Before I get to try the great ideas that were graciously given to me by list
members I have to get my distributor drive gear back in. I have been thumbing
the pages of my two manuals (idiots and haynes) which have just confused me
greatly. I do not know what these thrust washers are. What I pulled out of
the hole is all one piece. I do not know how to position the engine at top
dead center anymore. They talk about watching the valves and rockers but my
rockers are probable so out of whack because of setting the timing and rocker
bolts wrong. I understand how to do that now that you guys have told me.
    So here is where I am at. I know that tdc could be two possible places on
the timing scale. I can see a valve (intake I presume) through #1 spark plug
hole. I watch it open and close once every two revolutions of engine.
Supposedly the valve should be closing as it reaches 0 on timing scale. It
looks like it closes much before it reaches 0 on the scale. I am rotating the
engine clockwise.
    My problem once I get the distributor shaft to engage in the drive gear,
according to haynes, is that the rotor arm points to the opposite direction
of  the #1 lead position. Okay say you are standing at the back of  the
engine peering down into the distributor hole. The haynes picture has the two
slots (distributor shaft fits into) toward the left. That means that the
rotor is pointing to #3 lead. Hopefully my confusing writing didn't confuse
anyone. Can anyone tell I am not mechanically inclined? Don't answer this
Question, but please answer the others.
Steve