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RE: Spit that don't start

To: Thomas Story <tomstory@slip.net>
Subject: RE: Spit that don't start
From: Greg Meboe <meboe@wsunix.wsu.edu>
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 1995 10:45:19 -0800 (PST)
Thomas,
        Sounds like the plug wires are in wrong.  The Dizzy you describe 
would be factory for a 67 with twin carbs.  Set your Static timing to 
around 8 BTDC.
        The firing order is 1342, with the rotor spinning 
counterclockwise as you look down on it.  Here's the easy and fun way to 
get your car running.
        1st step, Pull all plug wires from cap.  Even though everyone 
tells you never to do this, it's REALLY FUN and onlookers will gasp with 
fear!  Then find #1 compression stroke TDC by any number of methods, my 
favorite being removing a spark plug and look at the valves to make sure 
they're not "rocking".  By this point, the small group of friends will 
think you're totally off your rocker, and won't even expect the next step.
        2nd step.  Loosen distributor mounting, and make sure that the 
rotor points to a (any) terminal in the cap when the points just begin to 
open up.  This is, of course, as you're turning the dizzy in the 
clockwise direction, so that the rotor is "spinning" in the right 
direction.  If you have to turn the dizzy too far to get this to happen, 
simply pull the dist out, unbolt the dist holdown clamp base casting, and 
pull and twist the dist drive gear a tooth or two.  You can't possibly 
screw it up if you follow these steps, but your friends won't know that, 
and their jaws will hit the floor when they see you doing this.  Oh, the 
dist itself only goes in one way, as the drive dog is slightly eccentric. Do 
this fiddling with the drive gear teeth positioning 
until you're happy with the alignment (for vacuum line, tach drive cable 
angle hookup, etc) and then set the static timing as described above, 
that is, tighten the dist holdown clamp at the instant the points just 
begin to open (or your Allison fires), with the engine at @8 BTDC.
        3rd step.  Reinstall #1 plug, install #1 wire into dizzy cap, and 
simply hook up wires #3 #4 #2 going counterclockwise around the top of 
the cap.
        Now is when you mumble some magic words, and turn the key.

If you've done everything as described above, you can't fail in getting 
the static timing and the distributor gear set correctly, and your 
friends will be amazed.  Works for me.   
        Just remember the three things it takes to make a car run. 
1)   Spark
2)   Compression
3)   Fuel
        Now that you've gotten #1 All sorted out, you're free to move on 
to #'s 2 and 3.  But I'll step down now.

                Greg
                            Greg Meboe     meboe@wsunix.wsu.edu
                            Dept. of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
                            Washington State University,  Pullman, Wa.
                            '85 XJ-12 H.E. (daily)  '67 Spit-6 '74 TR-6



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