Installing the 8n distributor

[Dr. Dave]

On my '48 8n, is it possible to install the distributor 180 degrees off, meaning that when I had it out I rotated the dist. cam so that it did not go in as it came out? Would it make a difference? Would it run at all?

Dave

 

[DollarBill]

No - The drive tang on the back of the distributor is off set to one side so it can only be installed one way.

 

[HCooke]

Distributor cannot be installed out of time without breaking something, but the spark plug wires could be installed incorrectly. Firing order is 1243 from the front of the engine. Easy to mix up 3 & 4. I recently mixed up 2 & 3! Idled well but backfired at increased rpms.

 

[old]

Only way to install if back ward is if you force it on and 99% of the time that in turn breaks the distributor. Now if it could be done no it would not run unless you had the plug wires on wrong also. Very common for a person to get the firing order wrong because they do not understand where the #1 and #4 cylinder is and that the firing order is 1,2,4,3 and the #1 cylinder is the one by the radiator and the #4 is by the transmission with 2 and 3 in between going from the radiator back it is 1,2,3,4

 

[Ken(Ark)]

is it possible to install the distributor 180 degrees off

YES .

My brother in law helped install an 8N distributor once , 180 out . He could not get the cap on though , the shaft / rotor was pushed foward 1/4" when he tightened the bolts .

I have a few dizzys with mangled tabs that might wedge in 180 off too .

If your dizzy slides in all the way nice and smooth it is not off .

 

[Ken Ind.]

nope wont fit 180 out unless you force it and when that happens itll break.

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 23:03:56 06/26/12)

is it possible to install the distributor 180 degrees off

YES .

My brother in law helped install an 8N distributor once , 180 out . He could not get the cap on though , the shaft / rotor was pushed foward 1/4" when he tightened the bolts .

I have a few dizzys with mangled tabs that might wedge in 180 off too .

If your dizzy slides in all the way nice and smooth it is not off .

en(Ark) is correct, in that with enough wear on slot & tangs, it can be installed 180 off. More often than not, though, something breaks.