I put a new thermostat in yesterday and refilled the antifreeze, but to get to the thermostat I took off the distributor, not sure if that was the right thing to do, but I put everything back together a couple hours after and the car would turn over but wouldn't start, I thought it didn't start since it was cold out and the engine was completely cold but I just tried again about 20 mins ago and it still doesn't start, do you guus know what it might be?

 

You need to put the wires back on in the correct firing order and reinstall/align it properly.

 

Well I did put all the wires back together, in fact I didn't disconnect the wires all the way, but how would I align it properly? I just put it back in and it seemed like it was fine as in no fitting issues

 

You didnt align the distributor shaft with that of the cam. there is a mark on the shaft. it has to be within spect for you to get a spark. i say pull out the distributor and check the alignment mark. and let me know what you come up with. but the shaft is out of spec/ not lining up right.

 

Well i'm not sure how to tell where the cam mark is, and the distributor is out now, I can see the mark but idk how to move the one inside, do I have to take the valve cover off?

 

That or you can use a small flas light to shine it through the hold for the Distributor shaft and rotate your crank. once you can get the marks close to one another your car will start and the idle may be a little low, or rough. at the point you can bach off that bolt, bring the rpms up to 2,500 and slowly rotate the cap to adjust it as you listen to the sound o the engine.

 

Well I was told I have to set the timing gears at 0 and then put in the distributor, which number should the mark on the distributor gear be pointer at?

 

[QUOTE=m1k3yg;6987564]Well I was told I have to set the timing gears at 0 and then put in the distributor, which number should the mark on the distributor gear be pointer at?[/Q
Yea, once the cams are lined up you are fine. that exhaust cam mark should be in place for the distributor. so take off the from cam covers, and rotate the crank till the lines above cams are marked up. then put in the distributor, you will have to kinda work it in a bit. once its in the car will start up. do you have a timing light? if you do, when it starts up, let it warm up to opperating temp, the jump Terminal Te1 and E1 in the diagnostic port, and use the timing light to adjust it. 10* is base timing. are you wit me or im confusing you?

 

I dont have a timing light, but what way do I point the distributor gear? I know it has a mark but i'm not sure wether it goes pointing upwards or downwards, i'm taking off the timing belt tomorrow and lining everything up but I still dont know which way to point the mark on the distributor

 

[QUOTE=Pliccaid;6987658] And i'm like halfway with you lol at first I swore I had to take the valve cover off I'm glad I didnt have to

 

Definitely make sure the firing order is correct.

 

[QUOTE=m1k3yg;6988503]Taking off the valve cover is a lot of work if u r only tryin to install the distributor, it's all up to you tho. Post a picture of the marks you are talking about let me see. Don't make it hard on yourself dude, Your timing is still the same, I would only take off the cam gear cover, rotate the crank clockwise till the cams line up with the marks in the plate at the back of the cam gear. Once the cams are lined up the distributor shaft will go in. But post a picture of the marks on the distributor. Look on the head by where the distrubutor goes in is there a mark on there? Like a dot? Take a pic of that too. I believe the mark on the distributor gear has to line up with the mark on the cam shaft. look through the hole you should be able to see it when the cams are at zero.

 

There's a couple ways you can do it. You can stick a coat hanger down cylinder one and roll the motor till its tdc or you can just go off timing marks, either way you need to be sure cylinder on is top dead center. Pull the distributor cap off and I bet you'll find the the contact part of the rotor is not facing the cylinder 1 contact on the distributor cap. Pull the distributor and re stab it so that the rotor is facing the cyl 1 contact in the cap. After you get it to fire you need to set the timing. Too advanced and you'll knock. Too retarded and you'll have no power. If you don't have a timing light you can try this. Leave the distributor loose enough that you can still rotate it. Start the car at start snapping the throttle. (quickly opening it and closing it) should rev to 2500-3000 rpm. Advance the timing until you here it start to ping the retard it just enough I make the ping go away. That will put you pretty damn close to where you need to be. You can at least drive it with out doing damage until you find someone with a timing light to get you point on. Good luck.

 

Here's one


Here's the other one

 

yeah, line the mark on that back of that gear with the mark on the aluminun part of the distributor, in the second pic it looks lined up. that's it, then install the distributor and she will fire right up. after that you can take it somewhere/ a local shop so that they can adjust the timing with a light.