When i put my 86 series3 xj6 engine together i didnt install the distributor drive shaft in the correct alignment as i just totally overlooked it, now the engine is in the car. The haynes manual says the slot in the shaft should be at approx 11 oclock going by the diagram, mine is at 7 oclock so i figured i could just move the leads around 2 places on the distributor cap and all would work[seen this done befor], is there any reason why this wont work with an electronic ignition? i have spark and fuel but she wont run,
Any body got any ideas befor i pull the engine and drop the sump and oil pump to align the dissy drive

 

NO reason at all. Done it myself in the early days.

The #1 is at the rear, but you knew that did you not?.

The electronics has no idea, and cares even less. It simply fires a spark, as did contact points, and the sequence is a human thing.

 

Thanks for that, that was my theory to, i must be missing something some where else and will have to keep trying

 

Hooter:

Take a deep breathe, step back and thinks basics. What does any IC engine need to run. Air, fuel and spark, each in the correct amount and at the right time.

Yup, just send the spark via sequence on the distributor cap to the cylinder that is on firing stroke. But, caveat, the pointer to the marks on the dampener will be useless. Not too hard to use a White out pen to remark TDC.

In about 1958, I built a 23ish Ford T speedster, virtually from cast off junk. A tale to it's own. I was lucky to come across an after market American Bosch conventional distributor to replace the coils and timer that Henry supplied.
I knew the firing order was 1243. But, somehow confused 4 and 1! After dragging it around, it fired. Ran pretty good, but only on 3!! On a whim, I swapped 2 & 3. All four chimed in just right. I used a Jeep distributor ion the Bosch adapter. A bit of adaptation and all advance made manually, NO centrifugal and no vacuum. Simplicity as Henry designed that engine.
Except, that by some Ford part inter mixing, I got an A carb and foot feed to fit.
That really woke up that 176 CI flat head. Straight pipe with a curious extractor fitted to the end. Sounded great.

Carl

 

Yep.

The timing marks are useless.

Rotate the engine (by hand) so #1 (rear cylinder) is on compression stroke, and then place a long wire (soft) down the plug hole, and carefully wind the engine BIT BY BIT (hand again) until the wire stops extending. You now have TDC #1, compression stroke. MARK the pulley at the front with YOUR new TDC.

Note the position of the rotor tip, #1 plug lead goes here in the cap, then anti-clockwise, 1 5 3 6 2 4.

Fine tuning the timing once running will be easy.

Time for a drink.