i had a situation where, it was hard to start my car. i had no spark from cap to plugs (new cap rotor, checked coil) I would have to rotate the distributor milimeters at a time then i finally fired up. is that normal?

1988 camaro iroc 350 tpi stock 124,000 miles

 

Definately not normal. Are you sure your plugs were getting no spark? It sounds to me like your timing was way off and you were correcting it to get it to start. This problem could be caused by your distributor hold down clamp being loose (It would have to be for you to be able to turn it). With the clamp loose, the base timing would be free to change itself pretty much randomly.

On the other hand, in order for timing to cause a severe hard start, it has to be WAY off. I once had my timing set to 4 degrees after top dead center and the car still started fine, but had no power and crap idle.

 

I see your car has 124K on it, Have you ever changed the timming chain and gears?

 

new motor and wires

 

Rotor button in the cap burnt up? Take the cap off and check it out.