Volvo RWD 444-544 Forum

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Distributor 180 out? 444-544

posted by phkarns on Thu Mar 16 15:57 CST 2023
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Did I do something wrong here? Reassembling a very tired B16 with seized rings.
Pulled it and stripped it and put in rings and bearings and new timing gears while in to it…
Marks aligned on gears, #1 (& #4) were TDC and marks on flywheel were right, so installed dizzy drive so it looked like the picture in the book, with the groove 8-10deg, offset to the right, is how I’d describe it.
Now I dropped back in car and put head on and start to set valves, etc, but as I turn it over,
I’m seeing the dizzy is actually 180 out; when it’s ready to fire #1 the rotor is pointed to like 2’oclock.
Do I need to pull the engine and reset the dizzy drive now that I know when #1 is TDC and ready to fire?
What did I do wrong if my alignment marks were lined up?
Also I noted both key-ways on drive and cam shafts were at 12’oclock when the marks aligned which I took as a good sign I was doing it right.
What did I miss or mess up on here?

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Distributor 180 out? 444-544

posted by derek uk on Fri Mar 17 07:00 CST 2023
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 12:33 CST 2014

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There may or may not be useful info on this link. I hope you can open it being as it is the UK Volvo Club forum. I am the Derek on it. I was just going to comment that the B16 distributer revolves clockwise, whereas the B18/20 revolves anti-clockwise.

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=237746

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Distributor 180 out? 444-544

posted by Volvo From Heck on Fri Mar 17 08:17 CST 2023
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last visit: Mon Oct 13 20:56 CST 2014

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I think Eric is probably the one to answer this question definitively but Volvo, like some other Euro manufacturers, may use the cylinder closest to the flywheel to set timing when assembling the motor. My only experience with the B16 was in a 1960 544 I owned briefly long ago - but did not get into any of the mechanicals. The poster should be able to just switch wires around at the distributor cap and shouldn't have to do anything with the drive unless not being original is a big issue. #1 and #4 pistons work simultaneously so it makes no difference to them. - Dave

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Distributor 180 out? 444-544

posted by planetman on Fri Mar 17 10:28 CST 2023
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 09:29 CST 2014

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The simplest way is to swap the spark plug wires.

Unfortunately, the distributor drive gear is attached to the oil pump and if you don't time it correctly when installing, the only way to readjust is to R&I the oil pump.

If the timing is off exactly 180°, the drive flange on the end of the distributor can be reclocked 180° and then the rotor should point to #1.
--
Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502
hiperformanceautoservice.com or oldvolvosonly.com

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