ok zed.   pully mark was at top dead in the middle of the 4 alligning marks - was perfect -  the rotor was pointing exactly where it should to the plug on right of the clamp so i know i was on #1 plug wires are a bit screwed as they dont reach propper plugs. not sure if someone just threw some old plug wires in from another car...  i will need new wires... rotor is out in photo...

i assume arrow on rotor points to #1 spot??

Edited June 6, 20213 yr by Shawninvancouver

Zero is not in the middle.  It's the one with zero marked on it.  See below.

#1 is wherever you connect the plug wire from the #1 spark plug.  The rotor points at the distributor cap terminal that you will connect the wire to the #1 spark plug.

Put the mark on zero.  Put the rotor on the shaft.  See which terminal of the distributor cap the rotor is pointing to.  Take the wire that comes from the #1 spark plug and connect it to that cap terminal.

Your vacuum advance module is at 4:00 o'clock and every Z I've seen has their's at 6:00 o'clock. I think your distributor was installed wrong, maybe the reason for the wires being all fouled up? People move wires around to get one to run when the distributor is off. Could be what the previous owner was trying to do.

http://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/distributor/8.jpg

ok  i can try that - how do i move the vacuum advance ?  will that being out of whack cause no spark? 

they literally had the plug wires with 1 at firewall and 6 by fan...

It's the distributor you'll need to get right.

So many threads on installing correctly.

https://www.google.com/search?q=installing+distrbutor+classiczcars.com&rls=ig&source=hp&ei=BBm9YNbAC-eIggeL0J_QCA&iflsig=AINFCbYAAAAAYL0nFHXZ6Zx3XvGF89vN8D9oyTk1nKMX&oq=installing+distrbutor+classiczcars.com&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAw6BQgAEJECOgQILhBDOggIABCxAxCDAToICC4QxwEQowI6BQgAELEDOgsILhCxAxDHARCjAjoCCAA6BAgAEEM6CwguELEDEIMBEJECOggILhCxAxCDAToHCC4QsQMQQzoHCAAQsQMQQzoKCAAQsQMQyQMQQzoICAAQsQMQyQM6CAguEMcBEK8BOgoIABCxAxBGEPkBOgcIABBGEPkBOgYIABAWEB46CgghEAoQoAEQiwM6BAgAEA06BggAEA0QHjoHCCEQChCgAToHCCEQChCrAjoFCCEQoAFQ8RlYwI4CYJaZA2gAcAB4AIABvgKIAZ0ykgEJMjQuMzIuMC4xmAEAoAEBqgEHZ3dzLXdpergBAg&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=0ahUKEwjW0uC31oPxAhVnhOAKHQvoB4oQ4dUDCA0

 

Here's a good one. It's not as easy as you think.

 

so do you think the distributor was put in wrong?? what are you trying to tell me?

2 hours ago, Shawninvancouver said:

so do you think the distributor was put in wrong?? what are you trying to tell me?

Yes! It looks like a left shoe on a right foot.

Edited June 6, 20213 yr by siteunseen

ok.. i may just put a 280zx matchbox distributor in.. does that make sense??

easy to hook up? just 4 wires and done...

a good way to go?

Kind of looks like it might have the wrong combination of plates and pedestals.  And doesn't it look like a 280Z pickup inside?  Might be a 280Z distributor on the wrong plate and pedestal.

Should still be able to make it work.  A 280ZX distributor is the other "Plug n Play" option but a lot more expensive.  Make sure you get the pedestal with it.