ok so can anyone tell me...the timing marks on the pulley for the i-6...is it the notch on the left or the right of the pulley when facing the motor looking over the front end(radiator)...i know it times on the left of the motor...pulley marks look the same damn size so please dont say the smaller one....

 

its a 1980

 

you should be looking at the left side of the engine to get the timing mark to show. If it's anywhere else, the harmonic balancer probably slipped.

the mark on the balancer is a thin scratch, and not the notch on the other side. (if that helps)

 

ok ill look for it....thanks.....i wonder though why they have 2 marks in the pulley....if u time it by a thin line on the pulley thats weird...oh well

 

You might have to do what a lot of 300 owners do to find the timing mark. Pull the #1 spark plug. Pull the distributor cap and rotate the engine until the rotor points to number one contact. This gets the #1 piston close to top dead center. Now insert a pencil or similar object and hold it against the piston. Put a wrench on the crank nut and rotate the crank slowly back and forth. Watch the pencil move up and down. This will tell when the piston is at TDC.

Once that is determined: Make a scribe mark (3rd timing mark?) on the pully. It should align with zero on the timing scale. Put the spark plug back in. Pull the spout connector. And set the timing with engine warmed up. Reconnect spout when done adjusting timing.

My 96 had two different timing marks and neither one was close... Can't explain why. I would think if the harmonic balancer would slip it would be bad and need replaced.

 

for some reason my engine dies instantly when i unplug the spout. i can still adjust the timing though. I don't get it.

 

Are you sure you are unplugging the spout? At first on my truck I thought it was the grey plug just to the left of the distributor. (Or front of engine). I finally found the right connector on the left wheel well. by the relay box. Can't imagine why it would cause your truck to stall when pulled?

I have timed mine both ways. And like others have suggested: It seems just as easy to NOT unplug the spout, don't fool with a timing light and just set it by ear.

 

ya thats pretty much what im thinking... thats what i did initially and it was fine...

 

yeah i guess i'm doing the same thing!

I actually gotta go back and set the timing back a bit. It was fine until i guess i got 88.5 octane or something

Has really slight valve clatter. I don't like that.

 

Same with mine. Was good for awhile and then clatter. Turn it back a dab. Don't know if the season change , outside temps, humidity played much of a change or not. Or fuel quality... Maybe the IRAQ deal caused us to burn some old fuel reserves.

 

ok heres what ive found and i think im gonna stick with it....my 1980 f-150 i6 has 2 timing marks one on the right one on the left...tdc is tdc line the right one up with the timing cover chain and line the left up with the timing indicator on the left side behind the belts...seems to be right so im gonna just leave it and turn it a little if i want....doubt i will lined it up at 6 and moved it to line up with number 1.....