Carbs and Ignition System

[vsurfin10]

73 Datsun 240Z with a 5-speed manual transmission looking for help.

The ignition system ... I have a offset slotted distributor with dual contact breakers. The distributor can only be placed into the engine one way. The contact breakers are set to the correct dwell angel but I was curious as to the timing. When the No 1 cylinder is at TDC and the ignition timing marks on the crankshaft pulley line up with the zero degree mark on the engine front cover the rotor head is not pointing to the number 1 position ... it points to the number 6 plug. Is this correct?

The carbureator ... I have dual Hitachi HMB46W (flat top) carbureators. I've been having a real problem getting the float adjustment correct but I think that's fixed because the engine will now run. However, it is running very poorly ... sounds like it's missing and I have some backfire from the carbs. As the choke is slowly being released the engine idle goes down and then stalls ... any suggestions.

[beandip]

Flat top carb are junk and are nothing but trouble. the dist sound like a dual point dist for a automatic trans. The PO must have changed form a auto to the 5 speed. I suggest either finding a dist for a manual trans single point unit and convert it to a petronox . What I did on my '73 was to buy a '79ZX dist , coil with mounting bracket at the "bone yard'' , be sure to also get the mount that attaches to the engine for the dist, the 240 part wont work. the difference is remarkable how much smoother and better the engine runs. $75.00 with the plug wires and dist cap. . Round top carbs and a earlier air cleaner '71 or '72 works great with the round tops . If you want round tops , let me know and I can help. Gary:classic: