where does the rotor point?

this guy has a 83 5.0, that needs a distributor. I want to help him out. But don't know too much about FORDS. I know when you bump up the Number 1 on GM you point the rotor towards the number 1 cylinder. What is the process for FORDS? If someone could help me out, so that I can help him, that would be great. And maybe this guy can get his lil stang on the road. Nice car too.
Thanx in advance.

 

Put cylinder 1 at TDC on the compression stroke, install the distributor so that the rotor points at 1. Usually the distributor cap will be marked with a 1. It may take a few tries to get the distributor to drop in all the way, sometimes it's hard to get the oil pump shaft to line up right.

Would love to see pics of that 'stang! I love the four eyed cars.

 

Or just wire the cap from where the rotor points. Just make sure you are on the compression stroke for #1 cylinder....

 

So motor on TDC, the rotor points to (1) on the distributor cap, not the (1) cylinder, right?

cause my mechanic is saying the opposite, and it never starts.

 

yes the #1 post on the distributor cap.

 

It has always started that way. I needed help with the timing and he's a GM guy, confused why it isn't starting. And I KEEP on telling him he's doing it wrong. I sent him home

 

the #1 on the cap should have the #1 plug wire in it...that's what the #1 is there for...
if motor is on the #1 cyl. compression stroke, it should fire... (make sure the firing order is going in the correct direction...

also...you can make #1 anywhere you want it...
that's what i did to get my plugwires a little neater...(Mike showed me this) thanks Mike...:Handshake

 

It doesn't matter where the rotor is pointing, as long as you install the #1 wire there and route the remaining wires accordingly. It's just easier to have a "standard" location...such as the normally marked distributor cap. The rotor has no idea where it's pointing in relation to anything else...it just transfers spark when it's lined up with the contacts of the distributor posts.

On another note...when the oil pump shaft doesn't quite want to line up...seat the distributor as best you can...making sure the gears on the dist and the cam are actually engaged with each other...apply slight pressure on the top of the dist and bump the engine over until the dist seats on the oil pump shaft. Makes it very easy, AS LONG as you don't let the gears jump a tooth!

 

...

when a motor stops, it doesn't care where the rotor is pointing...it will crank from that position...

 

How could any one that calls them self a "Mechanic" say, "It's points at the number one cylinder".....(the actual location of the cylinder on the block)

 

once you learn the principles of mechanics all gas engines are the same does not matter what it is put your finger on the spark plug hole rotate the motor by hand you will feel it suck ,thats intake, keep rotating till it blows out air, thats compression, look in the cylinder, or stick a screwdriver in there , number 1 by the way,the piston needs to be at the top,make sure the rotor -when you drop ithe distributor in- in lines up with the 1 on the cap you are done,it does not hurt to look at your timing marks when you do this they should be close, intake -compression -power- exhaust- on most v-8 engines if you do not know where number 1 is it is usually on the head that sticks forward the most

 

exacally. after i started telling him that his way is wrong, i told him to go home.

 

Doesn't mean his way is WRONG...just means that it's different than what you think. You can point the rotor anywhere you want...there is no wrong way. You just have to key your spark plug wire placement off of wherever the rotor is pointing.

 

Why would you make a statement like that? Pointing the rotor at the number one cylinder is no more arbitrary than pointing it at a reference mark on the distributor cap...

There is no right or wrong place to point it...only generally accepted ideas of what's "normal".

 

It was wrong. Trust me.


It wasn't touching #1 wire either. So it was wrong