Hello all.
I am the proud owner of a 66 TBird, in progress.
I swapped out the distributor tonight. As soon as I pulled the old one out, it dawned on me that I didn't mark it to install the new one. Now it does not start. Does anyone have some advice on fixing my rookie mistake?

Thanks in advance!

Pretty sure this would work for you. If the car was running before this, you can probably assume your top dead center (TDC) mark on the balancer pretty close.

Take the spark plug in the #1 cylinder out. Put in a old piece of vacuum hose or something without a hard edge on it (you'll see why later) into the cylinder. (DO MAKE SURE THIS IS SOMETHING LONG ENOUGH THAT CANNOT FALL INTO THE CYLINDER.) I would use a big wrench and crank the engine by hand. On your first or second pass past the TDC mark you should see the piston trying to push the hose/old screwdriver whatever out of the plug hole. You should now have the #1 cylinder at TDC.

Position the rotor on the distributor at the point where it would connect with point on the distributor cap where the #1 cylinder wire contact is. Install the distributor. You should be very close and would need to adjust for correct timing mark.

If you can't find the TDC mark or you don't trust it. (Sorry if this states the obvious) TDC is the point where the #1 cylinder is going to fire. You can put your finger over the empty spark plug hole and have someone crank the engine. You will feel two pressure pulses (exhaust and ignition). You are at TDC when you feel the strongest pressure. This last part is what I have read, not sure if I could tell the difference.

Good luck. Others may have simpler/better solutions.

I've always used the second method Vince stated. Just wanted to add when you try to start the motor put your air cleaner on first. If the the motor is not timed right it probably will back fire.

Thanks guys!
Vince, I used your first method, and it worked like a champ after it proved that I was 180 degrees off. I was up and running in no time.

Thanks again!

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