#1) Roll #1 Piston in top position of TDC. Both Valves Closed.
#2) Pull the distributor gear and reset it so the Notch in the distributor
rim will be in the desired #1 Position.
#3) Drop the distributor back in after you've made sure you have both the
thrust washer on the gear end and spring between the distributor and the
notched drive gear.
That should put you at the preferred #1 position.
Either the thrust washer or spring not being there will cause problems but
the engine should start and can be run for a few hundred miles before the
thrust washer and spring are installed.

Stann Wilder

----- Original Message -----
From: "jesse johnson" <jjmojo@BLAZENET.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 7:49 PM
Subject: PLEASE HELP!!!.... TIMING ISSUES ON NEW ENGINE

> Hey All,
> Got ready to start up the new engine.. and nothing .. not even a slight
> sign of starting and then a big backfire... and i mean big! so i assume
> the timing is way off.
> My question is this.. I have the top dead center mark on the pulley
> lined up with the case half. But the distributor drive gear is not as
> the bentley shows it. It off by about a quarter turn.
> Also.. i can spin the pulley around once more and the TDC mark on the
> pulley is lined up with the case again.. but the distributor is set to
> fire the number 3 cylinder.
> How can you be sure the number one cylinder is ready to fire? And if
> the distributor drive gear is off.. does it matter? as long as i can
> make the number one cylinder firing while the pulley is set to TDC?
> Please help.. i have to get this thing back on the road.. and this is
> killing me.
> thanks everyone,
> jesse
> 89 carat not running