66 & 67 BB Distributor Orientation.

[Richard S.]

Both my 66 & 67 Big Blocks have had the distributors installed so that the no.1 plug wire sits in what should be the no.2 plug wire position on the distributor cap....i.e...the no.1 plug wire is just right of the adjustment window when it should be just left of it, when looking at the distributor from the front of the engine.
What must I do to have the no.1 plug wire in the orrect position? Thanks for the help.

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 & 67 BB Distributor Orientation.

Rick------

You need to re-index the distributor so that with the engine at TDC of the #1 cylinder, the distributor rotor contact is pointing at the correct #1 position on the cap. You will need to disengage the distributor gear from the cam gear to do this. Also, with the distributor rotor properly aligned as described, you want to make sure that the distributor housing is in the correct position for the tach drive and vacuum control.

[Duke W.]

Re: 66 & 67 BB Distributor Orientation.

I recommend you remove the dist. and verify that the dimple is pointing in the same direction as the rotor tip.

Start by setting the crankshaft position at THE INITIAL TIMING MARK or about 10 deg. BTDC. Then remove the dist. and inspect/correct the rotor tip orientation.

Verify and correct, if necessary, that the plug wires are indexed on the cap correctly for your specific engine, which is listed in the applicable CSM.

On a C2 SB with points you drop the dist. back in (may require tweaking the oil pump drive with a long screwdriver) and the rotor tip should end up about 20-25 deg. right of engine C/L. (Start with the tip at about 45 deg. right of C/L. It will rotate CCW as the gear engages.) If not reindex another tooth CW or CCW as required. Once the rotor is in the correct orientation rotate the housing until the points just open, then back a hair. The window should be approximately normal to engine centerline with the vacuum can about midway between the interference manifold and coil bracket interference points.

With a TI rotate the housing until the rotating pole piece tips are just past the stationary pole piece tips.

The correct orientation for #1 an C2 SBs is the tower near the RH edge of the window, but it sounds like that's not the case for BBs. C3 SBs are different than C2 SBs, so ALWAYS check the proper indexing, which is in the applicable service manual. Different wire indexing for different years/engines will obviously affect the orientation of the rotor when the dist. is installed and the orientation of the window, when the housing is clocked to the initial timing range.

For anyone faced with this situation, study your service manual and draw a diagram of rotor and window orientation. Be sure the dimple in the drive gear is pointing the same direction as the rotor and that the wires are indexed properly, then just follow the instructions in the service manual and the hints I've provided above.

Duke

[John H.]

Re: 66 & 67 BB Distributor Orientation.

C2 BB distributor cap/housing orientation and wire indexing to the cap is the same as SB; shown in the '67 A.I.M. in L-36, Sheet A7.