Can I Turn My Engine Backwards?

[colnago]

My distributor is off a bit, so I need to pull it and realign it (it's off a tooth on the camshaft). But in doing this, it won't be lined up with the shaft going down to the oil pump. In order to re-line it up with the shaft, I will probably have to manually turn the crank/cam back and forth.

Sorry, I'm not explaining this very well. But my main question is, can I turn the crank/cam backwards on an FE without damaging anything?

Joseph

[Busboy]

Absolutely.

[basketcase0302]

Yes you can turn it backwards without harming the engine Joseph.
But be cautious in doing so using the balancer bolt, (I always pulled the spark plugs if the compression was too much to grab ahold of the balancer and turn it by hand to get it aligned).
And make sure your on the compression stroke though before you waste time, (yep I've been there done that a few times LOL)!
Using a remote starter button while watching the timing marker come around makes it for short work, (just get it close using the remote starter button then finish bringing the piston up by hand).

Nice to see you at this point finally!

[Ranchero50]

I just bump the starter while pushing down on the distributor until the oil pump drive engages and the dizzy drops all the way to the block. Easy peasy.