engine and drivetrain Re-installing the distributor

[mdrexler]

I removed the distributor from my 74 2002 tii, without aligning the engine on #1TDC. Now I am having trouble getting it properly aligned. I know where the distributor body needs to be, and have used a compression gauge, but is there a notch anywhere on a pulley that will help me align #1 cylinder to TDC? Any other suggestions?

[Beaner7102]

There is a notch on the front pulley (both inner and outer edges), clean the muck off the pulley, put a tiny dab of liquidpaper (tipex) on the notches. Be sure to align the pointer (about 1pm near the timing cover) with your white marks. That will be #1 at TDC, make sure its a compression stroke (as proved by your comp guage). To do this have the car on a flat surface, put the white marks at about 8pm to the pointer, car in 4th gear, comp guage in, roll car forward to align TDC, comp guage should move. There is a mark on the rim of the dizzy (covered by the rim of the cap), the rotor should line up with this mark when the dizzy is pushed in (the rotor moves (a 1/4 turn approx) when you push it in - so it may take a few goes). You now have static timming set. Start car check timing with a timing light (half the steel ball on the fly wheel should be visable (LHS of the car for the half ball) at 2400 rpm for a Tii. Beaner7102

[c.d.iesel]

...in addition , if you remove all the spark plugs,

and with a heavy wire like a piece of wire coat hanger,

hand crank the motor very slowly, while feeling the piston position in the #1 plug hole, and when the piston is at Top Dead Center, look also in the inspection hole to the rear of the starter motor mounting - there should also be a mark visable at the same time - if not rotate one more revolution till the mark is visable , and the piston is again at T.D.C.

have safe fun.