318 ignition timing help
 

Hi
I replaced my distributor in my 72 318 and now cant get it to fire. With the balancer and block I set the mark at about 6 btdc.Put the distributor in with the rotor lined up with what I would set as the #1 plug. Set the order to 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 and nothing.I have spark and fuel did I miss something? It farts and puffs but wont start.Was thinking I set the adjustments on the car when it was about 90 out and now the temp has gone down to about 50 and have not started it since.
If any one has any ideas....
thanks

Timing
 

Did you turn the engine over after you took out the dist.? The dist on 318 turns CW, is your firing order CW as you replaced the wires. You may be 180* off on the timing if you turned the engine. Check to see that you are on the compresion stroke when you come up to the mark on the ballancer.:rolleyes:

What he said, and to find compression, pull out the no1 plug, stick your finger in the hole, and bump over the engine with a remote button. When you START to feel compression on your finger, look for the mark "coming up" and bump the engine up to somewhere around 12-6 BTC. Drop in the dist with the rotor pointing to the no1 tower. I always scribe the upper edge of the dist. body to mark the no 1 tower, so I don't have to argue with the cap.

Next, rotate the dist so the star wheel is aligned with the reluctor core, or if points, so the points just barely open.

yeah I agree, there really is only 2 options if everyting else is correct. If the mark on the balancer is lined up and the balancer is correct and the timing has not slipped, you are either at the no. 1 or the no. 6 firing position. Like said earlier, the dist. spins clockwise. ( the distributor spins 1/2 the speed of the crankshaft)

Thanks guys I fixed it,
I lost spark after my last post. Found out that was from not hooking a wire back up after geting frustrated.I was 4 off on the cap or 180 dumb right....I used this Procomp 7000 Series Distributor they sell on ebay for $60 shipped. I was so focused on it being crap forgot to check my work all the way. Must say for $60 it nice to have no ballast resistors, no points , no box , stars quick and real smooth .

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DODGE...item20b59c51c0

http://www.procompelectronics.com/

wow, thats a really good price...i just paid 200 for the sumit racing kit =/

thats a cool little kit, the one from summit you will get the same advantages as I did