Distributor

[Soah]

I was just curious is to why the rotor on a distributor has to point to piston 1 at TDC.

I mean technically thinking about it. The motor should run no matter where the rotor points as long as the wiring order is right and rotor is pointing at spark plug 1 on the distributor at TDC.

Just curious. Is this just a best practice thing or is there some other thing that is effected?

[sump]

this is used when rebuilding .. the rotor is mechanically connect to the CAMSHAFT ... (V8)

the crankshaft turns 2 times for ever 1 time the camshaft turns.

so it is actually rotor is @ #1 and crank is at TDC on compression stroke
cause u could install it @ #1 on the TDC exhaust storke

[hitest]

I was just curious is to why the rotor on a distributor has to point to piston 1 at TDC.

I mean technically thinking about it. The motor should run no matter where the rotor points as long as the wiring order is right and rotor is pointing at spark plug 1 on the distributor at TDC.

Just curious. Is this just a best practice thing or is there some other thing that is effected?

the motor will run as long as the rotor points to the # 1 sparkplug wire at tdc...but say you pull the distributor out and get it out a tooth or 2 or put it in 180 out you can move the wires making match where #1 while at tdc ... but that is not the correct way of doing it there are things called specs and when you bring it into a shop it will leave the way GM Ford or Dodge or whom ever designed it to there specs ... it also could cost you extra money down the road if you have a problem and say you are back fireing out the carb or throttle body and in diagnosing it is set to tdc and the rotor is not pointing at #1 acorrding to spec and the tech doesnt see that the wires are not the way they are supposed to be you may be paying for a new timeing belt /chain all becuase you didnt have the distributor in right. So although it will run not a good idea ... get a chilton manuel or google fireing order for vehicle in question and do it properly and time it when your done

[TurboPirate]

I was just curious is to why the rotor on a distributor has to point to piston 1 at TDC.

I mean technically thinking about it. The motor should run no matter where the rotor points as long as the wiring order is right and rotor is pointing at spark plug 1 on the distributor at TDC.

Just curious. Is this just a best practice thing or is there some other thing that is effected?

As mention before, this rule applies when ignition has being removed or a complete engine overhaul, firing order is good but what good can it be if the rotors points to a different stroke on a different piston? engine is nothing more then a time bomb, everything has to be in order and in harmony..........

[Soah]

I was just curios because when I finished installing my new motor and was doing the timing I got to thinking about it. Was trying to figure out how it matters.

I did do my truck to spec and it is running great with the new motor.
It is hard to believe the difference from the old motor.
I can actually pass people up hills now. haha

[sump]

just remember TDC on the COMPRESSION stroke .... cause u get TDC 2x .. people can put it "180" degrees out ..

yes you could rearange everything .. on old ones if you had the room and movement to turn it to get clearences ..

but new stuff has many more sensors