Timing/Distributor question

[Loyd Nix]

"Flapper" was running fine but I opted to install a "Zipper" distributor from FS.
After some fumbling I got her running and went for a spin. She ran grate but I thought I would try to improve on "good enough".
I set TDC with the timing pin and the rotor at #1 plug. She would not start. I looked in the distributor body and the rotor was 180' off. Yes I checked the timing pin again and each time the result was the same. The set screw in the head to hold the distributor body in position is tight.
What am I missing here? The distributor worked fine on the test drive.

Please advise
Loyd Nix

 

[ken ct]

If it aint broke,dont try to fix it. ken ct

 

[Ron/IA]

Loyd - You may be getting a "false" reading from your timing pin. Some detents can be very shallow and very hard to find.

Have you tried to set TDC by looking in the #1 chamber; noting the piston is at the top of the cylinder, and that both valves are closed? Where does the rotor end up when you do that?

Have you tried to turn the rotor by hand? Of course it should not spin, but if it is damaged where it sits on the distributor shaft; maybe it will. Another possibility is the distributor shaft is damaged.

I am just guessing and making suggestions. It is hard sometimes to diagnose ignition problems from a computer keyboard. Keep us informed and we will figure it out.

 

[Will N]

The sleeve that is pinned onto the bottom end of the shaft of your new distributor, which has the offset tab within it that fits into the offset slot on the lower shaft, can be installed 180 degrees out of sync compared to the old distributor that you removed. This would spin the rotor 180 degrees from the #1 dist contact when the timing pin is in the indent for TDC. Did you have it running after the new distributor was installed, or did you problems start immediately after installing the new distributor?

 

[Loyd Nix]

Ron;
I checked the #1 valves and they were closed. The dimple is well defined as I reamed it out last year when I had the radiator off.

Will;
I followed you instructions without really understanding what I was doing and
Voila! she started.

A special thanks to Ken for his sage observation.

 

[fordfixer]

Now you need to go back and check the timing pin hole in the cam gear. Your looking to see if it is where it belongs in relation to the piston on TDC with the valves closed.