69 225 V6 Hei Installation Help Needed

I got the new D2000, coil and wires and took a look at my old distributer. I now know the source of the rattle and poor running:

I figured out what needs grinding down:


I can fit the D2000 clearance, she rotates:


However it does not seat completely. It has about 1/8" left to go before fully seated. I cannot find anything keeping it from dropping other than the chamfer (?) angle on the metal collar:


What are my options? Swap the collars?

Tim

 

Cant help but I'm following as I'm installing HEI soon.

 

Here's a trick, I need to add to the HEI video thread as well.
Mark your cap with a couple lines that match the way the slot/shaft need to be set. Makes the lining up process LOTS easier.

 

When I dropped it in, the rotating part of the shaft twisted about 1/8 of a turn. I assumed that was the slot in the shaft aligning with the bar I can see in the hole. Is there another "twist" I need to consider?

Tim

 

When I was dropping my distributor in, it would not drop all the way in. Greased the O- ring and it slipped right in

 

After watching a few other vids I realized my terms were wrong. The tang fits into the slot for the oil pump, and it was not aligned. One vid actually says, “if not aligned the distributor will not seat, by about 3/8 inch”.

I rotated the crank shaft until the shaft dropped into the oil pump slot.

Then I continued to rotate until the piston reached TDC, confirming the timing mark is aligned and the rotor is over the “1” pin on the distributer that I had marked based on a vid for GM HEI distributer installs (which is for a V8 but it looks the same). But...

Based on the “great video” thread the number 1 pin should be just left of the coil connector (3rd of 4 that have no gaps clockwise). Based on the alignment the rotor cap looks about 180* out. How critical is the nr 1 pin?



Tim
Edit: added piccy.

 

I decided to rotate the shaft 180* and now number 1 is on the right, towards the firewall.

before I start this thing, does this look right?

Tim

 

Thank you!

As noted, I did remove the distributor, rotated the shaft 180*, reinstalled so the number one pin is the one just left of the BAT.

Again, thanks for validating my concern. I’ll crank it tomorrow. Dinner and a movie (at home) tonight.

Tim

 

Weather improved enough to try and start. She starts but runs very rough. I can advance the throttle but she starts to get rougher and backfires above 1000rpm. With timing light on it appears the mark is at the top. ISTR it should be about 5* BTDC but it’s nowhere near there. I’ve rotated the distributer fully each way (more would require pulling and reinstalling) and clockwise is worse, counterclockwise is a better idle but in both cases the timing mark on the flywheel does not move closer to the gauge. Video:


If not obvious, this is my first go at a distributer replacement. What must I do next?

Tim

 

I think your installation is off a few teeth on the cam drive. I'm used to the vacuum canister pointing more forward, almost touching the belt. I think you need to clock it counter-clockwise a few teeth is so it sits pointing more forward. Look at Warlock's photo.
-Donny

 

Just a thought when I put in the hei on my willys .when I would bring up number 1 piston to top checked with a dail indicator my mark on my balancer pulley would show 6 degree btdc. Don’t know why it is off . So a I made a mark on pulley to line up the Zero mark from timing cover casting. Then set timing to 8 degrees from my mark .now when I check timing it shows 14 degrees btdc with vacuum plugged. And it runs good set this way . Perhaps you can check to make sure you’re timing marks are correct.

 

This is a good thing to check. An original 225 timing cover has a 3 angled front pan shape, and a functionally identical later 231 timing cover is "V" shaped. The 231 cover has different timing marks.
-Donny

 

What I did: I removed the cover, rotated the distributor enough to counterclockwise to reinstall the cover (holding screw did not clear the manifold bolt). I can rotate the distributer a few degrees counterclockwise before the vac hose strikes the fan. Vacuum hose removed. Engine starts, runs rough for a few seconds then settles. Timing mark is at top of pulley when cylinder 1 fires.

This doesn’t seem any different or better. I’m going to start over and verify what I’m doing.

Tim

 

When I turn the pulley to get to TDC the mark is at 0*. I use a pencil inserted into the spark plug hole.

Tim

 

I’m not sure I understand. My engine is an original 225. So far the only non-original parts are the distributer, wires, and plugs.

Tim

 

I don't know about your's but when I did mine, it runs best at about 10 degrees btdc. The plugs need to be gapped wider also. My vacuum advance points right at the radiator and my number one is just like Warlock's. I hooked my vacuum line to manifold vacuum and it runs at all rpm's fine. Here is a photo of mine. The hardest part is find the real top dead center on compression.

 

Things are getting worse.

I removed the distributor and plugs and started over.

1. Rotated the crankshaft until cylinder 1 was at TDC. Timing mark was at 0*. Used a pencil in the spark plug hole to confirm TDC.
   
2. Rotated the distributor shaft until the rotor aligned to pin 1. Inserted the distributor into the timing cover.
   
3. Rotated the crankshaft until the oil pump aligned to the tang in the distributor shaft. Distributor fully seated.
   
4. Rotated the distributor body until pin 1 was aligned with the rotor.
   
5. Installed the distributor cover and connected the wiring.
   
6. Installed the spark plugs and connected the wires to the distributor.
   
7. Confirmed vacuum hose disconnected.

Turned engine over, would not start. Nothing.

Rotated the distributor body counterclockwise to move the vacuum closer to the fan. Turned over engine, it seemed to struggle. Almost like the plugs were firing too far BTDC. I tried a second time and it started, but idles very rough. The timing is now flashing cylinder 1 on the other side of the engine from the marks. When it fires, the mark is at 9 o’clock but the fixed marks are at 2 o’clock.

My understanding of the engine is that I’ve got my distributor misaligned (obviously). Since it appears to be off by ~150* my next move would be to rotate the shaft counterclockwise by about 150*. Then rotate the crankshaft until the oil pump is aligned again. Reinstall the plugs and try again.

Tim