Geoff---It's indeed possible to have the spark plug wires 180 deg.
opposite from where they were at one time, and the engine run well. Two
things could have changed during your overhaul, (if that was part of
your restoration). The camshaft (& drive sprocket) could have been 180
out of phase, or the drive gear at the bottom of your distributor can be
pinned likewise. Either situation will change when the spark is
distributed. Surprisingly, the engine doesn't care, so long as the spark
occurs at the time both of the valves are closed and the piston is near
the top.
Ideally, #1 spark plug tower should be at about 7, on the clock. The
clips that secure the cap to the distributor body near 9 and 3 on the
clock. This puts the tach cable drive in the optimum position for
working on other areas of the engine, like the fuel pump and oil filter.
In short, the rotor has to be pointing to the sparkplug wire for the
cylinder about to be fired.
Clear as mud?
Dick Taylor
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