Hey fellas, was checking the timing on my '71 with a semi-stock small block and was trying to advance the timing-moving it counter clockwise and turned it as far as I could but the spark plug boot was hitting the firewall and prevented me from turning it anymore. My question is, can I pull the distributor and reinstall it at a different angle to give me better range to advance the timing? The timing right now is not even showing up on the timing plate so im thinking it needs to be advanced quite a bit. Needless to say, its running kinda crappy as well. Also, im not exactly sure what upgrades are in the motor being a newer owner. What timing would would probably work out the best.

Thanks, Dustin

Yes. Rotating it one tooth clockwise, if I recall correctly, should add a little over 27* advance. Use a large screwdriver to turn the oil pump shaft to align with distributor so it will drop all the way in. You can also bump the engine over until it lines up and falls into place.

Yes.Use a large screwdriver to turn the oil pump shaft to align with distributor so it will drop all the way in.

Good luck with that!

Just set the distributator in place with the gears meshed where you want them and have someone crank the engine while you gently press down on the distributor. It will self align with the oil pump shaft and drop the rest of the way in.


Add the retainer and bolt, time it, and you are on your way.

You're checking the timing with the vacuum advance disconnected and plugged - right?

Thanks for the help. Yes, I have been checking the timing with the vacuum advanced plugged. Hey, what would be a good base line for the timing..........8 degress? Well, i guess it would be wise to replace the distributor cap since I will be working around it.

If it's that close to the firewall ,you might try moving the wire's up 1 terminal on the cap?

If it's that close to the firewall ,you might try moving the wire's up 1 terminal on the cap?
Yep, it's much easier to do that if you don't care for "correct"

Im not sure I follow. Move the wires 1 position up the cap? How exactly do you do that?

Not to complicate things. But, 8 degrees on even a mild aftermarket camshaft is not going to be enough timing. Start with 12-14 but have no more advance than 36 at 3500 RPM.

Hey fellas, was checking the timing on my '71 with a semi-stock small block and was trying to advance the timing-moving it counter clockwise and turned it as far as I could but the spark plug boot was hitting the firewall and prevented me from turning it anymore.

Thanks, Dustin

What exactly do you mean by "but the spark plug boot was hitting the firewall and prevented me from turning it anymore."?

All 8 of the spark plug boots are plenty far away from the firewall. Are you sure that you don't mean that the vacuum advance is hitting the firewall and preventing you from getting the timing numbers you want?

As to rearranging the plug wires, after you have moved the distributor body you'll need to get the distributor rotor to the #1 position by turning the engine to the #1 cylinder TDC making sure that your balancer timing mark is aligned with the "0" on the engine timing tab. Then reinstall all of the wires on the distributor cap following the firing order 18436572 starting with the #1 position ( where the rotor is pointed at #1TDC ) and placing the wires in the distributor cap from #1 in a clockwise direction.

Technically speaking the engine doesn't care where the rotor/plug wires are as long as the firing order is observed starting from #1 TDC.