CRWLR

Suppose the firing order was actually a critical functioin, and not only did
the firing order need to be in a specific sequence, but also at a specific
time. Now, suppose you did not make sure the engine was at TDC (top dead
center) when you pulled the wires off and took the distributor out. Assuming
you did not observe TDC before you started, you can put the wires anywhere
you want because the odds of actually puting them in the right place is very
slim, and even if you managed to do that, the motor still would not run.



"Shaggie" <me@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:n8gr705p5pcnmjm4r24ug5tjou6appi541@4ax.com...
> Hi all. Just wondering... Suppose your 304 V8 caught on fire and the
> distributor burned up... So you removed it and ordered a replacement.
> Plug wires all burned up too. Now you get the new distributor and
> plug wires. Can you just choose whatever terminal you want on the
> distributor to be #1 and go around in sequence as long as you run the
> plug wires to the right cylinders? I know on older VWs there is a
> specific #1 terminal because the distributors are designed to slightly
> retard cylinder #3 because it's behind the oil cooler so it tends to
> run hotter and retarding it a little bit helps it to not run as hot as
> it would if it was running at the same advance the other cylinders
> are. On a 304 Jeep can I just choose whichever terminal I want to be
> #1? Thanks in advance for input/help.
>
>
> "I can hammer it back into shape later."
> :wq!

CRWLR

"Jeepster" <yj_driver@NOSPAMexcite.com> wrote in message
news:suvt70ddgp76na6sj8hqc0sl4f10jbpdo4@4ax.com...
> If you rotate the oil pump slot inside the block you can make any plug
> you want #1 so a mark would be useless.
>
Have you any idea how difficult that would be to do? The distributor is
driven by a worm gear, and converting the spinning of the distributor/oil
pump into the rotating of the cam shaft is difficult enough, but the cam
shaft is connected by reduction gearing to the crank shaft. .


> IE:
> 1.) Point rotor to terminal fo your choice
> 2.) Turn slot in oil pump inside block to line up with end tab on
> distributor.
> 3.) Insert distributor
> 4.) Wire plugs according to firing order
>
> What really matters is that the timing chain is lined up correctly on
> the cam and crank gears.
>

The better idea would be to turn the crank with a socket wrench on a long
handle ratchet so the timing mark on the crank aligns with the scale on the
block, then check the position of the valves to be sure they are both closed
at the top of the Compression Stroke as opposed to the top of the Exhaust
Stroke, then put the distributor in with the rotor aimed at the #1 position.
The #1 position can be determined by looking at the new Distributor Cap.

In theory, I suppose you could put the distributor in anyplace, but it would
need to be in the place that delivered spark at the right time, and that is
the tricky part of one does not take care to set the crank to TDC first.

PS
It is redundant to say TDC on #1 Cylinder because TDC is by definition the
#1 Cylinder. The distributor could go in any place, but for it to work
right, it has to be on TDC at some point, and putting it on TDC in the first
place is the only sure fire way to get it right on every engine every time.



> On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 07:25:41 -0400, Poe <poe34@mail.com> wrote:
>
> >Well I'm no expert but it seems to me that the #1 plug needs to fire at
> >the top of the compresion stroke for that cylinder. There should be some
> >sort of marking on the distributer to indicate the #1 position such as a
> >line or a dot or somthing.
> >
> >Poe
> >
> >Shaggie wrote:
> >
> >>Hi all. Just wondering... Suppose your 304 V8 caught on fire and the
> >>distributor burned up... So you removed it and ordered a replacement.
> >>Plug wires all burned up too. Now you get the new distributor and
> >>plug wires. Can you just choose whatever terminal you want on the
> >>distributor to be #1 and go around in sequence as long as you run the
> >>plug wires to the right cylinders? I know on older VWs there is a
> >>specific #1 terminal because the distributors are designed to slightly
> >>retard cylinder #3 because it's behind the oil cooler so it tends to
> >>run hotter and retarding it a little bit helps it to not run as hot as
> >>it would if it was running at the same advance the other cylinders
> >>are. On a 304 Jeep can I just choose whichever terminal I want to be
> >>#1? Thanks in advance for input/help.
> >>
> >>
> >>"I can hammer it back into shape later."
> >>:wq!
> >>
> >>
>

CRWLR

"Jeepster" <yj_driver@NOSPAMexcite.com> wrote in message
news:suvt70ddgp76na6sj8hqc0sl4f10jbpdo4@4ax.com...
> If you rotate the oil pump slot inside the block you can make any plug
> you want #1 so a mark would be useless.
>
Have you any idea how difficult that would be to do? The distributor is
driven by a worm gear, and converting the spinning of the distributor/oil
pump into the rotating of the cam shaft is difficult enough, but the cam
shaft is connected by reduction gearing to the crank shaft. .


