Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Late V8 (1954+)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-17-2023, 09:46 PM   #1
1930artdeco
Senior Member
 
1930artdeco's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lynden, Wa
Posts: 3,566
Default Dist reinstall order

Ok, I have the engine at TDC right now (both valves are closed and it says TDC on the damper). I have a Ford O in her and want to verify my dist. reinstall order.

1) according to the manual, an auto should be 6* BTDC. So I need to rotate the engine over with the starter and then by hand to that mark.
2) once there instal the distributor and make sure it is on #1 and it engages the oil pump drive shaft.
3) clamp it down and reinstall the cap and wires.

Is this correct? What is the best way to get the dist. in on the correct tooth? She is a brand new engine so rotating by hand is going to be a pain.

Thanks,

Mike
__________________
1930 TownSedan (Briggs)
1957 Country Sedan
1930artdeco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2023, 12:17 PM   #2
paul2748
Senior Member
 
paul2748's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Midland Park, NJ
Posts: 4,011
Default Re: Dist reinstall order

Looks good to me - that's how I would do it. Basically it is a trial and error situation. Put it in, see if the rotor lines up with #1 on the cap. If not, lift it out, move it either back or forward until it does. Sometimes, it's a bitch to get the distributor on the drive for the oil pump so you have to rotate the drive a little at a time (use a 1/4 " drive, 1/4 deep socket taped to an extension). Be patient, it eventually will fall into the correct place.


Also make sure the vacuum canister is located is such a position that you can rotate the distributor both ways to adjust initial timing.



Quote:
Originally Posted by 1930artdeco View Post
Ok, I have the engine at TDC right now (both valves are closed and it says TDC on the damper). I have a Ford O in her and want to verify my dist. reinstall order.

1) according to the manual, an auto should be 6* BTDC. So I need to rotate the engine over with the starter and then by hand to that mark.
2) once there instal the distributor and make sure it is on #1 and it engages the oil pump drive shaft.
3) clamp it down and reinstall the cap and wires.

Is this correct? What is the best way to get the dist. in on the correct tooth? She is a brand new engine so rotating by hand is going to be a pain.

Thanks,

Mike
__________________
48 Ford Conv
56 Tbird
54 Ford Victoria

Last edited by paul2748; 06-18-2023 at 12:24 PM.
paul2748 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 06-18-2023, 01:42 PM   #3
1930artdeco
Senior Member
 
1930artdeco's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lynden, Wa
Posts: 3,566
Default Re: Dist reinstall order

Good to know. I have a target date of 8 July to fire her up for the first time in 40 years.
__________________
1930 TownSedan (Briggs)
1957 Country Sedan
1930artdeco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2023, 04:26 PM   #4
scicala
Senior Member
 
scicala's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Detroit suburb, MI
Posts: 3,715
Default Re: Dist reinstall order

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1930artdeco View Post
Ok, I have the engine at TDC right now (both valves are closed and it says TDC on the damper). I have a Ford O in her and want to verify my dist. reinstall order.

1) according to the manual, an auto should be 6* BTDC. So I need to rotate the engine over with the starter and then by hand to that mark.
2) once there instal the distributor and make sure it is on #1 and it engages the oil pump drive shaft.
3) clamp it down and reinstall the cap and wires.

Is this correct? What is the best way to get the dist. in on the correct tooth? She is a brand new engine so rotating by hand is going to be a pain.

Thanks,

Mike

You said the engine is now at TDC with both valves closed on #1 cylinder. If you rotate the engine with the starter until 6 degres BTDC shows up again, you will be 180 degrees out of time.
If it were me, I would roate the engine backwards with a socket on the balance center bolt, to a few degrees beyond the 6 degree BTDC mark, then slowly rotate the crankshaft clockwise until you come to 6 degrees again.

Sal
scicala is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2023, 07:37 PM   #5
dmsfrr
Senior Member
 
dmsfrr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Abq, NM
Posts: 3,619
Default Re: Dist reinstall order

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1930artdeco View Post
... She is a brand new engine so rotating by hand is going to be a pain.
Thanks,
Mike
IF you need to turn the engine over more easily you can remove the spark plugs first, until you're closer to trying to start it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by paul2748 View Post
...Also make sure the vacuum canister is located is such a position that you can rotate the distributor both ways to adjust initial timing.
Note the position of the distributor in this first diagram. The vacuum canister will point toward cyl # 7 or 8 on the left side of the block.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg firing order, right side.jpg (44.2 KB, 14 views)
File Type: jpg dist cap w #1.jpg (31.0 KB, 7 views)

Last edited by dmsfrr; 06-18-2023 at 08:01 PM.
dmsfrr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2023, 10:07 PM   #6
1930artdeco
Senior Member
 
1930artdeco's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lynden, Wa
Posts: 3,566
Default Re: Dist reinstall order

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
OK, turned her over and I got her between 5-6* (probably closer to 5) BTDC. Installed the dist. and I think she is a tad retarded. But I should be able to adjust that out of her when I get her running. IS this good or should I pull it out and try and get her closer to 6-7*?




Mike
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_8023.jpg (30.1 KB, 8 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_8024.jpg (86.7 KB, 9 views)
__________________
1930 TownSedan (Briggs)
1957 Country Sedan
1930artdeco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2023, 10:33 PM   #7
cadillac512
Senior Member
 
cadillac512's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Kansas
Posts: 1,009
Default Re: Dist reinstall order

That looks pretty good. If you turn the body of the distributor clockwise while watching the points, when they just begin to open tighten down the dist bolt. That way it'll fire right where you now have the timing marks set.



Terry
__________________
"It don't take but country smarts to solve the problem" (Smokey Yunick)


'41 Merc Town Sedan / 260" 8CM engine
'66 Fairlane four door / "warmed up" 302
cadillac512 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2023, 10:56 PM   #8
cos
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2022
Posts: 16
Default Re: Dist reinstall order

Can not see which direction vacuum canister is pointed. But looks like is not pointed at 7 or 8 eight cylinders like mentioned above.
cos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2023, 11:34 AM   #9
1930artdeco
Senior Member
 
1930artdeco's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lynden, Wa
Posts: 3,566
Default Re: Dist reinstall order

The vacuum canister is pointed towards #7 now but may be moved more towards #8 in the end.
__________________
1930 TownSedan (Briggs)
1957 Country Sedan
1930artdeco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2023, 12:25 PM   #10
miker98038
Senior Member
 
miker98038's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Kent, WA. Tucson, AZ
Posts: 1,426
Default Re: Dist reinstall order

I hadn’t seen this before, but it’s from Tim’s site. Says pretty much the same as above, but still worth a look. I think from what you’ve said above you’re fine.

http://yblockguy.com/techtips/QandA.html
miker98038 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:00 AM.