Okay guys, I am really scratching my head on this. Last week, I had an issue where my truck just died and would not start back. I tried a new coil and still no good. I retrieved codes from the computer and it said that it was the PIP sensor in the distributor so I replace it. I have reassembled the truck and still no good. It will crank and hit but only run for a split second and quits. I was concerned about having the timing off so I found TDC and verified it was on compression stroke. I then reinstalled the distributor verifying that it was pointing to number one cylinder location on the cap. Tried to start and still will run for a second and die. I repeated this 3 different times. What I am noticing is that when I bring TDC up and verify that it is once again on compression stroke the rotor button is not pointing toward the number one cylinder location in the distributor cap again. To me this indicates that something is off mechanically within the engine. I see that this engine uses gears only with out a belt or chain. Could a tooth have broke on a gear? Could the keyway have sheared and let the came not keep up with the crank as it should. I should also mention that I swapped out and put a new distributor gear on when I had it out. I can also tell you that the distributor does turn when the engine is cranking but it just never matches. Please help me with this issue. It is really starting to get to me. Thanks again for any help!

 

Maybe the roll pin in the distributor gear failed. Check that. If that is it reinstall the gear but clock it 180* to the shaft since the hole may not have been perfectly centered on the shaft. For hi rpm use I like to replace the roll pin with a piece of solid welding rod .

 

Distributor gear: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...f150-4-9l.html


[Copied reply from the thread on the 87-96 forum in case someone looks here in the future]

 

Update: Truck is fixed. Check Mark's link above. This was my problem and now it is fixed and good to go. Thanks Mark!