Fixing Timing 180 Out

[greg1ontheedge]

Dumb question.  If my timing is 180 out, can I correct by simply moving the spark plug wires around 180???  I can't think of why I might need to actually pull out the dist and turn it 180..............  Thanks.............

[My68SS]

Technically yes, though lead lengths for a couple may be an issue.

You don't really need to remove the dist. to correct the problem. Just take the cap off and remove the clamp, then lift the distributor, holding the rotor so that the advance springs tension up.
When the dist. gear teeth clear the cam, the shaft will snap back and should rotate the oil pump drive around sufficiently so that you can drop the dist. back down on the next tooth which willl rotate the oil pump drive a bit more.
Keep repeating this, one tooth at a time until the rotor has rotated 180 deg from where you started.
No need to even line up the balancer mark 

edit........
actually, to go 180 deg. you should be able to just rotate the rotor the full 180 deg and the oil pump drive should drop back in ok, given that it's just a slot in the shaft...