Take out the distributor with the No1 cylinder on the compression stroke TDC. This will be where your no 1 lead and the rotor are together.
Use an old stud and screw it down into the distributor drive noting the position of the slot which has an offset.
Lift the drive out slightly, it will turn as you pull it out.
Turn the stud with the attached drive 180 degrees at least (* see below) and reinsert into the block.
Gently unscrew the old stud without pulling the drive out again.
Reposition the distributor rotor 180 degrees and push it into the distributor and make sure it engages with the distributor drive slot.
Fit the leads as per your diagram above.
The Lucas distributors work in a counter (anticlockwise direction). They sometimes have CCW and an arrow on the body of them.
* If you have an oil pressure line and have retained the oil light with the usual brass t adapter you will have to turn the distributor more to the right when setting the distributor drive to avoid the vaccuum advance unit fouling the oil line adapter.
You will then have the starting point to set your ignition using whatever timing tools your are using and depending on the engine/cam being used.
I set mine 180 degrees out and all sorts of trouble.
Check the valve timing as this will also tell you if you are at TDC for 1 and not 4.

wow that was a very detailed message thanks heaps, i would do that but im not confident in my own skills to work on minis yet but i have a friend that's gonna come up and take a look at it but thank you for your help and advice

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Regards Kermit (TadPole)

A good idea when you get it sorted is to mark your leads & dissy cap so you don't have any drama's next time. I find a bright nail polish works well , just put some dots on each lead at the plug end that represents the plug , and also the same on the dissy cap .

I stick little cable ties around the plug leads. One for 1, two for 2...

Doesn't stop you plugging them into the wrong recepticle on the cap though does it?
KB

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