'72 Plymouth Satellite 318 timing question??
 

I removed the distributor on this engine to replace the points and when I replaced it, it turned over like it was really advanced. I moved the distributor slightly and got a blow back through the carb. Now I notice that in order to get the rotor to line up with # 1 plug wire electrode on the cap, I have to turn the distributor so the vacuum advance is almost contacting the firewall. The only two things that I think may have happened is that when it blew back, the engine may have kicked backwards and jumped the chain a tooth or when I removed the distributor, the drive gear beneath the shaft lifted and the went back down in the wrong position ( I can't really see this happening but I am stumped). I have been able to set the timing so the mark on the damper lines up with the TDC mark but the car runs rough and seems retarded with low power.
If I should have to remove the drive gear under the distributor, will that mess up and dislodge the small hex piece that drives the oil pump? The car was running fine before but unsteady idle and the points were burnt and the gap was almost closed. Thanks for any info here.
John

john -]

You have a 72 Plymouth 318 with points?

While it's possible you jumped a tooth on the timing gear or the dizzy gear slipped, are you sure you didn't cross a few wires?

Archer

maybe I'm not understanding but, take all the plug wires off the cap and move them all one space clockwise.
I agree that is was the gear that you likely moved.

Thank you for the responses. Yes it has points. I believe that '72 was the last year before electronic point-less systems were introduced in '73. I have checked the wires and they are correct for the firing order. I will try moving the wires in the cap to see if it improves. When I removed the distributor, it came right out easily so I don't see how I could have dislodged the gear but I suppose it's possible:confused:. If I do need to remove the distributor gear, will it mess up the oil pump drive? Thanks again for the help.
John

Not knowing how many miles there are on your engine, I will say, that if you had slack in the timing chain a misfire is when it will jump time. I have seen it many times during my years working in the shops. You should not have to move the wires unless the vacuum advance was in a bad spot before you removed the distributor. Always mark the case of the distributor in relation to the engine & mark the exact position of the rotor before you remove a distributor & you will always go back exactly where you were to start with. It is highly unlikely that you pulled the oil pump drive out, not impossible but unlikely.

You could have put it 180 deg out ?? Put it on the compression stroke, the slot in the drive gear should point towards the corner intake bolt...