well thats no good
 

i have quite a problem that has arose now that im getting my engine back together. i have no clue on how to get my distributer to the right place to put it back in. how can i find tdc on compression stroke and then how do i put my distributer in, thanks very much this is my first time ever rebuilding an engine and id prefer if it was firing the right cylinders and at the right time

I did mine by watching the rockers on cylinder #1, I watched the exhaust open and close and the intake open and then close and turned the balancer until it read 0* and put the distributor in with the rotor faced to firing on cylinder #1 and pointing directly through the center of the motor toward the firewall. My timing was quite a bit retarded when I started it up, but once I set the timing right I haven't had a problem. That's the way I did it and it worked for me, and it was my first time stripping down a motor too.

The easiest and best way that I've found to do it is to put a wadded up piece of tissue paper in the #1 spark plug hole (passenger side front), and turn the motor over by hand. On the compression stroke the forced air will blow the tissue out of the hole. Once that happens simply line up your balancer to where the timing mark is on 10 degrees BTDC, and then stab your dizzy in so that the rotor is at the #1 plug wire on the cap. Gets the job done first try everytime.

I can't take the credit. I think PKRWUD was the one who gave me the idea. In the past I used to have a screwdriver in the plug hole and felt when the piston was rising, but there was no guarantee that I was on the right stroke that way. Hope this helps,
Dave

thanks alot, i have no rocker arm covers on so i will just use the valves being shut to find the compression stroke, my other problem is that i have no pointer to point to my balancer for the timing, so i am just gonna have to guess at timing i guess. thanks again