I've stabbed plenty but often I just can't seem to get the distributor (GM HEI) "square" - meaning I almost always seem to wind up with it turned too far clockwise once the timing is correct. You know - the hot wire / tach connection is supposed to be pointing straigh to the side at the 3:00 position, but it always winds up closer to 4:30 position. I keep pulling it out, starting out at 1:00 to 2:00 position, and of course it rotates clockwise as it drops in the hole - and always winds up too far past 3:00 !!! :confused:

I finally got it right with the Mallory on my '79 Camaro, but I'm not sure how I did it.

With my '86 Silverado, I just can't seem to get it right. Is there a trick ???

I too fought getting the distributor in phase with the engine till a very good friend of mine (Doc) told me the fool proof way of doing it.

There are some assumptions with the proceedure below: the zero on the timing tab is aligned with the slot on the harmonic balancer so that #1 piston is at TDC, the cam is in phase with the engine, and the timing gears are not worn out.

I'm going to assume that you don't know how to find TDC at #1 so I'm going to explain the easiest way to find it: remove the spark plug from #1 cylinder (you don't have a distributor in at this point so the engine starting is a moot point). Hold your thumb over the spark plug hole for #1. Either rotate the engine with a bar or have someone careflully bump the starter till your thumb is blown off the spark plug hole by the cylinder pressure. Rotate the crank till the timing mark on the harmonic balancer is aligned with the zero mark on the timing tab.

Next you need to align the oil pump drive shaft with the distributor drive end. It takes practice with a shadow caster (sometimes called a drop lite) and a long shafted staight slot screwdriver, but you can turn the oil pump drive shaft till the distributor drops right in.

I hope that this answers your question.

The "trick" is to stick with it until you get it right.

Make sure the oil pump drive shaft is in the right place, which you find completely by trial and error. Eventually, you'll get it.

Thanks for the responses guys. I do appreciate all of them. The thing is, I know how to install a distributor and have it run properly - with the correct timing setting. I just seem to have problems "clocking" it correctly where the hot wire / tach connection is in the 3:00 position. By the time it drops down into position, it's always at the 4:00 to 4:30 position. It runs properly. It just looks like ass.

Maybe it is the oil pump shaft. I'll focus more on that.

As Ryan says, I'll just have to stick with it until I get it right. :confused: