Full Size Jeep Network

I am putting a rebuilt amc 360 in my 87 GW & for some reason top dead center is coming in at 5 o’clock on the distributor and the book says it should be coming in at dead 6 o’clock.

Any idea why they are refusing to align? I’ve turned the engine over 10 times and TDC always comes up at 11 & 5 o’clock instead of 12 & 6

Timing chain off?

Brand new factory rebuilt & installed timing chain.

Any way to quickly check if it is off? Also, do you know what the two black dots on either side of the distributor diagram mean? Example at the Colorado FSJ page:

http://www.cfsja.org/tech/drivetrain/firing/firing.html

Is it acceptable to use a screwdriver to move the oil pump thread to line up with where the distributor cap should be pointed for TDC? I could just turn it a bit and then I would be at the proper 6 o'clock on the distributor?

Sounds like the distributer is a tooth off.

Welcome to the forum! Which book are you using?

Also, it doesn't matter which direction the rotor is pointing when the engine is at TDC of the compression stroke. You just need to make sure the #1 plug is connected to that distributor port. Then follow the rest around in the proper firing order.

Now, what can happen is a lack of adjustment in the timing due to the vacuum pod hitting the power steering pump when turning the distributor counter clockwise. Since the rotor rotates clockwise the housing is turned counter clockwise to add initial timing. Is this the problem you are having?

will e wrote:Welcome to the forum! Which book are you using?

Also, it doesn't matter which direction the rotor is pointing when the engine is at TDC of the compression stroke. You just need to make sure the #1 plug is connected to that distributor port. Then follow the rest around in the proper firing order.

Now, what can happen is a lack of adjustment in the timing due to the vacuum pod hitting the power steering pump when turning the distributor counter clockwise. Since the rotor rotates clockwise the housing is turned counter clockwise to add initial timing. Is this the problem you are having?

Ditto!

I wish I could find the thread, but I covered this with pics at some point in the past. You can compensate by moving all the spark plug wires around the distributor cap to get the clearance you need for the vacuum canister. So long as at TDC of the power stroke, the distributor rotor is pointing at the terminal for #1 plug wire (and the rest of the wires are in the correct order), it's good to go. The electricity only cares if it's got a complete circuit, it doesn't care about what direction it's pointing in 3D space.

Thanks everyone!

I moved the oil drive a bit and now it all lines up perfectly.

I’ll post some pictures later

Good news indeed! What is an oil drive?

Haha, I was typing from my phone and being lazy.

I had to manually move the oil pump shaft to the right position

when I had work done on the Duck Blind...they had to fiddle with the distributor as well. There are marks on the cap and such...so I am guessing they had a little difficulty. I could always go ask they guy...he is an ACE on these Jeeps