How to Turn Distributor Housing

[SCFFR]

In the process of installing a 60's Ford degas tank on my 410 stroker engine (thanks to Gunballs’ post) but quickly realized that when the engine shop assembled and test ran the engine, they installed the distributor with the vacuum diaphragm pointing to the front of the engine. I will be unable to get the vacuum hose connected so I need to turn the distributor body about 30-40 degrees. I’m hesitant to attempt this since the mechanics at the engine shop spent quite a bit of time getting the engine perfectly timed.

What’s the easiest way to get the distributor turned without messing up the timing?

Thanks,

Ron

[Bob Cowan]

Move all the plug wires one spot over.

But, no matter what you do, you'll need to retime the engine. The dyno guys probably spent a lot of time getting the advance curve correct. That won't change by rotating the distributer.

Check base timing, and then put it back on the same mark when you're done.

[SCFFR]

Thanks Bob.

My challenge is that the engine is currently sitting on the garage floor so I can't start it up to check the timing. And of course, I can't get the Ford degas tank installed until I get the distributor turned and I can't start the engine until I get it installed.
Was hoping there was a way to accurately turn the distributor body while the engine was out of the car.

[Mike N]

Ron.

You can achieve what you are trying to do by removing the distributor and reinstalling it a few teeth further around from where it currently is. The critical thing is to keep the rotor and the housing in the same relationship to each other and not rotate the engine (crank) at all in the process. This is not going to happen unless for some reason you rotate the engine by hand in the process. In fact as the engine is out of the car just rotate the engine to TDC on #1 before you start. Now scribe a line on the rotor and another on the housing that are aligned. Scribe lines are more accurate but I typically just use a sharpie. Then remove the distributor hold down clamp and pull the housing out of the engine about an inch or two. The rotor will rotate a little as you do this because the teeth on the cam are cut at an angle. Now rotate the housing and shaft (rotor) to where you want the vacuum advance canister to be and seat the distributor back into the block. If the rotor goes too far pull it out and try again. You have to get a feel for how much the angle of the gears will rotate the rotor as you seat the distributor. Now line up the housing to the rotor scribe mark by rotating the housing and clamp the distributor down again. You will still need to put a timing light on it once you are done to check the timing but I guarantee that you will be within a couple of degrees and the engine will start and run just fine.

[SCFFR]

Many thanks Mike. Much appreciated!