I forgot to mark the distributor's position when I removed it, and need to reinstall it, what can I do now?

Question:

l removed the distributor from my 1953 Ford V-8 to have it rebuilt and forgot to mark its position. What can I do now?

Answer:

A good rule with any engine is to bring the number one piston to top dead center on its compression stroke before removing the distributor. If you failed to position the engine beforehand, you need to rotate it until the number One piston is at top dead center of its compression stroke and then install the distributor so the rotor is pointing at the number one cylinder’s ignition wire on the distributor cap. For a 53 Ford V-8 the number one cylinder is forwardmost on the right bank as viewed from the rear of the engine. Check the service manual for cylinder numbering on other cars.

To position the piston at top dead center on its compression stroke, remove the spark plug and place a finger over the plug hole. Remove the ignition wire from the coil to the distributor cap so the engine won't start, and have a friend “click” the engine over by tapping the starter switch. (A remote switch is better because you can work the starter yourself.) Watch the ignition timing mark — on a 753 Ford V-8 is a groove on the crankshaft pulley. When the timing mark hits “O” and you concurrently feel compressed air coming from the plug hole, the cylinder position is correct.