'87 Colony Park suddenly turned off!

[JesusGM]

I think its too late I assume that the position of the rotor is not the same since I manipulated it to remove the tfi. There are only a mark on the distributor base with the engine.

[TecNickal]

Looks like you're setting the base timing and starting fresh

[gadget73]

If you didn't mark the rotor position, this gets more difficult. If you marked it, just put it back in where it was and set the timing.

If you did not mark it, you'll need to find top dead center on #1 cylinder compression stroke and drop the distributor in so the rotor lines up with that. I usually use an old cap with the #1 tower removed to do this. Once thats in, you'll still need to set the timing with a light but that will get you fairly close to the right position to start with.

[DerekTheGreat]

If you didn't mark the rotor position, this gets more difficult. If you marked it, just put it back in where it was and set the timing.

If you did not mark it, you'll need to find top dead center on #1 cylinder compression stroke and drop the distributor in so the rotor lines up with that. I usually use an old cap with the #1 tower removed to do this. Once thats in, you'll still need to set the timing with a light but that will get you fairly close to the right position to start with.

I failed to mark the dizzy with Ashley's car once. Oops. It started and idled but had no power what so ever and would barely move. I loosened the dizzy and advanced it by hand and the power came back so that's how I found out I was a tooth off. Removed dizzy, bumped it up a tooth and reset timing. Chooched perfectly after that.

[JesusGM]

Before read your comments, I re-installed the distributor, "just trying". It sets without problem, but donīt know if is in good position. When I removed the distributor, I made the possible to avoid the movement of the rotor, but didn't mark it
Anyway, even with the change of coil and TFI, the car did not start, so the problem is not there. Iīm a bit frustrated, I donīt have the tools to measure the fuel pressure or change the spark plugs, so I will need the help from a Mechanic. My suspects about the fuel pump are bigger....

[Kodachrome Wolf]

If the distributor is way too far out, it likely won't start.

[gadget73]

if you didn't mark it, the next thing to do would be verify its right. Pull the #1 spark plug and rotate the engine by hand until its on the compression stroke. You'll feel it trying to blow air past your finger. When the TDC mark on the balancer lines up with the pointer, see where the distributor points. It should be pretty much straight back, lined up with the #1 tower on the cap.

[Tiggie]

You can check now to see if the rotor is close to correct. Look on your harmonic balancer and you should be able to find some markings that indicate the timing (you'll likely have to scuff a bit with sandpaper a make them visible. Rotate the engine to about ten degrees BTDC. See pic:

Look at your rotor in relation to number 1 on the disibutor cap. It should be close, or 180 degrees off (either is okay for this check, we can check for the right way once you can pull a spark plug as gadget mentioned above). This will let you know if it's in the ballpark. If it's cranking over normally and not firing once in a while, or backfiring, or fighting the starter, then you are probably close.

I do not trust mechanics to work on my cars, we can fix this! Get a few tools and we'll be glad to help.

[JesusGM]

Guys, still trying to solve this problem I follow your instructions and still not start.

Which spark plug is consider as #1? left or right? I used as reference the first on left, maybe Iīm not correct...

[Tiggie]

Passenger side front is #1. Counts back towards firewall 2,3,4. The left side starts 5 on the front and counts 6,7,8 to the firewall. Would be nice if the manufacturers were consistent on this, but they like to confuse us.

[JesusGM]

Sorry, I was a bit confused when you said "the left side starts on 5...". For me, the left side is the passenger side. Isnīt it? (viewing the car from the hood)

Is on the side of the arrow? (not my engine, just for illustrative purpose).

[jaywish]

The right is always the passenger side. Think of yourself down on all fours. The front is you head, the rear is your, well, rear. The car is the same. Your right side is the right side of the car. So your right arm could compare to the right front tire. Your left leg to the left rear.

[gadget73]

Its always from sitting in the driver's seat. A US vehicle has the driver's side on the left. A British vehicle has the driver's side on the right. The "right" side of the car is still the same though since you are still sitting in the seat looking forward.

[Tiggie]

I purposefully used passenger side in my response too - forgot that's not a worldwide standard!

[VicCrownVic]

Sorry, I was a bit confused when you said "the left side starts on 5...". For me, the left side is the passenger side. Isnīt it? (viewing the car from the hood)

Is on the side of the arrow? (not my engine, just for illustrative purpose).
[ATTACH=CONFIG]47896[/ATTACH]

Yes, the side with the red arrow is where #1 is. #1 is on the front of that side and #4 is on the back of that side. On the other side #5 is on the front and #8 is on the back.