Need info on Z22 distributor position (180 degrees out?)

[Blitz97401]

Working on 82 Z22, rebuilding engine. (8 plugs) Marked rotor position, and removed distributor and oil pump. When I intalled oil pump with shaft dot lined up to oil hole on housing, and then installed the distributor (it will only go on one way) now the mark I made on rotor position, is 180 degrees out. It looks like this will make the intake, and exhaust plugs fire the opposite of how the were when I took it apart. It was running fine when I started overhaul. Could it have run that way being 180 out, maybe with the intake, and exhaust wires reversed ? Thanks

[Rev_D21]

Did you try turning the oil pump to match the Distributor when it's in the correct position? The distributor will turn freely once you take the oil pump and spindle out. Set the engine to TDC, tape the rotor on the dist. so it doesn't turn while the pump is out then try installing the pump so it lines up with the dist.. The pump has no timing so it's position only depends on the position of the Dist.

Hope that helps.

[Blitz97401]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, if it is out of time when I get it all together, I'll set the distributor so that it runs. I know that the oil pump does not need to be in time with anything. I just wanted to put it together according to specs, and I'm sure that the oil pump is back in according to the book. (slot pointing to 11:30, with small side cresent to the front) I've never completely understood the 8 spark plugs, and in looking at the inside of the dist. cap, I notice that the exhaust side fires 180 degrees out from the intake side. I just wondered if the thing would run with the distributor 180 degrees out, and the plugs firing the opposite of what they're supposed to. That would explain why if whoever put it together last time, had it 180 out, that it would still run. I had one of these a few years back that had 400 K on it, and was still running fine. Thanks again, Blitz

[Rev_D21]

That I am not so sure about, it has been many years since I have tinkered with an 8 plug. I can see where it could run 180 off because of the exhaust plugs but I never had one that was off like that before. I can look into this when I get home tonight, I have 81, 82 and 84 FSMs for those motors.