Distributor Question?

Hi everybody!
Just finished up a timing chain replacement and got all buttoned up late yesterday and…wouldn’t start.
My first guess is that I installed the distributor on TDC exhaust instead of compression (I have fuel, but it was getting late and had to call it off before verifying spark).
If I am correct that I am backwards, can I just re place the distributor 180 degrees from where it is without finding TDC#1?
My thumb is too fat to get a seal on the plug hole to feel compression.

 

You could probably do that, but it would be wiser to at least roll the engine over by hand to zero degrees on the timing mark and then move the distributor. you will have a better reference.

 

I agree with that. If you just pull the distributor and rotate it 180 degrees it might work, provided you are exactly 180 degrees off, and are exactly accurate when you rotate it.

I am thinking you would still likely need to bring #1 up to TDC on compression stroke to get in the right neighborhood, so just do it once the right way.

If you can't get your thumb in there use your little finger, or put a cork in the hole.

 

Why not move the wires by three places? Same outcome.

 

Thank you guys!
I think you’re right on both counts. Just a 180* flip would have done it (if flip could be accurate enough). But I just did it the sure way. Pulled the cap and rotated twice watching the rotor. Fired right up, but….no oil pressure

New thread coming momentarily…

 

My cap has numbers molded in, I’m afraid the “next time” would have confused me!