Ignition timing question

[Deleted User]

I just installed a pertronix distributor that Randy Maas built for me in my 308, and I have kind of a silly question. After removing the old distributor, I put in the new one and being that the distributor shaft only fits one way, I found that the rotor is pointing about opposite of where it was on the old distributor. So of course the plug wires are all now 180 degrees off from what they were on the old distributor. I moved my wires opposite from where they were originally and got the car running but began wondering..... So my question is....... if you pop off the distributor cap and look at it like a clock dial, roughly where should #1 be? Thanks, Aaron

mars55

Here is a picture out of the shop manual.

Uncle Josh

It should be roughly 1 o'clock, but the engine really doesn't care where you start as long as you're not befuddled and it's 153624, or 16258374.



I screwed up when I mounted my Hornet oil pump but I wasn't about to change it when I had it all installed and wanted to hear it run. My #1 is at 7 o'clock.

[Deleted User]

Thanks to both Mars55 and Uncle Josh. I was more curious than anything else where the "correct" position should be, and now it's right on the money (between one and two o'clock). My old distributor must have been rebuilt sometime in the past and was about 180 degrees off. The new pertronix seems like it's going to be a great set-up (thanks to Randy Maas). The car fires right up on the first crank or two and seems to idle and accelerate smoother than it has over the past thirty years.... Thanks again to all, I really appreciate this forum. Aaron