Sorry I don't own one.
It is normal for the rotor to be slightly past #1 if the timing is set
at 5 or more degrees BTDC. What that means is the rotor will hit the
contact before the engine hits TDC so when the engine finally is at Top,
the rotor has past the contact post for #1 wire.
The fire happens when the metal part of the rotor first hits the post on
the cap or just when the points first crack open.
You turn the distributor's case to fine tune it in. This can be done
with a timing light even if it isn't running. The starter cranking will
be enough to make the light flash. A test light on the points for a
static test will tell too. Set the distributor nut down at first
flicker.
You should have a notch on the flywheel that indicates TDC also.
I don't understand how your rotor can point to both places. Either it
is right on the center of the post for the wire if you have the
prestolite distributor or it is inbetween 1 and 6 for the delco remy.
You turn the distributor's case to fine tune it in. This can be done
with a timing light even if it isn't running. The starter cranking will
be enough to make the light flash. A test light on the points will tell
too. Set the distributor at first flicker.
The one that catches most folks is the two different top dead centers
the #1 piston has with one 360 rotor rotation.
Mike
Bill Lahr wrote:
>
> Milke,
>
> Thanks. It is difficult to tell from a book. I have a Haynes manual, but
> the drawing isn't that clear and it doesn't have any details on the
> early GM engines, only the similar Dauntless V6. The rotor is wide on
> the Oddfire distributor and mine will either center on #1 at TDC on the
> compression stroke or point between #1 and #6. If you have one of these
> engines (Delco distributor), could you pop the cap and look at where the
> centerline of the rotor points at TDC? There is a small notch on the
> distributor that represents the #1 position. One would assume it would
> point to that mark, not past it.
>
> Bill
>
> Mike Romain wrote:
> > My book shows it to be at the 5:00 position looking at it from the front
> > of the engine with the firing order 165432 clockwise.
> >
> > Yours sounds like it is off a gear tooth maybe on the rotor or the
> > distributor needs to be turned to clock it. It should be at 1 or just
> > slightly after towards the 6. My book also shows two different
> > advances. It says 0 for the prestolite distributor and 5 deg for the
> > delco remy.
> >
> > Also make sure it is on the compression stroke TDC, not the exhaust
> > stroke's TDC. You can stick you finger in the plug hole and feel the
> > compression as it comes up.
> >
> > Mike
> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> > Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> > Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> > (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
> >
> > Bill Lahr wrote:
> >
> >>I'm trying to fire up a '61 CJ5 that I am almost finished restoring.
> >>Engine is from a '64 Buick Special, suspect it is the 198ci because it
> >>has a Rochester Monojet rather than the 2bbl found on the 225. No
> >>matter, same block, etc. I have compression, I have manifold vacuum,
> >>rebuilt the carb, have fuel, rebuilt the distributor (vacuum advance had
> >>a hole in it) and have spark, but it won't start. The previous owner had
> >>installed a new timing chain after he parked it, but never drove it, and
> >>I assume he did that correctly or it would have destroyed a valve in
> >>cranking it over. But he apparently had to pull the distributor. It is
> >>driven by a hypoid gear that causes the rotor to twist as you remove it,
> >>so I suspect he may not have inserted it correctly. At TDC, the rotor
> >>was pointing midway between #1 and #6.
> >>
> >>There is a small notch on the side of the distributor housing that marks
> >>the #1 position. What I need is for someone with an Oddfire engine to
> >>set it to TDC and tell me where the centerline of the contact strip on
> >>top of the rotor is pointing. (The contact is wide at the end, but
> >>please ignore that.) Right now, mine points directly at the notch, but I
> >>am not sure if this is correct. I can't find any manuals that cover an
> >>engine this old. I need to set the ignition timing before I can finish
> >>troubleshooting it.
> >>
> >>Thanks.
> >>--
> >>
> >>Bill Lahr
>
>
> --
>
> Bill Lahr
>