Pete --
Sounds like you may have installed your distributor 90 degrees off.
You can twist the distributor (and thus the cap) around to the
position you wish. You just have to make sure, prior to starting it,
that when the #1 piston is at the firing position (i.e. near TDC,
with valves closed), that the distributor rotor is at the point where
it will be sparking the lead for the #1 plug. (Also make sure that
the wires are put into the cap in the proper firing order!)
You can eyeball this stuff and get your engine to start; you'll need
to fine tune with a timing light of course.
Dan
>Hi All,
>
>I'm the process of putting my car back together and noticed that the
>distributor was in a position such that the plastic elbow on the vacuum pipe
>fouls with the alternator/ generator. The distributor position hasn't
>changed from when I took it off but if the engine needs to be re-timing it
>will have to be moved, as the parts clash this won't be easy. Is there a way
>of rotating the distributor out of the way so that the timing isn't changed?
>Please excuse my ignorance on the subject, I'm still learning...
>
>I looked at other peoples pictures of engines and noted the position of
>their distributors of which the majority seem to be angled well away from
>the alternator which makes me wonder why my one is so different.
>
>Any ideas,
>Pete.
>
>###################################################################
>1976 Spitfire 1500
>Body off restoration and hopefully soon to be a fair weather driver
>###################################################################
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dan Buettner - Des Moines, Iowa - mailto:danb@thelittlemacshop.com
1977 Spitfire, FM64159U, now with an O too. Runs & drives, but shakes
like crazy; needs new tires and a steering/suspension rebuild.
http://home.earthlink.net/~nickndan/gmachine/greenmachine.html
1957 TR3, TS15098L. Needs an O. Undergoing frame-off restoration begun 9/99.
http://home.earthlink.net/~nickndan/TR3/TR3.html
1988 Honda Civic 4WD Wagon. Gets me to work and back home again every day.
No home page. (go figure)
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