Hey all I am trying to find the right answer but can not perhaps you can help. I am trying to set my timing to 0 and I read somewhere that the 400 is 4 degrees retarded from factory, then u read they stopped doing that in 77 which is what year I have. Should I installed dot to dot?



This is what i set it at last night at a4

 

. If that's the stock cam, and since you're using low compression pistons, I'd suggest the 4 degrees advanced marks... A4 on the keyway and line the big gear dot up straight above the A4 marking on edge of little gear... can barely make it out in the picture but looks like that is what you're starting to do...

. A straight line should go through the centerline of the camshaft, through the dot, through the A4, and through the centerline of the crankshaft...

. May have to take it off, move the chain a couple teeth, and put it back on a couple times to get it all lined up... looks like big sprocket is 5 teeth off... on little gear, put A4, not keyway, straight up... rotate crank tiny amount to left...


. Advancing cam 4 degrees moves the intake valve closing ahead (it's already past TDC) and builds more compression above the pistons for more low RPMs power and better MPG... change it to -0- for TMI pistons...

 

Ill retake pics in a bit blurry

 

Better pics

 

. You're using the 4 degrees advance keyway on the little sprocket, which is OK, but dot lined up on -0- mark... need dot on A4 marking...

 

So put keyway on 0 and line up to a4?

 

. Keyway on A4 and dot on A4...

 

Humm so confused right now but wouldn't that be the same as putting keyway on 0 and lining the cam to it

 

. No, because the advance and retard markings are actually all off a little from -0- straight up... the marking are to tell you where to put the keyway and where to put the dot for the subtle advance and retard adjustments...


. Ford retarded the cam for emissions reasons, but racers generally only retard the cam in a high compression ratio engine to make it work better at high RPMs... cam timing kinda works opposite of ignition timing...

 

All new to me lol I'm trying to learn still ok I'll re do later on and will repost stay tuned. Thankyou much

 

That's exactly why I asked the question lol

 

Amazing the old chain was so loose that it was almost hanging off crank and this new one is solid with very little play. The truck ran good before can't wait to feel the after.

 

. Yeah, should feel a little 'snappier'... like there's something actually alive under the hood...

 

I sure hope so