HEI distributor replacement

[abaird]

I found a brand new HEI distributor with 50,000 volt coil for $100 on ebay. Was planning on getting a rebuild kit from jegs for about the same price that was just cap, coil, and rotor. This seemed like a good deal. Here's my question, when replacing a dist, after taking the old one out, is there any tricks to putting the new one in without screwing up the timing? Or will it be ok if I just put it in the same way the old one came out? This is on a 1986 k10 w/ 305 V8.

[mbumgua]

No tricks--Take the cap off before doing anything else--note where the rotor is pointing. Draw a picture of this location if you are unsure of your memory. Pull out old distributer--note that as you pull it out you will see the rotor turn counterclockwise about 1/16 turn. Then you put in the new distributer and lower it to within two inches of being completely in. Turn the rotor 1/16 turn counterclockwise from where you noted the rotor being before you pulled out the old distributer. The new one should then drop right in, and the rotor should turn clockwise 1/16 turn and be in the same position you noted the old one being in.