m117 distributor removed without being TDC, Possible to still align?

[Diesel 617]

Rookie mistake, Having never worked on a classic gasoline engine before, or pulled off a distributor, I didn't set it to TDC. I pulled it at random.

Is it possible to set the engine to tdc, and align the distributor after the fact? How would that be done?

80' 450sel m117.986 usa

It looks from this video at 5:30 mark that there is an identification mark on the distributor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtyFthnt62w

Looking at this photo one can see the alignment mark for this model's distributor: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/f9kAAOSwOD9bZcZR/s-l1600.jpg

I think one would align the rotor with the indent at the 12 o clock potion, judging by the first photo in the 15-510 manual it looks like their is another indent on the rotor itself to align the mark on the distributor housing.

If this is true on the 1980 distributor, then these procedures should have to be followed here for the specs: https://handbook.w116.org/Engine/107/M117_45/15-501.pdf and here simple removal and install: https://handbook.w116.org/Engine/107/M117_45/15-510.pdf

Lesson learned for the day: When pulling anything out of the engine, align it to TDC, or look it up.

[raueda1]

I recently made the same mistake.  Take a look at the distributor cleaning thread a month or so back, lots of info.  Anyway, I'd get the crank back to TDC rather than futzing around with it.  Then you can easily drop the distributor back in so the rotor aligns with the scribe in the distributor and you're good to go after rechecking timing.  Otherwise you'll go nuts.  To get back to TBC I was able to turn the engine by pressing the power steering belts with one hand to increase tension and then a big ratchet on the steering pump.  Good luck!