hello
i recently bought this truck running but leaked oil from base of distributor so i bought and replaced the rubber oring gasket for shaft of distributor. i marked postion of rotor making sure to put it back in same location. as i was finishing up i always check to see if everything is tight i checked the ignition points and screws were loose as i started tightening them they moved (i said a few inappropriate words because i just knew i did something wrong) when i turn the key i get alot of engine spinning with no start. i found from another site saying to set points to .32 . also how do i use the timing light on truck the crank timing marker is out of sight hidden under the alternator on the passenger side top of crank you cant shine a timing light on it from what i see. please forgive me if i am using sentence run on and improper grammar i am a construction worker not a english teacher

1974 ford f100 302 5.0L

problems

* points adjustment

* using a timing light when the crank timing marker is buried under the alternator
can i remove alternator while adjusting timing

what i did so far

* got number 1 piston up compresion stroke

* removed cap and distributor rotor is pointing to number 1 wire

* used feeler guage to gap points to .32 and even tried matchbook

* alot

thank you for any help you can offer

 

When you gapped the points did you put it on the high lobe of the distributor? is the primary wire hooked back up to the coil? timing should be fairly easy to do on this 302, clip the timing wire on the no. 1 cylinder ignition wire and fire the strob at the pointer and adjust the dist. to 10 degrees btc.

 

i have 1 wire coming from distributor to - side of coil

i set the points on the high lobe and then inserted .32 feeler guage and tightened points screws

the problem i am having with the timing light is there isnt a spot to aim it from top of engine i have a waterpump pulley and a alternator in my view i truthly can not think of a way to aim the light.

i do think my problem is the points but can not find a tutorial of how to actually do it in layman's terms here at this site i find alot of topics about switching from points to electronic which would be nice if i had the money but right now i have to go with current setup

and thank you for replying

 

if points are out of adjustment will it cause the engine not to turn over

or would that be in the timing

 

.032 clearance on the points is waaay to much......Try .016-.017.

Out of adjustment points or out of spec timing will not stop the engine from turning over. That is a separate problem...

 

ok tomorrow i will set the point gap to .016-.017 thank you fabmandelux's

the engine will not start but does turn over sorry about that.

a doctor in 1974 bought this truck surely he could have afforded the electronic distributor option. these points look so simple but having never dealt with them i am baffled. i appreciate both you guys or gals help and will attempt the fix tomorrow and report back thank you again

 

With a .032 point gap the coil will not have enough time to "saturate" and you will have weak or no spark at all. The best thing to do is to go to your local junk yard and find a DuraSpark II distributor, the control "box" and the wiring plugs or harness and change it over. The DuraSpark system is fool proof and is very dependable.

 

i took the distributor out and set points gap to .016 and it started right up and is running good. thank you fabmandelux and mblayton