I have been having a problem getting my 951 back on the road. (see - no start - backfire through AFM) Last night, I found out why. The #1 spark plug wire should be on the bottom right of the distributor cap. I had assembled it correctly, but when the eng is at TDC, the rotor pointed to the #3 post. I moved all of the wires over by 1 and it cranked right up. What's the deal?

 

How did you determine TDC?

 

I matched the mark on the camshaft with the notch in the cover and I matched the notch/line on the flywheel/bellhousing under the car.

 

It's been a while since I posted this, but no response. Has anyone ever heard of this? The car runs great, but I am wondering what the deal is. Do re-ground cams change the position of #1? It wouldn't make much sense. HELP!

 

Is it possible that when you reassembled the cam belt gear you put the "Woodruff" "Spelling unknown" key 180 out into the wrong position. I am not home to look my cam that is sitting on my work bench, but that may explain oddity in the firing position of the cam. Just my .002, though I have an N/A the cam used is identical in both cars. What do you guys think and if this is possible can or will this effect the engine in any adverse way?

TaboII

 

If it were 180 out, then the engine would still run, but the #1 position would be at the top left, not the top right. I purchased a new cam gear from Auto Atl and only noticed the notch moved from one side of the index tooth to the other side. I went over the gear very carefully when I found this problem. (I thought I might have killed the car.) The gear can only go on one way, so I know it is not on backward.

The PO never replaced cam, (as far as I know) and the service records never indicate engine work aside from belts, etc.