replacing my distributor

[thesearemyshoes]

I'm replacing the distributor in my 79 bronco. I have a 351 windsor and I'm pretty sure the timing is off. I cranked the engine so that the rotor pointed to the no. 1 mark on the distributor cap and took the distributor retention ***** off but the distributor still wont lift out. Any tips or ideas how I could tell if the no. 1 piston is all the way up?

 

[Rons beast]

Hey shoes,

With the distributer rotor pointing at #1 the timing mark should be visible. Turning the crank to have the mark at TDC will put the #1 piston at TDC of the compression stroke.  Pulling the spark plug and shinning  a light should enable you to see the piston. If space doesn't allow that , a soda straw can be inserted in the plug hole and you should be able to feel the piston.

A stuck dist. can be freed with some WD-40 at the base, and twisting back and forth, while pulling up.

You didn't explain why you feel the timing is off.  If TDC does not make the  #1 piston at the top of it's stroke , you have a problem with a timing chain and/or gear, or the outer ring of your balancer has slipped.

Good Luck  

 

[Bully Bob]

As Ron advised and,

I would add the question; 

By what means did you determine the dizzy was bad & needs replacing..? What are your symptoms.?

It would be a shame to buy a new one & still have the same problems.

If the timing mark is on "O" or "TDC" & the piston is at the top of its stroke, & the rotor points to #1.., you may need to have the module tested.

The module is more likely to have issues than the dizzy.., with the exception of the pick-up coil in the dizzy.

The pick-up coil is not expensive.

 

[thesearemyshoes]

when you say TDC, what are you referring to? Sorry if that's an amateur question, but I'm still pretty new to working on vehicles

 

[Rons beast]

TDC= top dead center....the zenith of a piston's stroke.  An engine is built with the timing mark on the crank balancer to be at 0 degrees, (or TDC), when the #1 piston is at it's absolute top of it's stroke.

NOTE!   the piston is at TDC 2 times in a 4 stroke engine. A compression stroke and an exhaust stroke. The compression stroke is when the distributor should have the rotor pointing at the #1 plug terminal.   If the rotor is pointing 180 degrees away from the #1 plug terminal the piston is on the exhaust stroke.