Can anyone tell me the right way to time the distributor if it has been removed? This is in a 20R motor.
My 22r is 8 degrees before top dead center, that info is straight from a Toyota service guy at the dealer.
Right. I understand that, but if the distributor has been removed, what is the procedure you use to get the distributor to line up so that it fires the plugs when they are supposed to fire?
spin motor to tDC, set dritributor so the rotor is pointing to #1 spark plug wire on cap. start motor use timing light to set timing to 5btdc. make sure the vacume lines to the advance are unplugged from the distro and the lines are plugged so they dont leak and make your idle higher.
it appears that I have put it in correctly (not sure what you are talking about when you say to block off the vacuum advance though...thought that had to be there) but when i try to start, all i get is a "puffing" out of the carb.
Just for accuracy, I usually pull cylinder No. 1 spark plug out, and turn the engine by hand, using the crank pulley, so that the No. 1 piston is at Top Dead Center (You can tell by looking through the spark hole in the cylinder head with a flashlight) Once you do that, reinstall the spark plug. Then position the rotor on the distributor to the 12 o'clock position, and slide the distributor into the head. When you do so, the rotor should turn over pointing to the vacuum advance on the distributor. So it should go from 12 to maybe the 10 o'clock position. Install the Dist. cap. My stock yota' distributor cap is numbered for the positioning of the plug wires, so maybe yours is as well? I also noticed after writing all of this, that you have a 20r, whereas I have a 22r. I am not sure if the process is the same, but i see no reason as to why it would not work the same.
Thanks 22slow: the distributor was 180 off somehow. no clue. Got it straightened out and was finally able to get it started. It runs like a$$, but i think that between fine tuning on the timing and getting the new carb tuned, I should be okay. Thank you for the help!
