I have posted a few threads lately, as I am restoring my '79. If I'm spamming, I apologize. I swapped an '83 into my '79. The car is going into the shop tomorrow to have all the body work done, so for now I am going to use the distributor from the '79. I don't have the time to to a harness change to use the '83 distributor. However, I know that on an '83, there were 2 different plugs used, a different carb, different coils, and a different alternator. My car is turning over, but not firing. What all needs to be swapped over for the old distributor to work? I assume I need to change the spark plugs. What about the coils and the alternator? I just need it to fire up so that I can drive it down to the shop tomorrow. Thanks guys!

 

Okay, being in a hurry has turned me half retarded. I realized today that when I swapped the '79 dizzy into the '83 that I have in the car now, I didn't mark it. So the problem is that my timing is off. Does anyone know how to adjust the distributor so that the timing is set correctly? The Haynes I have says to mark it prior to removal. Which I didn't do cuz I'm dumb. I've scoured Google, checked the 1st gen FAQ page, I don't know where to go from here.

 

Its too bad you swapped the dizzy's in the first place. There was no reason to do that. The one from the 83 is better because it is electronic.

I have no idea how to install one without marking it, sorry.

 

Look closely at the front pulley and find the timing marks. There is a indicator pin on the front cover that you want to line up the first timing mark (tdc) on the pulley with. Now, on your distributor look at the drive gear and you will find a small dimple just above the teeth. Line that up with the raised dimple on the dizzy case right next to the drive gear. Center the distributor in the front cover and then stab in. This should get you in the ballpark and allow you to get it started. Time it and tighten down bolt and your done.

 

Oh my dear God, thank you Rotor13B! Worked perfectly! Also, I took pictures as I did this. I think it would be beyond helpful if we put this on the sticky FAQ page.

1st Step: Locate the Leading and trailing and leading notches and line the leading notch up with the indicator pin. They may be hard to spot after 20 or 30 years of the engine being used.



2nd Step: Locate the raised dimple in the distributor case.



3rd Step: Locate the notch on the distributor and align it with the raised dimple on the dizzy case.



4th Step: Insert the distributor. It may take a little wiggling, but it'll get there.

5th Step: Hook up all the wires.

6th Step: Fire it up!

 

Nice info! Subscribed! I'll need this later lol

 

The mark in your second picture is showing a chip unique to your front cover. Hard to tell, but I think your third picture is showing the roll pin. If so, look for another dimple on the gear. The marks you need to line up are both on the distributor. Here's the bad picture from the FSM.

 

The dimple on the dizzy needs to be lined up with the mark above the gear, not the part you have marked in step 2. (Beat me to it)

 

Weird. That's how I lined it up and it worked just fine... Musta just been a coincidence