Timing issues

[Daz1968]

As an update on this, I have installed the h and h recurved distributor, I couldn’t get it anywhere near timing marks and discovered they have assembled it with the drive to rotor arm 180 deg out Have confirmed against 3 unmessed with distributors I have in stock, they are closed weekends so I have put my drive in car 180 out and Tested it out, it runs better and cooler, but I can’t understand how it can be out by 180 deg.

[agricola]

Can you post some pictures as it makes no sense by 180 degrees out do you mean the cap and leads are pointing 180 away from the cylinder head. I dont also understand what you mean by the skew gear being incorrectly installed. Look forward to pictures

[Daz1968]

When distributor was timed the rotor arm was pointing at number 4 rather than 1
Can’t post pictures as I have installed it now, but I have 3 original distributors and when you look at the slot in upper shaft to locate the rotor arm the gear at bottom of the distributor It is offset wrong side, took me a while to notice it, to get car running I put drive in engine 180 deg out and everything is fine, not sure how it happened but as I have 3 opposite I can safely presume this one is incorrect, it was correct when I took it for refurb/recurve. Car was running fine apart from a few issues,
The curve seems fine as car is picking up nicely and runs cooler. Tickover is also better,
Not sure if it’s worth returning it, if I ever fit another distributor I will just have to put it back to original position.
It’s just difficult to understand how this had been done, only thing is if the lower drive was removed and refitted incorrect. I have sent them a message so will see if they have an explanation.
If I do remove it to return for rework I will take a picture as it’s obvious when seen.
They appear to have done a good job with recurving though and price was good as a new refurbed vacuum advance was fitted as well. This is a different spec but presume more suited to my spec and modern fuel.

[Hipwell]

The cam is in the dizzy 180 out, or at least 180 out to the drive dog. no real issue, I always mark the bottom of the shaft which way the offset is on the dog and which way the rotor is pointing Before taking them apart.

[Polarsilver]

Daz thats interesting H&H did my Distributor & same issue the shaft was 180 out .. the solution was sorted by Colin at Southam .. by fiddle the offsett Drive shaft position then the HT Leads lined up all as was expected .. someone into the Future will get a surprise but meantime my car runs great.

[agricola]

The issue could be whether the driveshaft is installed correctly in the engine. If you look at the 2 pictures it shows two options. The correct way is with the offset below the centerline of the two retaining bolts. But it matters not look at the 3rd photo you will see a rocker stud this is 5/16unf it will screw into the driveshaft. So you could pull the shaft and replace it rotated 180 degree. So set number 1 cylinder at TDC the slot should be at 2 o clock, if it isnt then it should be. Of course as you enter it it will turn as it enters the camshaft slew gear. Hope this helps.

[Daz1968]

I have reversed my drive now and it runs ok, issue is the drive is 180 out on distributor when compared to any other distributor I have, and I have checked 7 now, so pretty sure it’s my rebuilt distributor that’s wrong, my drive was installed correctly and was fine until I took distributor to be checked over, My drive is now installed incorrectly but as it is same as distributor it works fine.