Posted by Alan Bowes on January 01, 1999 at 13:49:20:
In Reply to: Re: 230 cid distributor - help posted by Alan Merrick on January 01, 1999 at 11:52:49:
Yes, TDC is "top dead center" and should be indicated on the crankshaft pulley. But be aware that there are "two" top-dead-center positions: one is at the top of the compression stroke and the other is at the top of the exhaust stroke. The rotor should be pointing to the number one cylinder's spark plug cable when the pointer is near the TDC mark and the number one piston is at the top of the compression stroke. To find out if it's the compression stroke, remove the number one spark plug and crank the engine slowly. Air will be pushed out of the spark plug hole at a much faster rate on the compression stroke than on an exhaust stroke. Once you have determined which of the two possible positions is correct and you have arranged your spark plug cables accordingly, the engine will probably start...after which you will have to use a timing light to fine-tune the ignition timing.
Have fun,
Alan