Napoleon Solo

I am trying to isolate why my unmodified 330 engine won't start. I think I may have offset the plug wires plus or minus one cylinder because the information out there seems to be incomplete. Looking the the simple diagram attached, if I used the vacuum line mount on the distributor for reference the cap and wire could correspond to either 8 OR 4.

Which one should it be?

OLDSter Ralph

Is the engine on TDC for #1 cylinder ? Where is the rotor under the cap pointing ?

2blu442

Solo, once the distributor has been pulled and replaced you can't count on the factory diagram showing you where #1 is. As Ralph was suggesting, you'll need to put your engine on top dead center of #1 cylinder on the compression stroke. Then look at where the rotor is pointing and put your #1 plug wire there. If you have someone to help, pull the #1 spark plug, have them put their thumb over the hole while you rotate the engine over. They'll feel the pressure against their thumb when its on the compression stroke. If your doing it by yourself, you can use a compression gauge or loosen the spark plug and listen for the air whooshing out around the plug.

oldcutlass

As the others said you need to find #1 TDC and where ever the rotor is pointing to is where you place the #1 wire. Looking at the picture you posted, the vacuum advance cannister is in the proper place.