute top of TDC),
* pop distributor cap off & whichever wire the rotor's pointing at, THAT's #1.

Then adjust your wires on the cap from that point, though the firing order. At that point, your timing will be dead on, with zero advance...the car will start & you can set your advance from there.

[firefighter3931]

Agreed with the above. The only thing i would add is that it is best to align #1  with enough for/aft play in the distributor to make timing adjustments w/o having the vac advance cannister becoming an impediment.

Basicly install the gear, bring the engine up to tdc on the compression stroke and drop the distributor in. Rotate the distributor so that the vaccum cannister is pointing towards #1 cylinder or paralell with the front of the motor. Look where the rotor is pointing on the cap....the closest tower will be #1. Counterclockwise, run your wires to the other cylinders and you're done, except for fine tuning the ignition timing.


Ron