I thought this would be easy, but....

I just finished detailing the engine on my 62 401. My manual says to take the passenger side valve cover off (# 1 cylinder is on the passenger side isn't it?). Turn the engine over until the timing marks on the harmonic balancer are aligned and the valves on #1 are closed. Set the distributor so the vacuum advance points to where is was before I started (pointing to the passenger side rear bolt on the intake) and the rotor is pointing just to the right of the vacuum advance.

Ok; so it won't start. What's wrong with the above procedure? It appears that on both the exhaust and intake stroke the #1 valves are closed when the timing marks are aligned on the harmonic balancer. Is there a better set of instruction than what's in my Chasis Service Manual.

What am I doing wrong?

Jerry,

Watch the intake valve on #1 (front passenger side on the Nailhead) while you turn the engine clockwise. Stop when the line on the balancer lines up with 0 just after the intake opens and closes. Then you are set to drop in the distributor. Point the vacuum advance roughly where it was as you drop it down. Point the rotor a little bit short of where the #1 wire would be with the cap in place. You can put the cap on and mark the side of the distributor at the middle of the bump for the #1 wire. As you drop the distributor the last 1/2" it will rotate a little clockwise as it engages the cam gear. That is why you line up the rotor a little short of where the #1 wire would be. The oil pump shaft needs to be lined up with the bottom of the distributor as you do this, or the distributor will not seat all the way down. You may have to turn the pump shaft with a screwdriver to line it up with the distributor. It may take a few tries to line the shaft up. The distributor should seat all the way down and rotate forward as you seat the last 1/2". If the #1 mark is where it needs to be in relation to the rotor, put the clamp on enough to hold the distributor, but loose enough to move it by hand. It should start up there, and you can finish time it with a light. Check your dwell before timing it with the light. Good Luck!

I actually started a tune-up on my 401 last night. I opened my old car tune-up manual, which unfortunatly shows EVERYTHING IN THE ENTIRE WORLD except pre '67 Buick (damn it).

It's obvious that the specs shown in my manual aren't for my vintage of motor, especially since it shows cylinder #1 is on the driver's side. Also, the spark plug wiring diagram certainly isn't correct. Can someone post or send me the wiring diagram for plug wiring? I beleive the wiring is correct, but would like to verify. Thanks!
ehibbs@nuteltech.com

31tudor --
see this link
http://www.buicks.net/forum/Forum7/HTML/000063.html

THANKS, THIS IS GREAT!!! Exactly what I needed!

Dr. Frankenbuick,

Will this technique work for a 55 Buick 322 Nailhead as far as distributor installation and timing?

David

:bgrin:

Yes, use the same procedure.

Thanks a million...I got it stabbed on the first try and the car stated right up...had to move the oil pump shaft a bit clockwise :cool: