While turning the crank to bolt on the converter to the flywheel, I saw the distributer move and heard a pop.
anybody have ideas? It's a 350 sbc.

While turning the crank to bolt on the converter to the flywheel, I saw the distributer move and heard a pop.
anybody have ideas? It's a 350 sbc.
Had it been out and was only partly re-installed?
Chek the tip of the rotor. I had one once where the cap had gotten bumped against the firewall while the engine was being installed, then when the engine was turned the tip of the rotor ran into one of the contacts in the cap. It proptly breaks the tip of the rotor which will be hanging crocked.
Tightening flywheel bolts is turning the crank reverse of its running direction for what its worth

is this a fresh engine? If it is I would be checking the valve adjustment carefully. Sometimes the valves get adjusted while one of the pushrods is not seated correctly in a rocker arm, then first time it's turned over it pops in with that noise you described.

Thanks guys yes it is a fresh motor. I;m going to pull out the distributer to pump up the oil so I'll check the gears and the rotor. I t was the first time the crank was turned since we rebuilt it.

I found the rotor in pieces. that's what it was.