Guys, I have searched the archives and still have a few questions I hope you can help out with.

I'm almost ready to fire my engine, waiting for the carb to get back from the restorer (hopefully next week).

After rebuilding the top end and with the heads off I was able to find TDC easily. (both intake and exhaust lifters were seated down and piston was set high in chamber, and the balancer and timing pointer aligned to 0 deg BTDC. So I figured I was at TDC

during all final assembly I kept the engine in the same position (crank didn't rotate).

I then aligned the oil pump slot with the dist shaft and stabbed the dist so that the rotor points directly to # 1 cylinder. So far so good. Placed dist cap on and all is well.

Question: does the rotor point directly to # 1 cylinder or is it more towards the front of engine block

Question? In all the manuals they depict #1 on cap as being (so it looks) the terminal that sits over the trap door on dist. With my dist cap on, # 1 is actually one to the right of what they say (as you look at it from the front).

And if I move the vac pod to align and use the dist terminal they suggest the trap door is facing directly towards the front of the engine (does't seem right).

Initial timing calls for 0 deg at TDC according to the chevelle service manual. Is this the best for the car or was GM being conservative?

Sorry for being so long, Just want to get this right before I try to fire it up soon.

What have I screwed up?

Car is a 1970 Chevelle SS 396/350.


P.S. Sure wish there was somebody nearby that could lend a hand when I try and fire this baby up in a couple of weeks.

Thanks

All the Best
Bruce

Actually, you can make any terminal on the distributor cap you want to be number 1. But if you are uncomfortable for some reason with the one that the rotor currently points to at TDC, remove the distributor, turn the oil pump slot appropriately, and drop her in again. Really though, like I said, as long as you have enough room to turn the distributor and set timing without the vacuum pod banging into the firewall or the intake, it doesn't matter which terminal you use as #1.

as 69 said you can pick what ever terminal you want for the #1.....for me i like the 5 o'clock position just because.... as far as the timing goes "0" degrees as per book is way to retarded get your initial to around 10 degrees that would be a good starting point....i run my 396 motor up close to 20 degrees initial with 10 to 1 compression makes throttle response very crisp....compared to 8 or 10 degress.......but 0 degrees would be real sluggish.....so even if you started at 10 degrees you would be in good shape......


what i would do is go ahead a hand turn your motor to 10 degrees before top dead center and then line your rotor perfectly straight with the cap terminal that you chose for #1...tighten down the dist.....so that way your motor is already timmed right a 10 degrees btdc and you can do your break in knowing your pretty darn close on timming......

yes gm was very conserative on there timming..........give it all you can with out detonation or ping and the engine will be much happier