The rotor inside the distributor should be pointing at the #1 spark plug.
Easiest way to find it is to set #1 piston at TDC, remove the distributor cap and see where the rotor is pointing. It should be pointing to position #1 in relation to the distributor cap.
With the # 1 piston at TDC on the compression stroke the rotor will be pointing at #1 plug wire location.
Easiest way to find it is to set #1 piston at TDC and remove the distributor cap to see where the rotor is pointing. It should be pointing to #1 cylinder position in relation to the distributor cap.
The easiest way to find it is to set #1 piston at TDC and see where the rotor is pointing, it should be pointing to number 1 terminal on the distributor cap.
rotor should point at number 1 plug lead when engine is at tdc make a mark with whiteout ,on outside of distributor before you remove distributor cap. make this mark where the #1 spark plug lead would be if distributor cap was on distributor when you remove cap this is where rotor needs to be pointing
Yes the rotor should be pointing to the #1 cylinder when you are installing the distributor.
Before taking the old distributor off, make sure the engine is at #1TDC, and make sure the rotor is pointing at the #1 position on the rotor. When the engine is at #1TDC the #1 cylinder should be at the top of the compression cycle. If you turn the engine one full turn from that #1 will be at the top between exhaust and intake cycles. You don't want to set up there since the engine won't work if you do.After you're CERTAIN that #1 is at TDC, note the orientation of the rotor then slide out the old distributor by removing the retainer at the bottom of the shaft. You may need to work at it a little since the o-ring can be a little tough to break loose.Note that as you start to lift the distributor out the rotor will turn slightly. That's because the gear on the bottom is touching a different part of the camshaft. Again, note where the rotor is pointing as you lift the distributor.Lubricate the o-ring on the new distributor and orient rotor to the same position that the old one was in as you removed it. Slide the distributor shaft back into place and verify that the rotor is pointing at the exact same place the old one was when you removed it.Replace the retainer, connect everything back up and it should be ready to set the timing.If the distributor has already been removed or if the old distributor has already been replaced and isn't pointing in the proper position, you'll need to refer to a shop manual for proper setup.
Wherever the distributor rotor is pointing when the #1 piston is at TDC of it's compression cycle. When an engine comes from the factory it's supposed to always be in the same direction, but if the distributor has been removed and the person working on it wasn't too concerned, who knows WHERE it will be pointing. I can't believe that a distributor on a 79 has never been removed, so you'll need to find #1 TDC and figure it out from there.
Towards #1 on the distributor cap.
Check the timing and the pointsAnswerWhen you change the plugs and cap and wires you have to make sure you get the right wires to the right plugs that's usally the probelm is that the wires don't get put back with the right plugs. AnswerMake sure the before you remove the rotor note which way rotor is pointing and make sure that you install the new rotor pointing in the same direction. The it should wok if you haven't removed the distributor. If you don't remember which way the rotor was pointing just try switching the rotors position. Note: Not all distributor rotors can be mounted in different ways and some only mount one way.
At TDC, on the compression stroke, the rotor will will be pointing at the # 1 spark plug electrode on the distributor cap.