Have taken the distributor out so I can replace the vacuum advance unit, and yes, I did watch living with a classic distributor service vid first........I noted the 3 Allen head bolts allow the distributor to rotate a bit. My question is, does the positioning of the distributor have to be identical when it goes back in w.r.t. the position of said bolts in the slots in the distributor?

Thanks in advance,
Quentin

 

Depends on a few things.

1) The timing setting PRIOR to removal.
2) The Pre removal static placement of the engine/distributor.
3) Which tooth is picked up on refit, one tooth either way is usually tolerable with those slots.Mostly NO, so a lift and CAREFUL rotation ONE tooth is needed.
\4) I have never even looked at where they were, I just set it up as per old fashioned common sense, and my ever inquiring mind. Its NOT Rocket Science, its just a 12 cylinder Internal Combustion Engine, with a Double Six firing order.

Have a read, I wrote them many years ago, and NO, I dont do videos.

 

Grant,
As ever....... Thank you!!
I didn't mark the exact position of the rotor wrt the distributor body, but have a photo from directly above the distributor before it came out so can align it pretty well based on existing wear and tear marks.
It has to go into the garage for some other work, so will probably get them to double check the timing is okay while its there.
Quentin