I guess I need to double chech my understanding of Ignition 101. I am trying the minimalist wiring approach to break the motor in before the body work is complete. I will be setting the base timing of 12* BTDC. I have a regular points style MSD distributor.

#1-There is an old ceramic ballast in the old parts box from the previous owner do I need that?-MSD wiring diagrams say no.

#2- When I bolt the dist. cap on with the motor "pointing" to #1 how exact does that need to be? Without being able to see inside the cap.....it is hard to know if I am being exact.

#3-I figure with the #1 cylinder at the top of the compression stroke (verified by checking valves) I can drop in the distributor, install cap and THEN install the plug wires for #1,8,4,3,6,5,7,2. This seems to be the easiest for me(clears all the wires out of the way.....


#4-Presumably I need to start with the distributor "centered" in the left right movement range when installed. I figured that this would allow for the greatest range of motion to advance/retart the timing for break in.

A little help for a new guy trying to get my flat tappet motor broken in-the start up procedures sticky has been helpful.

Put the timing indicator line on the damper so it's aligned with the 12 degrees advanced mark of the timing pointer, since that's where you want the base timing.

Drop in the distributor so the rotor points to the #1 plug wire terminal of the cap. Then take the rotor out if it helps you to see the pickup coil and reluctor.

Twist the distributor so the tooth on the pickup coil is EXACTLY lined up with the tooth on the reluctor. HEI has 8 teeth on both, I'm thinking MSD uses 8 on the reluctor, but only one on the pickup coil.

Tighten the distributor, install the rotor, cap, and wires.

WHat is the best method for aligning the Cap and the Distributor? Once the cap goes over the rotor there seems to be a large margin of error.....

Schurkey , think you missed something
I have a regular points style MSD distributor.
Key on ,spark at points or buzz box method might work better.

WHat is the best method for aligning the Cap and the Distributor? Once the cap goes over the rotor there seems to be a large margin of error.....
Putting the cap on the distributor is a no-brainer; there will be a notch in the housing that mates with a protrusion in the cap; together they index the cap so the spark plug wire terminals align with the rotor at firing time.

Schurkey , think you missed something

Key on ,spark at points or buzz box method might work better.

Points-style MSD distributor to me means that it's an electronic ignition but in the small-diameter housing--not the big HEI-style housing.

Got a part number for an MSD distributor for Chevrolet that uses points?

Until then, what I stated is correct. Line up the timing marks where you want the base timing (using the #1 compression stroke, of course); line up the rotor with #1 on the cap, line up the pickup coil with the tooth on the reluctor. With practice, you'll be within about one degree of the desired timing.

10-4-will let you know how it goes once I fget my TH400 line in so I do not burn it up.....this is great stuff!


I did not see any notch but I will take it out and check-I knew I was missing something....