OK I'm still confused. From below I can assume that I throw my case together
and then set up TDC and insert my distributor shaft? When I pulled it apart
there seemed to be no piece (distrb. shaft) that was in the case, the whole
distributor shaft came out together and before I cracked the case. I assumed
it would slip back in after re-assembly.

SeanG

>From: Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
>Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: WAS Re: Bottom end reassembly?
>Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 08:23:14 -0700
>
>You are correct sir/madam!  Clearance and sensible wire routing are the
>only reasons for a precise distributor gear alignment.
>
>Max/Joyce Wellhouse wrote:
> >
> > I'm opening myself up for a bunch of "wow is this guy stupid or what"
>but
> > let me give you the chance!!  I have always been under the impression
>that
> > the position of the distributor drive gear wasn't all that critical as
>far
> > as the engine's performance was concerned, but rather on the older
> > air-cooled engines(and Vanagon 80-83) the placement of the offset on the
> > drive gear only mattered as to getting clearance for the vacuum advance
>unit
> > to turn without restriction against other engine components.  As long as
>the
> > #1 firing notch on the rim of the distributor was aligned at the proper
> > angle to the offset of the drive gear(assuming there's space/clearance
>for
> > the vacuum advance unit to turn to set timing) when the engine is at TDC
>on
> > the #1 cylinder,  does it really make any difference?   Yes the wire
>harness
> > for the Hall sender may not reach if it were somewhere other than the
> > factory location, but fretting over exact placement seems like needless
> > stress to me.
> >
> > I  await your comments.
> >
> > Dimwitted Moose and Flying Squirrel
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Date: Thursday, April 27, 2000 3:49 PM
> > Subject: Re: WAS Re: Bottom end reassembly?
> >
> > >How was this done again? Oh yes, here it is. It is quite obvious where
>the
> > TDC
> > >for cyl #1 is, when you are holding the crank in your hands! just hold
>the
> > crank
> > >with your left hand, and pull the #1 con rod in the cylinders
>direction,
> > right?
> > >Then lift the rear end of the crank carefully to disengage the teeth on
>the
> > >gears, so you can turn the dizzy shaft to it's proper position. The
>reason
> > to do
> > >this before the crank case is bolted together, is that when the shaft
>is
> > >dislocated, it takes several ties to relocate it in it's hole, and if
>you
> > don't
> > >have the tool to lift it up, it is not much fun to do either. BTDT.
> > >
> > >Hope this helps,
> > >PerL
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Sean Garrett wrote:
> > >
> > >> Hmmm... can you elaborate? For instance I am confused about how to
>tell
> > top
> > >> dead center if you dont have your pistons in? Don't you have to put
> > cylinder
> > >> #1 at TDC and then line up the distributor drive shaft (with it
>connected
> > to
> > >> the distributor) in the slot looking down from the fan side of the
> > engine?
> > >>
> > >> Do you use the cam shaft or crankshaft to eyeball TDC?
> > >>
> > >> Thanks in advance
>
>--
>Stuart MacMillan
>Manager, Case Program
>800-909-8244 ext. 8208
>Fax: 206-269-6360
>
>Getting your share of the Net yet?
>http://cobaltgroup.com
>http://UsedEquipNet.com

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