4 Cylinder TDC timing swap wires 180°?

[Kbdp]

Took the distributor out of the case 440 to install points
and didn't pay attention to the rotor position. I did mark
the outside alignment of the distributor but now I realize I
needed to do both. Manual says there is a mark on the
flywheel "IG" to preposition before I drop the distributor
back in with. I can't find the IG mark and the flywheel is
pretty clean so I am using the "DC" mark. In the manual
picture the DC and IG marks seem only 2-4 degrees off
anyway. I know I have a 50 50 chance of finding the
compression stroke and I am feeling for the puff of air out
of the spark plug hole. If I get it wrong, instead of pulling
out the distributor AGAIN can I merely swap all the spark
plug wires on the distributor cap 180 degrees? Reason I
ask is it is a bear to get the distributor in/out because of a
stripped clamp screw. I have always wondered if you
could swap the plug wires 180 degrees if you end up with
the initial flywheel position at TDC of the exhaust stroke.

Thanks! It will satisfy my curiosity and save me some
trouble.
 

[JMOR]

" can I merely swap all the spark
plug wires on the distributor cap 180 degrees?" Depends on our understanding of that '180 statement'. It can not mean moving each one to the opposite side of cap, BUT MUST mean moving each one two positions around the face of a clock (either CW or CCW is fine).
 

[Kbdp]

Unless I don't understand something, on a 4 cylinder cap the
rotating 2 positions gives the same result as if you just took
each of the four wires and swapped it 180°. I just thought I
would try and get you to agree on that as sometimes I might
be missing what you are trying to tell me. Thanks.
 

[JMOR]

[ASEguy]

Yes you can. It can work provided you are not off a tooth. I ran into those type of situations a few times in a shop. Those can be hard to find if you are diagnosing a running rough problem because we assume they are correct. Assuming can bite you. Gerard
 

[john in la]

You can put the plug wires any where on the cap as long as the # 1 wire is over the rotor when #1 is at tdc compression.

Bring #1 up on the compression stroke with the finger in spark plug hole feeling for puff of air.
Try to get #1 at tdc from your flywheel marks.
Remove the cap and see where the rotor is pointing.
Put the #1 wire in what ever hole in the cap that will be just above the rotor tip when the cap is installed.
Wire the cap with the other wires using your firing order.
This will get you close enough it will start and you can adjust from here with a timing light or by ear.