> IE:
> 1.) Point rotor to terminal fo your choice
> 2.) Turn slot in oil pump inside block to line up with end tab on
> distributor.
> 3.) Insert distributor
> 4.) Wire plugs according to firing order
>
> What really matters is that the timing chain is lined up correctly on
> the cam and crank gears.
>

The better idea would be to turn the crank with a socket wrench on a long
handle ratchet so the timing mark on the crank aligns with the scale on the
block, then check the position of the valves to be sure they are both closed
at the top of the Compression Stroke as opposed to the top of the Exhaust
Stroke, then put the distributor in with the rotor aimed at the #1 position.
The #1 position can be determined by looking at the new Distributor Cap.

In theory, I suppose you could put the distributor in anyplace, but it would
need to be in the place that delivered spark at the right time, and that is
the tricky part of one does not take care to set the crank to TDC first.

PS
It is redundant to say TDC on #1 Cylinder because TDC is by definition the
#1 Cylinder. The distributor could go in any place, but for it to work
right, it has to be on TDC at some point, and putting it on TDC in the first
place is the only sure fire way to get it right on every engine every time.



> On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 07:25:41 -0400, Poe <poe34@mail.com> wrote:
>
> >Well I'm no expert but it seems to me that the #1 plug needs to fire at
> >the top of the compresion stroke for that cylinder. There should be some
> >sort of marking on the distributer to indicate the #1 position such as a
> >line or a dot or somthing.
> >
> >Poe
> >
> >Shaggie wrote:
> >
> >>Hi all. Just wondering... Suppose your 304 V8 caught on fire and the
> >>distributor burned up... So you removed it and ordered a replacement.
> >>Plug wires all burned up too. Now you get the new distributor and
> >>plug wires. Can you just choose whatever terminal you want on the
> >>distributor to be #1 and go around in sequence as long as you run the
> >>plug wires to the right cylinders? I know on older VWs there is a
> >>specific #1 terminal because the distributors are designed to slightly
> >>retard cylinder #3 because it's behind the oil cooler so it tends to
> >>run hotter and retarding it a little bit helps it to not run as hot as
> >>it would if it was running at the same advance the other cylinders
> >>are. On a 304 Jeep can I just choose whichever terminal I want to be
> >>#1? Thanks in advance for input/help.
> >>
> >>
> >>"I can hammer it back into shape later."
> >>:wq!
> >>
> >>
>

CRWLR

"Jeepster" <yj_driver@NOSPAMexcite.com> wrote in message
news:suvt70ddgp76na6sj8hqc0sl4f10jbpdo4@4ax.com...
> If you rotate the oil pump slot inside the block you can make any plug
> you want #1 so a mark would be useless.
>
Have you any idea how difficult that would be to do? The distributor is
driven by a worm gear, and converting the spinning of the distributor/oil
pump into the rotating of the cam shaft is difficult enough, but the cam
shaft is connected by reduction gearing to the crank shaft. .


> IE:
> 1.) Point rotor to terminal fo your choice
> 2.) Turn slot in oil pump inside block to line up with end tab on
> distributor.
> 3.) Insert distributor
> 4.) Wire plugs according to firing order
>
> What really matters is that the timing chain is lined up correctly on
> the cam and crank gears.
>

The better idea would be to turn the crank with a socket wrench on a long
handle ratchet so the timing mark on the crank aligns with the scale on the
block, then check the position of the valves to be sure they are both closed
at the top of the Compression Stroke as opposed to the top of the Exhaust
Stroke, then put the distributor in with the rotor aimed at the #1 position.
The #1 position can be determined by looking at the new Distributor Cap.

In theory, I suppose you could put the distributor in anyplace, but it would
need to be in the place that delivered spark at the right time, and that is
the tricky part of one does not take care to set the crank to TDC first.

