ignition timing

[Reesolman]

i'm having a very hard time getting my 67 Wildcat to start after changing points,plugs,wires,capand rotor. took valve cover off to make sure both valves on number 1 piston were closed at tdc. i adjust everything and nothing happens. where should rotor be pointing? number 1 plug or plug wire on cap? please give me any assistance you can thanks.

[Rupe]

Oh the memories!

Yes, the rotor should point to the #1 wire position (or 180 degrees off) when the timing mark is at TDC.

Just a few questions...

Did it run before you started changing things?

Did you get the alignment pegs on the rotor in the right place before screwing it down? (one is square and the other round)

Did you move the distributor? If you didn't move it, it's not pointing at #1 (or 180 degrees off) you may have a timing chain issue. (was common back in the day)

Are the wires in the right order? (firing order is cast into the intake manifold)

Did you get any points lube on the contact area? (drag a clean match book cover through the closed points to clean)

Did you remove the piece of cardboard they put between the contact area for shipping?

Are any of the wires going to the points touching anything metalic and shorted out? (hard to see but important) Some of these had a ground wire between the center plate and the dist body. Is it broken?

Did you set the point gap at .016" - .018" while on the high point? Better to set them at 30 degrees (for a V-8) with a dwell meter but who has one of those these days? Thats' what the small window on the cap is for. It allows setting the exact dwell while the engine is running.

BTW, you should be able to see a slight arcing of the points when the engine cranks. You can verify the points make & break with a test light while cranking. It should flash.

Keep us posted on your progress and good luck!

[Reesolman]

(07-23-2010 10:00 AM)Rupe Wrote:  Oh the memories!

Yes, the rotor should point to the #1 wire position (or 180 degrees off) when the timing mark is at TDC.

Just a few questions...

Did it run before you started changing things?

Did you get the alignment pegs on the rotor in the right place before screwing it down? (one is square and the other round)

Did you move the distributor? If you didn't move it, it's not pointing at #1 (or 180 degrees off) you may have a timing chain issue. (was common back in the day)

Are the wires in the right order? (firing order is cast into the intake manifold)

Did you get any points lube on the contact area? (drag a clean match book cover through the closed points to clean)

Did you remove the piece of cardboard they put between the contact area for shipping?

Are any of the wires going to the points touching anything metalic and shorted out? (hard to see but important) Some of these had a ground wire between the center plate and the dist body. Is it broken?

Did you set the point gap at .016" - .018" while on the high point? Better to set them at 30 degrees (for a V-8) with a dwell meter but who has one of those these days? Thats' what the small window on the cap is for. It allows setting the exact dwell while the engine is running.

BTW, you should be able to see a slight arcing of the points when the engine cranks. You can verify the points make & break with a test light while cranking. It should flash.

Keep us posted on your progress and good luck!

yes it ran before i changed everything. i set the points at .017. the only wire off the distributor goes to the neg. side of coil. i took the timing chain cover off and it is in good shape. I forgot to mention that the spark plugs which are new, even after cranking the engine, get fouled out real bad. it tries to start, but just wont. thank you for your help.

[Rupe]

I presume you mean "tries to start" as in it cranks fast enough but just never gets going. As long as the timing cover is off did you look at the timing marks on the gears? Do they line up correctly? How much slack is in the chain?

On the fouling plugs, are they wet with oil, gas, coolant? Is the gas fresh or is this car just out of long term storage? (with possible flooding carb?)

Heading out the door for a long weekend shortly. Good luck and keep us posted.