I'm installing my cam and have everything lined up as the original cam but the distributor is retarded about 2 degrees. I have the distributor, distributor drive gear and timing sprockets in exact same orientation as when I pulled it out at TDC but the rotor not lining up same.

Is this due to the new timing in the cam?

And is this okay and should I rotate dizzy 1 or 2 degrees to line up the TDC mark or should I advance dizzy gear 1 tooth to allign? I expected everything to line up same as it came out but now I'm stumped.

Going to degree in the cam as soon as I buy or find a degree kit. Really just want to build this once.

Tomorrow plan to temporarily put the timing cover and harmonic balancer back on and see if Crankshaft moved slightly.


Dizzy not quite alligned but my marks line up



Timing installed straight up at 0, cam dot is top middle , not visible in this photo.



Dizzy gear slot pointed toward no. 1 cylinder

 

Should be fine. Just make sure to set fuel sync once its running. (need a pretty good scan tool for that.)

Also, with the timing gears dot to dot, I think number 6 is actually in firing position.

 

So leave as is then? If I advance the distributor gear 1 tooth it all lines up perfect, or if I turn the ditributor body slightly it lines up perfect. Guess I'll leave it as is and if needed rotate the distributor slightly if no start occurs.

I have both dots pointed up on the sprockets, painted the bottom for visual aid only. Number 1 is at TDC, both valves closed(intake valve just closed), harmonic balancer mark at 0, distributor rotor pointed at number 1.

 

The distributor position is not that critical, as the crank position sensor triggers timing (controlled by the PCM)... the distributor just says which cylinder is getting the spark... so long as the rotor is pointing to the correct pin in the cap, you're good.

 

Thanks, feel more confident with your input.

 

It's this thread drill going?

I would like to know how that issue went I to am having the same one as far as where to point everything (Drive gear, rotor)

 

hey beau680. Yes my install fired right up. Distributor gear direction is not that important. But you should try to get the gear pointed as close as possible toward the number 1 intake bolt. You can rotate the distributor the rest of the way so that the rotor is pointed EXACTLY at the mark inside the cap indicating number 1 plug terminal. Do not change the order of the wires to compensate, just rotate distributor till it lines up.
This only works with number 1 cylinder at top dead center and the mark on Harmonic balancer lined up with mark on timing cover.

 

Well to the tabs on the base of the distributor I can only rotate it further out of position from the rotor hitting number one intake bolt so what I did is locate tdc then the rotor made that my number one spot on the cap I to am convinced that it doesn't matter where the #1 spot on the cap is because the truck don't know the difference an went from there the truck runs but not without my foot on the pedal until I unplug the cat o2 sensor then then it runs but idles a little erratically but runs on it own I do know i also have a clogged catalytic converter so tomorrow I'll to it to muffler shop replace the cat an if it idles on its own I will do a fuel sync if necessary when done

How did fuel sync go did you have to take the truck in? If so was it spendy? And did it take long?

 

No you have it all wrong, fuel injectors are timed and controlled by the distributor, if no1 mark INSIDE the distributor is not lined up with rotor and you have changed location of your wires you will be squirting fuel out of time, it will never run correctly. Take a moment to think about that.
You are not lining up the rotor to the no1 intake bolt, that's the distributor gear that lines up there. Have a look at the photos above.
The ROTOR should be pointed at the mark INSIDE the distributor marked 'no1', also pictured above. Turn distributor to line them up exactly then you will have a chance of it running. I would put motor at TDC and realign that distributor drive gear if it was me.
My shop only charged me a $20 boat fund donation to set fuel sync. It takes about 20 minutes. Just need to check around and find a shop that is willing to do it and has a good scanner.

 

The pic below is how you set the fuel sync as per the factory service manual. It's only about a paragraph long so it's easy to do. Set it off the crank being at tdc #1.