With my CD ignitions, that's a good way to get a multitude of shocks unless you insulate your hand.

BTW, have you done my hotwire test yet?

"You should be able to hotwire the ignition system. Locate the "power in" and "ground" wires. Run connections from the battery to these wires. + goes to power in, and - goes to ground. Now stsrt the engine. It should start unless it's
flooded. If flooded use all appropriate steps." If it's an MSD tie the positive to both of the red wires.


R.

But at least he'll KNOW if it is working.

^^^ this

Bet it runs !!

Ya, take number 1 plug out, stick your finger in the plug hole of number 1.

turn it over until number one plug hole spits on your finger.

That'll be top dead center on the compression stroke.

Then turn the crank over until the timing lines line up.

If you have already gone past, then turn it over until the lines line up for the second time, double checking with the finger in the plug hole trick.

Well, it took me a while. Turned out the distributor wasn't seated properly which was kinda difficult to see due to the angle it's supposed to sit at (and the cramped conditions in my engine bay).
Re-installed it but this time I actually managed to get it 180* out, which again took me a while to figure out... :-(
Started from scratch today by cranking the engine to TDC, sliding the correctly aligned distributor in and andvancing it a few degreed. Fired right up!
Let it idle a few minutes, drove it round the block, got out the timing light and I'm good.

excellent