PS
It is redundant to say TDC on #1 Cylinder because TDC is by definition the
#1 Cylinder. The distributor could go in any place, but for it to work
right, it has to be on TDC at some point, and putting it on TDC in the first
place is the only sure fire way to get it right on every engine every time.



> On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 07:25:41 -0400, Poe <poe34@mail.com> wrote:
>
> >Well I'm no expert but it seems to me that the #1 plug needs to fire at
> >the top of the compresion stroke for that cylinder. There should be some
> >sort of marking on the distributer to indicate the #1 position such as a
> >line or a dot or somthing.
> >
> >Poe
> >
> >Shaggie wrote:
> >
> >>Hi all. Just wondering... Suppose your 304 V8 caught on fire and the
> >>distributor burned up... So you removed it and ordered a replacement.
> >>Plug wires all burned up too. Now you get the new distributor and
> >>plug wires. Can you just choose whatever terminal you want on the
> >>distributor to be #1 and go around in sequence as long as you run the
> >>plug wires to the right cylinders? I know on older VWs there is a
> >>specific #1 terminal because the distributors are designed to slightly
> >>retard cylinder #3 because it's behind the oil cooler so it tends to
> >>run hotter and retarding it a little bit helps it to not run as hot as
> >>it would if it was running at the same advance the other cylinders
> >>are. On a 304 Jeep can I just choose whichever terminal I want to be
> >>#1? Thanks in advance for input/help.
> >>
> >>
> >>"I can hammer it back into shape later."
> >>:wq!
> >>
> >>
>

CRWLR

"Jeepster" <yj_driver@NOSPAMexcite.com> wrote in message
news:suvt70ddgp76na6sj8hqc0sl4f10jbpdo4@4ax.com...
> If you rotate the oil pump slot inside the block you can make any plug
> you want #1 so a mark would be useless.
>
Have you any idea how difficult that would be to do? The distributor is
driven by a worm gear, and converting the spinning of the distributor/oil
pump into the rotating of the cam shaft is difficult enough, but the cam
shaft is connected by reduction gearing to the crank shaft. .


> IE:
> 1.) Point rotor to terminal fo your choice
> 2.) Turn slot in oil pump inside block to line up with end tab on
> distributor.
> 3.) Insert distributor
> 4.) Wire plugs according to firing order
>
> What really matters is that the timing chain is lined up correctly on
> the cam and crank gears.
>

The better idea would be to turn the crank with a socket wrench on a long
handle ratchet so the timing mark on the crank aligns with the scale on the
block, then check the position of the valves to be sure they are both closed
at the top of the Compression Stroke as opposed to the top of the Exhaust
Stroke, then put the distributor in with the rotor aimed at the #1 position.
The #1 position can be determined by looking at the new Distributor Cap.

In theory, I suppose you could put the distributor in anyplace, but it would
need to be in the place that delivered spark at the right time, and that is
the tricky part of one does not take care to set the crank to TDC first.

PS
It is redundant to say TDC on #1 Cylinder because TDC is by definition the
#1 Cylinder. The distributor could go in any place, but for it to work
right, it has to be on TDC at some point, and putting it on TDC in the first
place is the only sure fire way to get it right on every engine every time.



> On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 07:25:41 -0400, Poe <poe34@mail.com> wrote:
>
> >Well I'm no expert but it seems to me that the #1 plug needs to fire at
> >the top of the compresion stroke for that cylinder. There should be some
> >sort of marking on the distributer to indicate the #1 position such as a
> >line or a dot or somthing.
> >
> >Poe
> >
> >Shaggie wrote:
> >
> >>Hi all. Just wondering... Suppose your 304 V8 caught on fire and the
> >>distributor burned up... So you removed it and ordered a replacement.
> >>Plug wires all burned up too. Now you get the new distributor and
> >>plug wires. Can you just choose whatever terminal you want on the
> >>distributor to be #1 and go around in sequence as long as you run the
> >>plug wires to the right cylinders? I know on older VWs there is a
> >>specific #1 terminal because the distributors are designed to slightly
> >>retard cylinder #3 because it's behind the oil cooler so it tends to
> >>run hotter and retarding it a little bit helps it to not run as hot as
> >>it would if it was running at the same advance the other cylinders
> >>are. On a 304 Jeep can I just choose whichever terminal I want to be
> >>#1? Thanks in advance for input/help.
> >>
> >>
> >>"I can hammer it back into shape later."
> >>:wq!
> >>
> >>
>