Distributor Shaft Alignment, Small sector to Left/driver side? or Right/pass. side? Options

[Gatornapper]

Haynes Manual, page 65, Fig. 3.6, referenced from page 64, Pp. 6, #7: "install it so that.........an angle of 12 deg. .......with the small sector facing towards the outside of the car."

On my 914, the small sector is on the left.

If I'm reading this correctly, this is ambiguous and does not clarify it "the outside of the car" is the Driver's side or Passenger side.......

Can someone clarify this please? Or am I missing something (not the first time...).....

TIA,

GN

[Garland]

Check out this post.

914 post link

Replying to Distributor Shaft Alignment

[Gatornapper]

Thanks Garland.....

Perhaps I'm not on TDC, not on compression stroke - but one rev out...

Will check later today......

GN

[Superhawk996]

Thanks Garland.....

Perhaps I'm not on TDC, not on compression stroke - but one rev out...

Will check later today......

GN

It is not possible for a backfire to destroy the gear interface between the crank and the distributor.

Easiest way is to pull valve cover. Look at the valves. When both are closed and you're at TDC you know your on the compression stroke. There is no possibility of being 180 out if both valves are closed.

Setting aside all other nonsene of manual, if you set to TDC #1 based on piston and valve position, and then align the distributor into the notches such that the rotor is pointing at Cylinder #1 spark plug terminal, it will be correct.

[Gatornapper]

SuperHawk -et al -

"Easiest way is to pull valve cover. Look at the valves. When both are closed and you're at TDC you know your on the compression stroke. There is no possibility of being 180 out if both valves are closed."

Please bear with me here. I know this is the normal way to determine TDC on the compression stroke - I have used this method for decades. But usually the valves can be more easily accessed than they are on the 914 engine.

But I believe there is an easier way - and if I am wrong, would love for anyone to explain to me why.

When the engine is on TDC of the compression stroke, the rotor will be in only one possible position, with a few degrees difference allowing for differences in timing.

When the engine is on TDC of the exhaust stroke (1 revolution from TDC compression), the position of the rotor in the dizzy will be 180 degrees (1/2 revolution) from where it is on the compression stroke. I.e., pointed in the opposite direction. How can it be otherwise?

If true, then one should be able to tell whether the engine is on the compression TDC by seeing where the rotor is positioned when the spark fires.

Next question: shouldn't all Type 4 engines have the rotor pointing in the same direction (within a few degrees) when cylinder/plug #1 fires?

Thanks for the patience and forebearance with my questions.

GN

Thanks Garland.....

Perhaps I'm not on TDC, not on compression stroke - but one rev out...

Will check later today......

GN

It is not possible for a backfire to destroy the gear interface between the crank and the distributor.

Easiest way is to pull valve cover. Look at the valves. When both are closed and you're at TDC you know your on the compression stroke. There is no possibility of being 180 out if both valves are closed.

Setting aside all other nonsene of manual, if you set to TDC #1 based on piston and valve position, and then align the distributor into the notches such that the rotor is pointing at Cylinder #1 spark plug terminal, it will be correct.