I screw up... didn't read the manual carefully. How can I find out
the original position? or how can I properly re-install the
distributor? I have a 1978 mercruiser 260 (chevy 350 engine).

Thanks for your help.

Open up the left rock cover to see the valves. Turn the engine using a
wrench at the drive pulley nut, removing spark plugs helps, until both #1
cylinder vlaves are closed. This is TDC for #1, position rotor arm at #1
position and reinstall distributor. The timing mark should also line up.

You must sight the #1 valves for this, using the timing mark without the
valves can put you at #6 at TDC with the marks lined up.

Good luck.


"Han" wrote in message
m...
I screw up... didn't read the manual carefully. How can I find out
the original position? or how can I properly re-install the
distributor? I have a 1978 mercruiser 260 (chevy 350 engine).

Thanks for your help.

On 2 Jul 2004 15:35:57 -0700, (Han) wrote:

Thanks for the info.
I already took the heads off for a valve job. Is there a way to just
look at the piston?

If your heads are still off, there isn't much point in trying to get
the timing set. I guess you could drop the 2 push-rods down the #1
sleeves and rotate the engine by hand. As the piston comes to it's
highest point (TDC) and both push-rods are at their lowest points,
this would indicate a good time for the #1 plug to fire, actually just
before this point, but the rotor should be lined up pretty close to
the #1 plug wire.

Once the heads are on, confirm your setting as indicated by previous
poster.

If I remember correctly, once it's all together and the timing is set,
the distribtor sits pretty square to the engine (???). By this I mean
that the 2 bolts/clips that hold the distributor cap on run along the
same axis as the crank, or is it perpendicular? I use this as a quick
check to see if a tooth has been skipped. Obviously this will change
slightly as the timing is adjusted, but if they sit 10 or more degrees
off.... This is just my observation from these motors and I could be
way off base here.

Good Luck

Thanks for the info.
I already took the heads off for a valve job. Is there a way to just
look at the piston?

to determine correct position to install the distributor,
1. remove spark plug from #1 cylinder
2. crank motor with finger over the #1 cylinder plug hole
3. pressure pushing air out hole indicates piston coming to TDC (TOP DEAD
CENTER)
4. check timing mark on engine lines up with 0 (zero) on the timing mark on
vibration dampener.
5. insert distributor so that rotor points to #1 lead on distributor cap.
"Han" wrote in message
m...
I screw up... didn't read the manual carefully. How can I find out
the original position? or how can I properly re-install the
distributor? I have a 1978 mercruiser 260 (chevy 350 engine).

Thanks for your help.

Also -
remove the ignition wire from the coil to prevent the engine from starting
"Han" wrote in message
m...
I screw up... didn't read the manual carefully. How can I find out
the original position? or how can I properly re-install the
distributor? I have a 1978 mercruiser 260 (chevy 350 engine).

Thanks for your help.

Yes. Turn the crank until the #1 pistion is at TDC and look at the 2 valve
lifters. Both should be at the bottom of travel. If not at bottom of
travel, it the #6 TDC, turn engine over 1 more revolution.

No need to go out of our way to find the #1 TDC before the valve adjustment,
the reassembly process will bring you there.

As your heads are off, you'll need to adjust the valves after head
reassembly. That is done at 2 engine positions, #1 TDC and #6 TDC. Do that
with #6 first, then #1 and your engine is ready for the distributor.

Hope this helps.


"Han" wrote in message
om...
Thanks for the info.
I already took the heads off for a valve job. Is there a way to just
look at the piston?

On Fri, 02 Jul 2004 11:43:26 -0700, something compelled Derek
, to say:

On 2 Jul 2004 15:35:57 -0700, (Han) wrote:

Thanks for the info.
I already took the heads off for a valve job. Is there a way to just
look at the piston?

If your heads are still off, there isn't much point in trying to get
the timing set. I guess you could drop the 2 push-rods down the #1
sleeves and rotate the engine by hand.

Yeah, you could, but you have to install the intake manifold
before you can install the distributor, and you have to install
the heads before you can install the intake manifold.

remove the plug from cyl #1 (or any cyl), put your thumb over the hole, turn
over the engine until you feel compression coming up, then some more, then use
a small screwdriver stuck down the hole and turn the engine over very slowly
until the piston has stopped moving up.

Take cap off distributor, noting which plug wire the rotor is pointing at,
insert distributor in hole and tighten hold bolt enough to kept the distributor
from slopping around. The spark wire the rotor is pointing is the wire you run
to cyl #1. then run the rest of the plug wires to the prop plugs in the proper
order.

You engine will start (assuming all else is okay), and then time the engine.
Then go boating and enjoy.

clarification:

remove the plug from cyl #1 (or any cyl)

The spark wire the rotor is pointing is the wire you run
to cyl #1.

(or the cyl you held your thumb over)