initial engine start

[ProdigyCustoms]

Remove the spark and putting your finger over the number one cylinder, turning with a socket, bring the motor around to compression. When the you start to feel pressure on you finger, blowing your finger off the hole, your approcahing TDC. Look at the balancer and as the balancer approaches TDC, stop at 14 degrees before TDC. Drop the distributor in and line up number one on the distributor cap with the rotor exactly. I like to set the cap on the distributor and draw a line on th distributor base so I can remove the cap and get it perfect. This will start the engine at 14 BTDC (within a few degrees) so you avoid all that drama of flames and back fires. Also, before starting, tunr the idle mixture screws in closed and open 1 1/2 turns, then crank a half turn into the idle adjustment.
Have a timing light on the motor and as soon as it fires verify timinig is in the 14 degree area give or take a few degrees.