v8 distributor removal UPDATE!

[bambamjj]

Hi

Pretty competent mechanically but never comfortable when it comes to removing the Distributor.

Want to replace the Amplifier on side of Distributor, firstly

Is TDC cylinder 1 is the plug on same side as Dizzy at the front of the engine?

Then i can just remove the Dizzy from clamp and take it out, need to remove Rotor arm as this is corroded on, so if i do move the alignment of the arm when it is out is this critical?  can i just put it in roughly the same position, lets say for arguements sake 5 oclock then drop it back in, and it should re-loctae should'nt it?

Or can i forget about getting TDC on 1 just unbolt it and as long as the rotor arm is in the same position when i put it back, that will be OK?

Hope you understand that and can help?

Jon

[bambamjj]

Basically what im trying to say, do i "have to" set dizzy to TDC 1 or if i note position can i just Whip it out and as long as dizzy arm is in same location as when i removed it it will relocate OK?

Can you help please have to do this tonight as i'm need car tomorrow?
 

[Colin 009]

Haynes  says  says yes,........set engine to TDC with No 1 piston on compression,

Dutch to me, but thats what it says.

[bambamjj]

Dutch to me, never been able to get a 4 cylinder right let alone a V8

I am gonna so mess this up.............  and it is top long till pay day to get some one to do it for me  

[Colin 009]

thats on a 3.9 V8 and the No 1 id front under the oil filler.

[bambamjj]

So as i look at engine stood at radiator no1 is nearest me on the left hand side then?

[Colin 009]

No right, right  

[bambamjj]

Right - same side as Dizzy just underneath it.

Thank you it has been a long day and i have been dreading this.

Wish i had a 90 diesel! then all i need is ally plate, rivets, hammer socket set and sticky tape.  i'm good with a hammer :lol:

Many thanks

Jon

[Colin 009]

Heres the workshop picture

[bambamjj]

No timing Ref plate/guide only marks on fly wheel!

Give up!

[Colin 009]

oops, sorry I couldn't help more.

[iianorthants]

No timing Ref plate/guide only marks on fly wheel!

Give up!

on mine it has two sets of timing marks, one set is 180 deg out.
 disconect white top conector (white/black wire) from coil, rem dissy cap and with window open you can turn engine on starter so rocker arm faces forwards, once pointing in right direction lining up the timing marks should be easier.
 should add timing marks are on the big pully at bottom, conected to the crankshaft  

[bambamjj]

It's official ive broken it!  :oops:

Cant get dizzy back in, lost TDC not sure how to get it and cant find any timing marks on pulley etc. not capable of fixing it  

It's over she will never run again :oops:    :oops:  

Can it be fixed with no apparent reference points?

Jon

[Bulli]

Yes of course it can be fixed.How did you locate tdc? The rotor arm cant be placed wrongly. Haynes has detailed instructions on how to remove and refit...as well as setting timing. The problem with just putting it back is that even small movement from its original position can change advance/ retardation of the ignition. a few degrees is an awful lot. The position of the dizzy dictates when the plugs fire in relation to the piston position.
Too much advance and it will pink like mad(pinking is when the fuel/air mix is ignited too early..the piston gets knocked back before it reaches tdc) which wont do your engine any good.Retarded too far and you will have no power.
Main thing DONT PANIC as it says in the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. It achieves nothing. Go buy yourself a haynes manual as they are very useful and take you time...all will be well.
If you find yourself getting frustrated , have a cup of tea then start again....stops you forcing things as they tend to break.

[bambamjj]

Thanks for support Bulli glad to know it can be fixed  :)

Was supposed to be out tomorrow but that's off.  Tried tea and overnight sleep, fixed dizzy as springs had come of the counterbalances inside

Got Haynes manual, but there are no clear marks or Marker on pulley wheel for lining up TDC?

So gonna hand it over to some one else

 :oops: I did exactly the same thing about 7 years ago :oops:

Should have learnt my lesson by now but studied it all and still got it majorly wrong

Jon

[bambamjj]

Well thanks to a good chap from Wessex Hillrunners it is fixed, took him 20 mins  :roll: and all it cost me was a jet wash as we left Romsey quarry today (£2)  :D

So got to go to Romsey Quarry today for a good bit of mud wrestling?

And must admit she goes like Bloody Stink, thought had bit of lag in Auto box but no way, but now has irratic idle when you put it in gear but touch the excelerator and whooosh she is away.  :twisted:

First thing on shopping list now is new off road tyres.

 :D  :D  :D  :D

[Colin 009]

Thank god you got it sorted eh, :D

[Skippy]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but to find TDC on cyl 1 don't you just use some kind of a probe in thru the spark plug hole and then whilst rotating the crank, you can see when the piston is at the top of it's stroke on the compression cycle?

[Range Rover Blues]

You could if the plugs faced down onto the piston but as they go in on and angle you risk jamming the probe into the piston. I just use the timing marks on the fron tof the engine, assuming the car is running, set to TDC in the crank pulley with the rotor arm pointing at no.1 plug lead.  Mark the position of the rotor arm onto the dizzy then unbolt it and remove, taking note of where the rotor moves to as you withdraw it, this is the positoon it needs to be in when you shove it back in, bearing in mind it has to line up with the oil pump drive and locate the skew gear on the camshaft.