1969 Chevelle SS 396. When I got the car it was running but running rough. I checked the timing and it was off from manuf. specs, 26 BTDC. It would die if I put it back to 4 BTDC. So I checked the spark plug wires and they were all off, 2 positions clockwise from the normal firing order, which most of you know is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. (So it was firing, 7-2-1-8-4-3-6-5)So i thought it was odd that it was still running. But nonetheless I wanted to get it right. So, I moved the plug wires on distr. cap where they're supposed to go, and it wouldn't start. So then I turned the engine over to TDC and pulled the distr. cap, the rotor was pointing 90 degrees toward the passenger side. So I pulled the distr. and put it back in with the rotor pointing to #1. put the plugs back on where they are supposed to go, 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2, and to no avail would the engine start, it would turn over, but not start. So then I put everything back to where I had it from the beginning, and still no start. Please help!! Thanks!!

Are you sure its on #1 and not #6?
You need to confirm #1, Then rotate it a little at a time until it fires. Now set you timing to 12-16* and adjust your Idle to 800rpm.

BTW. You were adjusting the timing with the vac advance unhooked and plugged correct?

Call a friend that can show you how to install a distributor correctly. Once you see it done by someone that knows how to do it, you will too.

Sounds like you have it 180º out. When you "lined up the marks" you were on TDC #6, and not #1. Move all the plug wires 4 positions, and if it starts, that's what you did wrong.

Crankshaft rotates 2 times for every one time for the camshaft and distributor. If you were on #6 TDC crank position, and installed the rotor to #1, that's where the term "180º out" comes from.

Call a friend.

If the rotor was pointing 90 degrees to the passenger side at TDC, and you pulled it out and pointed it towards number 1, that's like a 115 degree move, so you need to pull the distributor out and move it one tooth clockwise, or move the plug wires one more terminal counterclockwise.

I think he knows what hes doing,just wrote it in short.
Neverless, one of a couple things could be wrong.If all was good until you started.
Connecter pluged into cap...i know but i have done it.
180 out-- distributor set with #6 on TDC.
or you may just need to start turning the cap (counterclockwise) to give it some timing to fire it up...i think big camshafts need more timing and you may have one???

now about it running before you started to straighten it out...thats what find interesting.

This is the GM Position for installing a Distributor:

Rotate Engine with #1 at TDC on the Compression Stroke (#6 will be on Overlap)

Install the Distributor with the Rotor Pointing directly to the back of the Carburetor - NOT Pointing to #1 Cylinder. Use a large screw driver to align the slot in the Oil Pump Drive Shaft to engage the Distributor Gear Drive Tab. When seated the rotor should be pointing directly to the back on the carburetor.

Install the Distributor Cap and Plug Wires with #1 Cap Tower Pointing at #1 Cylinder.

You will note, with the Distributor installed in this position, you can freely rotate the distributor throughout the engines operating range without the Vacuum Pod or Wires interfering with other engine components.

As a note, it makes no difference where the wires are plugged in as long as they are in the correct order and the rotor is pointing to #1 at the correct time. Some guys move them to other positions to help with routing the wires.

Mine are not in the factory location and the car runs fine. It drives my son nuts that I won't put it to the factory location, but if it ain't broke--don't fix it. You see I would probably have that same problem.

Really, though, it sounds like you need to find TDC and have get the rotor pointing to the right location. Like others have said location doesn't matter; however, position is everything.

Oh, ya, make sure you didn't pull any of the control wires out of the distributor.

I checked the spark plug wires and they were all off, 2 positions clockwise from the normal firing order, which most of you know is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. (So it was firing, 7-2-1-8-4-3-6-5)So i thought it was odd that it was still running. But nonetheless I wanted to get it right. So, I moved the plug wires on distr. cap where they're supposed to go, and it wouldn't start.

You didn't change the firing order and it was right before. It's best to check total timing with the engine reved up and vacuum advance plugged. Shoot for 34-38. See what runs best. Your options now are to move the wires back to where they were and set the timing or pull the distributor, turn the oil pump shaft that mates to the distributor in the direction you want the cap moved and drop it back in.

MSD How to Set Timing Video:
http://www.msdignition.com/default.aspx?id=14906&blogid=429

This is EXACTLY why I dislike people who install the distributor in a non-factory position, and then play games with the wire positions on the cap. (which ALSO makes the engine look like it was worked on by a third-grader.)

YES the engine can be made to run just fine...

...But the next poor bastard who works on it ends up chasing his tail for hours because the first guy couldn't drop a distributor correctly.

My distributors go in at the factory-recommended angles, and I DO NOT play "Pin the Tail on the Distributor" with the plug wires.

, and I DO NOT play "Pin the Tail on the Distributor" with the plug wires.

l:)