Ok my timing cover is leaking so I am in the process of replacing the front of my motor. First I have put together a shopping list. Timing cover gasket, Water pump, Fuel pump ( got to take it off anyways ), belts, hoses, replacing alternator as well ( don't know how old it is ) I got a harmonic balancer puller, Timing chain set.
My questions now: My truck is a 77 F250 with 460 and C6. according to research my timing chain was 8 degrees retarded at the factory for emission reasons and I should get a pre 71 model kit? Which would you recomend. Will this hurt my motor. Second should I use a 3 jaw puller to get the bottom gear off? What is the best way to install the new one ( I am doing this in my driveway and donot have air tools )? When I put the harmonic balancer back on can I use the center bolt ( I have did it that way on a 351 cleveland )? Please let me know I want to make sure I do this right the first time.
Thank you
Johnny

 

So anybody have any comments that might help me out I was looking at Summit racing and they have a nice Edelbrock Double Roller timing set and it states that it can be degreed $degrees advance or retarded. Thinking this is the way I may go we have a couple speed shops in the area and I plan on checking them out see how there pricing is. My main problem is the crank gear getting it off and on with out damage the crank. I know you could pull it off with like jaw type puller, but whats the best way to get it back on? Confused

 

Unless I'm wrong, you can put on almost every crank pulley using the crank-pulley bolt. If you don't get enough threads on it to start the bolt, you could tap it very gently with a rubber mallet.

However, taking the crank pulley with a "Jaw" puller might not be the best approach. They sell special kits that have a plate that has three (or four) slots cut into them. You thread long bolts through the slots into the holes on the harmonic dampener, and then spin the jack screw to pull the crank pulley off.

As for the timing set question. I believe most emissions 460's have a 4* timing retard. Putting a straight up timing set (pre-71) will NOT hurt the motor - you'll probably actually notice a bump in power and throttle response! I would not bother to "advance" the timing past 0* - most of the kits on summit allow you to set the crank timing up to 4* retarded, 0* straight up, or 4* advance - choose 0*!

You probably don't need anything fancy - I wouldn't spend more than $60 on a timing set personally.

 

Thank you for your help I want to make sure I do the job right the first time

 

Alot of times the front seal will wear a groove in the harmonic balancer. They make a speedy sleeve to put on the balancer to give the new seal a fresh spot to ride on. I would do this for sure since you are tearing it all apart.

 

the summit brand timing gears work great and allow for straight up timing. when I did mine i only needed a puller for the harmonic balancer. You can use a screw driver to get the cam gear off and the one on the crank just slides off by hand.

 

"Straight up" timing set will really wake up the beast.

 

So I got some parts but I was hoping to find a timing chain with with zero advance. Unless I order it I can't seem to find one. To save some money I was hoping to get a timing gear set off a pre 71 460 which it seems only came in lincolns. I found that there about $30.00 which is better than $60.00 kinda doing this on a strict budget. With spending $30.00 on timing set I am still over $200.00 in parts doesn't seem like much, but with the economy it's tough. My biggest dilema is I want to make sure I do everything right the first time. I bought a shop manuel, but it's focus is more on the straight six and diesel IDI. Sorry to ramble.

 

This is because prior to '72, all other Ford family products had 429's, not 460's. Lincolns were the special branch that got the 460's.

You can get a timing set for a '71 Ford LTD with a 429 (NOT the 428! ONLY a 429!) and it should fit just fine.

-Brad

 

I was looking on local auto parts store website and on a 71 LTD there are two 7 litre options a N code and K code is one of these a 428 or are they both 429's and which should i use?

 

http://www.northernautoparts.com/Pro...ProductId=2650

Comp sells double roller timing chain sets for under 40$

 

RockAuto Auto Parts shows that the parts they list work for both Vin codes N and K.

Part Number - Cloyes C3037 for reference

EDIT: The comp page listed above only has the extreme 2022 listed for the 460, which runs between $50-60. They also make a "High Energy" timing set which runs under $40. Comp part number 3222.

-Brad

 

Thank you for the info on the timing chain I found that the two motor diffrences is 2 and 4 barrell. Ok so I took off the water pump and I broke one of the bolts in the timing cover which is alright because the cover looks horrible has alot of rot on it and some parts seem to crumble. So I am gonna get a new cover. Who ever had it before me put alot of diffrent bolts in it with bunches of washers. I don't know where they went because everything fell out before I could note where they went. Also does anyone know what size the crank bolt is I don't have a socket large enough and have to buy one? Do they sell a water pump bolt kit or do I need to go to home depot and start trying to figure out right sizes.

 

You will probably need a backing plate for the water pump as many are rotted quite badly after this long. Also the puller for the balancer also works as a steering wheel puller albeit a heavy duty one.. You will need to change your oil too because you will probably get coolant in the pan when you remove the timing cover..