Quick engine alignment question

[WhitePony]

Hey folks,

Need to ask a quick question. I'm reassembling my 200 and have forgotten where I should pre-adjust the rolling assembly at to make the dizzy installation easier. I'm thinking piston 1 at TDC on the compression stroke. Then pointing the rotor to cyl 1 on the dizzy cap when I reinstall it. Is that correct? This is what happens when you get old and take too much time off in the middle of a project.

Thanks

 

[wallaka]

That sounds right.

 

[mach1 mark]

I believe that on a stock dizzy, pointing the rotor more towards the water bag (on mustang) or drivers shock tower at TDC or cyl #1 is correct. The reason is because the vacuum is pointed towards the firewall and hooks up to the stock vacuum line easier.

You can set your dizzy any direction you want, if you turn your crank to TDC as long as the the #1 spark plug wire is connected to the correct terminal (or whatever they call it) on the cap that the rotor is facing.

The rotor only goes one-way on the dizzy, and the cap has to fit on the grove on the base of the dizzy. Put the rotor on the dizzy before installing, and spin it about where you want the #1 plug to point, install the dizzy and the rotor will turn just a little. Then you can spin the base 360degrees (as long as the vacuum advance doesn't get in the way). Place the cap on and make sure rotor is facing a terminal on the cap, that is your #1 plug follow around the dizzy in the correct firing order to the correct plugs on the cap.

Clear as mud? You probably already knew most of this info, but better to get over load then not enough. I hope this helps

 

[addo]

Kris, don't forget the oil pump drive shaft! Also see if you can bench test the dizzy prior to installing it.

 

[WhitePony]

Kris, don't forget the oil pump drive shaft! Also see if you can bench test the dizzy prior to installing it.

Addo, I plan on dropping the oil pump drive shaft in right before I mount the dizzy. Was planning on spinning the oil pump a few times with a drill to pre lube the engine.

Exactly how do I bench test the dizzy? This is a new DSII that I had custom recurved by that guy in Cali.

 

[wallaka]

With a Sun machine. Yep, it's a good idea to prime the oil pump and get some lubrication to those parts too.

 

[Stubby]

When you are bringing the timing mark up to TDC, on the compression stroke, stop at the desired setting for static timing. If you are going to run 12 degrees of initial timing, stop at 12 degrees BTDC and when you align with number one, align the reluctor in the dizzy with the pickup. This will get it super close for starting.

 

[addo]

For bench testing the dizzy, you need some jumper wires with alligator clips - nothing heavy gauge - and the Duraspark or MSD box.

Connect the distributor to ignition box and coil via the normal wire set (not the high tension leads, just the light gauge wires). Jump a ground between the coil, distributor case and ignition box. You don't need the dizzy cap fitted. Place the coil lead to near the distributor body for spark testing.

Use a battery to power up the ignition box, and spin the dizzy quickly by hand twisting the driven gear. It should generate sizeable sparks.

If you have any doubts about your DS-II working, fit a breaker point unit to begin with.

The other good thing about TDC compression stroke (or, as Stubby points out, 12°BTDC in fact) - is that you set the clearances for those two valves striaght away, and can copy the measurements for all other rocker adjustments. That's assuming all six inlet or exhaust valve tips are at the same height, give or take 30 thou. Much easier than spinning the motor over and wiping off cam lube.

Similarly, if you can hot test the carb on another car just minutes before installing and hooking up, it's valuable knowledge.