engine and drivetrain help with dist.install

[mikea]

I am about to drop in a newly rebuilt engine.

the trans. is bolted up.

what's the best way to find TDC or install the dist.

so that I can start it and run it to use a timing light?

it's a vacuum advance dist.

mike

berkeley CA

1974 2002

[mrdew]

Pull plug #1 put your thumb over the hole and bump the engine until you feel air pushing out, it will be on the compression stroke. Then get a long skinny screwdriver. Because of the odd angle that it is at it still works but it is different. When the screwdriver is in the cylinder push down until you feel the top of the piston and then rotate the engine by hand until it is at TDC.

When in then you can insert the distributor and jsut line it up so that the plug wire to #1 will fire first.

[Preyupy]

I would just take the valve cover off and line up the timing mark on the cam and the TDC mark on the flywheel (labled OT ) and install the distributor with the rotor pointing at the mark on the top of the dist housing. This should be close enough to start the engine.

[c.d.iesel]

do both door #1, and door #2 recomendations.

remove ALL the plugs so the motor hand turns easily with your right hand

turning the fan pully and V-belt (alternator belt needs to be tight -

not floopy) Left hand with long thin screw driver or stout wire feeling

#1 piston coming up and rocking at TDC to exact TDC, and then looking and confirming that the cam lobes for #1 zylinder are both pointing away from the rockers arms so the two valves are closed - front of the cam

notch aligns with the center of the oil bar - straight up

[Scott Sislane]

nicely covered in the FAQ construction zone:

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,50/page,viewtopic/t,350584/

and maybe this thread would help:

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,50/page,viewtopic/t,346482/highlight,/