crate motor, crank turning

[TheRoaringEagle]

hi i'm very newbie but i was wondering if turning the crank by hand will effect the way i start up my new engine.

i'm installing my torque converter and i need to turn the flexplate in order to torque the bolts down correctly. do i need to turn it back to its original position? this must be a real ignorant question - sorry.

it also has h.e.i. and was also wondering how i can tell where to start my wires from. i know the firing order and rotation but i'm not sure where i should start. thanks!

(385 fastburn crate engine to my th350)

[Turbo Hen]

If the distributor is already in, and if its locked down you'll just need to bring the motor to TDC on the compression stroke for #1, take your cap off & see where the rotor is pointing.....that will be your starting point, then follow along with the firing order

Also you wont need to turn the motor back to its orignial position after tightening up the converter bolts.

1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

-Carm

[andrewb70]

If the distributor is already in, and if its locked down you'll just need to bring the motor to TDC on the compression stroke for #1, take your cap off & see where the rotor is pointing.....that will be your starting point, then follow along with the firing order

Also you wont need to turn the motor back to its orignial position after tightening up the converter bolts.

1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

-Carm

Carm,

Please remind us what direction the Chevy distributor turns.

Andrew

[Vegas69]

The correct way is to time the rotor and #1 cylinder to the front left distributor post (Setting in the drivers seat) You then put on your plug wire by the firing order in clockwise rotation.

[Turbo Hen]

The distributor turns clockwise.

-Carm

[TheRoaringEagle]

awesome info, i'm gonna go down now and check this out now, thank you!

[6'9"Witha69]

The distributor turns clockwise.

-Carm

Don't ask the pontiac guy the rotation!! They got it backwards.

Good thing he has a Chevy motor.

[TheRoaringEagle]

hehe, by the way, how do i figure TDC on the #1 piston? the balancer has a white man-made mark on the timing lines. is that to position the crank at tdc for #1? (it's an assembled crate motor)

[6'9"Witha69]

The balancer can show TDC for compression AND exhaust strokes for the #1. Easy way: Remove the #1 plug. Pleace your finger over the spark plug hole to form a seal. Turn the engine. As you see the TDC mark come to the pointer or TDC mark come to 0 on the tab (either way) you will feel the compression try to escape past your finger on a compression stroke but not on an exhaust stroke. TDC of compression is where you want to be.

Hope that helps.

[Turbo Hen]

LOL good one !

-Carm

[TheRoaringEagle]

yeesh i must be doing something wrong.. so i pulled the spark plug off, its the drivers side front plug, #1. and i am turning my crankshaft clockwise from the front and i plug the spark plug hole with my pinky and everytime i am about 90 degrees or a little less before the timing mark 0 i feel a large gust of air and i feel it for a while. the rotor on the dist. comes to same position everytime i do this, but sits in between two points on the cap.?

which one do i start with? most likely it would be the point before the other right? and does it matter that my tdc for compression on my #1 does not like up with any timing marks on my balancer?

[Turbo Hen]

Eagle you have a 50/50 change of hitting this right.....

You need to find the TDC at the compression part of the stroke.

If it makes it easier, pop the valvecover off the drivers side of the motor, and watch cyl #1 rockers open & close the valves (closest to the front of the car, radiator side)

When the cyl # 1 INTAKE rocker opens & closes fully, keep rotating the engine CLOCKwise until you see your balancer come to 0 & is lined up with your timing tab at 0.

Then, where your rotor is pointing will be your #1 on the distributor cap.

-Carm