Chevrolet Repair: how do i reinstall my dist shaft, crank pulley, pulley bolt

Question
i recently put new lifters and push rods in my car i put it all back together and i put my#1 plug all the way out and set my rotor pointing towards my #1 plug i tried to start the car and i got alot of back firing  in the carb it started 1 time but wasn't running good at all it was idling under 1k i turned the dist both ways and it wasn't enough so how else can i do it? i need help could i be off by 1 tooth maybe? i tried like 4 times already and i just cant get it! please someone help its a 350  

Answer
Hi Anthony,

I hate to ask, but did you install the parts correctly?  Did you set the lifters the correct way?  

I am assuming you did.  If so, the dist. is off a tooth...I believe.  

I am guessing you are dropping the distrubutor a tooth off in either direction, trying to find the correct place to put it, but the shaft won't go down all the way.  There is a reason if that is happening.

Here is the things to consider:  

1.  you have to be at top dead center of the compression stroke.  To determine this, pull the #1 spark plug.  Use a wrench to turn the motor over, by using the crank pulley bolt.  When the #1 piston comes up and you get air out of the plug hole, you are on the compression stroke.  Put the crank pulley at the 0 degree mark on the timing indicator.  

2.  Your rotor should point in the direction of the #1 plug.  If anything, it should be more toward the front of the motor than toward #2 piston.  You have noticed by now, that you aim the rotor in a direction way off of where you want it to be, and when it drops in, it swings over to the correct place.  If it is not quite making it to be pointing at the #1 piston or slightly forward, you are probably off.  

3.  If the dist. shaft is not going all the way down, it is because of the oilpump.  Remember the dist. shaft turns the oil pump.  The pump is connected by a hex slot in the shaft fitting over the hex fitting on the pump.  There is a slot in the pump shaft that resembels a flat tip screwdriver slot.  There is a pin in the hex fitting that works like a flat screwdriver.  When the shaft won't go down, it is because the flat tip like pin won't fit the slot in the pump shaft.  It is like lining up a flat tip screwdriver with a screw.  When the shaft won't go down, use a long flat tip screwdriver to reach the oil pump shaft slot and turn it slightly at a time.  Then keep dropping the dist. until it goes down all the way.

Keep trying.  It will go in correctly.  If you need advice on how to set the new lifters and pushrods, write back.

Good luck.

C J S