Does pertronix change your firing order...?

I think I understand now.

1) When you're a one man show (no assistant to bump the starter), what's the easiest way to find TDC? Put a cork in the #1 cylinder hole, and bump the starter until it blows out?

2) After finding TDC, when I crank the engine clockwise by hand (socket on the crank nut with a ratchet) to get the timing marks set to 0 degrees, is it then OK to crank the engine back to the 12 degrees (counterclockwise) by hand? I thought I should only be cranking the engine one way, clockwise.

3) Once I find TDC, set the timing marks to 12 degrees, and drop the distributor in so the rotor now points to the # 1 tower on the cap, is it OK to bump the starter to get the oil pump drive lined up so the distributor 'drops' in on it's own?

After I go through the trouble of all the above, I'm finding it frustrating and futile trying to get the oil pump drive to line up, allowing the distributor to drop all the way in. Do I risk damaging anything by bumping the starter, or should I just continue to remove the distributor, rotate the oil pump drive a little bit with a screwdriver, and try again (and again, and again, and again......)?

Thanks

 

Cork,little ball of tape,paper etc will work or you can pull driver side valve cover and verify TDC compression stroke when both valves are closed on cyl 1.

Don't bump the starter , as your coming up on 12 if you do it by hand with the cover off the valves will be all but closed.

Don't bump it to engage the oil pump no need to do so just hold dist over the engine in roughly the position you want it then look at the position of the key in the gear then turn the pump shaft to the same position or close to it and it will drop in remember you can put no1 anywhere you want on the cap as long as the tip is just before or on the terminal

 

Wow.

I explicitly followed your instructions, and the car immediately fired right to life.

No pumping the gas twice, no excessive cranking, no rain dance, etc. I just bumped the starter, and like magic, I'm up & running.

Furthermore, I don't think the car has ever run better. I didn't even check the timing, just tightened the distributor and went for a pleasant ride.

Thanks to all who participated in this thread.

 

Now......Can we please discuss the proper way to time this car?

I have a timing light, tach/dwell meter, and vacuum gauge.

I'm going to start with a fresh set of points. Should I gap these with a feeler gauge, or set the dwell with my meter? Does it even matter?

What comes first, timing or fuel/air mix?

Looking forward to my next lesson.

Thanks