Thanks Roger,

The problem is that I've already pulled the distributor, AND the
drive gear, so I can't trust the drive gear position any more.

Here is what I did:   remove the valve cover on the right head.
Watch the rocker arms for cylinder #1 (the one at the front of the
car on the right head).   Turn the engine over by hand, watching the
two rocker arms move.  I notice that when the TDC mark on the pulley
is lined up with the case, you either see one of two situations:
(A) the intake valve (2nd from front) is opening and the exhaust
valve (frontmost) is closing.    (B) both valves are closed.     In
my mind, (A) should be the TDC position, right?    It's entirely
possible i'm committing a massive brain fart here.

Am I right in assuming that on a 4-stroke engine like this, the TDC
mark on the pulley turns at the speed of the crankshaft, so there are
only two possibiilties (either correct, or 180 degrees off)?

On Nov 7, 2005, at 7:16 AM, Roger Sisler wrote:

> Here is how I would adjust the engine to install the dist.Loosen
> the spark
> plugs so the engine will turn over easily.Remove the #1 spark
> plug.This is
> by the AFM. Next , I would use a socket on the alt nut at the pully
> to turn
> the engine over.Turn the engine over till you can just start to feel
> compression at the number 1 spark plug hole. This ,with your finger
> in that
> spark plug hole to block the air to get commpression.So now you
> know that
> you are on the compression stroke for the #1 piston.Stick a screw
> driver
> into the cylinder till it reaches the top of the piston.Now,
> continue to
> turn the pully till the sacrew driver stops moving out of the cyl. The
> piston is at the top of its stroke.Stop, cause you are now at TDC for
> cyl#1.Now install the distributor with the rotor jpointing at cyl#1
> on the
> dist cap.I think the dist can only go in two ways.Right on , or 180
> degrees
> off.Make sure that the dist. vacuum advance and mechanical advance
> is not
> binding.That they are at the non running position.Do you have the
> proper
> rotor?
>