Distributor position?

[JEFF]

I recently installed a 1978 (n47) head, fuel injection & electronic ignition on my 240z block (with flat top pistons).

Both the engines ran good before the transplant. I can't get the new 'hybred' to fire. Shouldn't the distributor on the 280 be at a the same installation position as the 240 engine?? I am sure the crank/cam timing is correct - set it by the(240z manual) book. I have the injectors working fine - I have excelent spark with new plugs & wires. Doesn't that point the finger at the spark timing - I set that by the book (240z manual) also.

Any ideas would be helpful.

Thanks guys - Jeff

[billcapp]

I would think the timing needs to be set to the 280 specs with the FI and elec. Ign. Just a guess...

[Zedrally]

Why don't you rotate the distributer 180 degrees and see if it will fire?

[JEFF]

Zedrally-

Wouldn't the vaccuum advance hit the intake if i rotate the distributor 180? Can i unscrew the mounting plate and rotate the internal parts 180?

The distriburor body is larger on the 280 part so i couldn't mount the guts in the 240 distributor body.

Thanks -

- Jeff

[JEFF]

billcapp -

It shows the timing to be set the same on both the cars - I'm sure that the distributor is installed in the same position that it came out of the 280z.....BUT i've gotten things backwards before so it is a good thing to recheck - Thank you for bringing that up.

- Jeff

[Zedrally]

Originally posted by JEFF

Zedrally-

Wouldn't the vaccuum advance hit the intake if i rotate the distributor 180? Can i unscrew the mounting plate and rotate the internal parts 180?

- Jeff

It didn't on my 260, but then again there are different distributers depending on year and area of import?

Mike

[JEFF]

Zedrally - I do not understand your reply -

- Jeff

[Zedrally]

Jeff,

Simply put there is more than one type of distributor that was used on the L series engines.

For instance an original 240 distributer is different in size to a later model 260 [in my case it would be the equivilent to the US 280].

For some reason in the 260 I had to rotate the distributer 180 degrees to what is considered normal setting for the 240. The distributer being the big size stilled fitted with the vac advance pointing toward the inlet manifold. It does however create a problem in timing setting.

MN

[JEFF]

Zedrally- thanks - i'll try anything at this point - i'll pm you with what i find out.

- Jeff

[Marty Rogan]

If you removed the distributor shaft when you swapped everything, you may have reinstalled 1 or 2 teeth off. I tooks my engine apart to put all new seals in it. I had it one tooth off and it would not start. Corrected that and it started right up.

Good luck,

Marty

[Znut73]

just a question so you cant swap dist. with other blocks lets say one from the L24 into the F54?

[JEFF]

You can put whatever dist. you want in whatever block you want from '70 - '78 - i'm not sure about any of them after '78.

- Jeff