Setting Distributor to #1

[Mike Nance]

I’m setting up the distributor on a 1974Tii. I have the cam and crank at TDC and TO in the viewing window. Based on all the posts I’ve read I’m at TDC(see pictures TO is blurry). 

 

The distributor body spins but the orange rotor on top dosen’t. Does that mean it’s on #1? There are no markings that I can see on the distributor. 
 

After #1 is set where do the other spark plug wires go?

[Mark92131]

4 minutes ago, Mike Nance said:

 

After #1 is set where do the other spark plug wires go?

 

The rotor points at #1 position on your cap, plug the #1 wire on it and then add the wires clockwise in the firing order on your valve cover (1,3,4,2).  Verify that the rockers for #1 cylinder are off cam (closed, compression stroke) and that the "OT" line on the flywheel is even with the squared off back of the viewing hole.

 

Mark92131

[Mark92131]

13 minutes ago, Mike Nance said:

There are no markings that I can see on the distributor.

 

When you get ready to fire it, you may need to turn the body of the distributor back and forth to advance it enough to get it started.  Then you can set the timing for 25 degrees BTDC at 2700 RPM (flywheel BB) in the viewing port.  When that is done and the distributor is looked down, you can verify TDC again and make a notch in the lip of the distributor body right under the tip of your rotor.

 

Mark92131

[Stevenc22]

Put the cap on and add the #1 spark plug lead to the cap directly above where the rotor is pointing.

['76mintgrün'02]

You can clock the body of the distributor to one of four positions before you do that.

 

Typically, the body of our Bosch distributors is installed so the part number faces forward.  That puts the points on the forward side of the distributor, for easy adjustment.  Yours looks 'backwards' in those photos.  It'd be nice to see distributor photos without the dust cover installed.

 

The original distributor would have been vacuum retarded.  Is that a Bosch #002?

 

 

[Mike Nance]

Ok, thanks for all the replies from @Mark92131 and @Stevenc22 I'm going to ask the newbie question, what on the rotor points to the #1 position?

[Mark92131]

1 minute ago, Mike Nance said:

what on the rotor points to the #1 position?

 

The brass bit on the edge of the rotor at 9:00 on your last picture.

 

Mark92131

[Mark92131]

1 minute ago, Mike Nance said:

what on the rotor points to the #1 position?

 

The brass bit on the edge of the rotor at 9:00 on your last picture.

 

Mark92131

[Mike Nance]

@'76mintgrün'02I'm not sure what distributor is on the motor this motor is one I picked up from @kai month ago. Where do I find the model number?

[Stevenc22]

That is not a dumb question since you have a very weird rotor. You likely have the rotor with a built in limiter.

 

This is the #1 position

 

 

 

This is what a normal rotor looks like

 

Edited April 25 by Stevenc22

[Mike Nance]

Thanks for the information @Mark92131, I'll never forget that.

['76mintgrün'02]

It is typically stamped into the side of the body.  It may be an IE offering.  I don't think they mark theirs.

[Mike Nance]

@Stevenc22, if there is a built in limiter is there another wire that gets connected somewhere? I have the 1.8ohm yellow wire and red/black wire and the black(tachometer)wire identified. Not sure if I have anymore loose wires in the engine bay.

[Stevenc22]

No you just change the rotor to a standard rotor to remove the limiter. Its a RPM limiter, not a resistor limiter.

[Mike Nance]

@Stevenc22is this a standard part number? Would Ireland Engineering have this rotor?