hey guys, i have a 5.0 EFI V8 and i was wondering if its possible for me to change the timing?? i hear you can get some horsepower and fuel economy by bumping up the timing a few degrees. i ask because im not sure if i can do it. i dunno if the trucks ECU controls all that stuff or what

 

Yes, you can advance the timing a bit.....You'll need to pull the spout connector out of it's socket to do this...yours should be right next to the distributor...gonna want to advance it to somewhere around 14*...it will help to have a timing light.... Spout connector looks like this:

 

once its out of the socket, how do adjust the timing?

 

Loosen the distributor hold down and turn the whole distributor counterclockwise(?) I can never remember, I always figure it out when I do it (I use a timing light)

 

what do u think is the best degree to advance it too? i dont want spark knock haha

 

.....First i would locate the timing marks on your balencer & clean them off good , you can rub some chalk or something on them to make them easyer to read , hook the timing light to the # 1 plug wire , passenger side front , remove spout start motor , point light at timing pointer & read timing , to turn the distributer you need to lossen the hold down bolt , turning it clockwise will advance the timing , counter clockwise will retard the timing , after setting it tighten the hold down bolt & install spout plug ....Lew

 

so you do all this while the truck is running??

 

Yepp. but i was always told to let the truck warm up before you remove the spout plug. when u remove it the truck will almost stahl, and dont worry thats normal. then begin your timing.

 

To set the timing it needs to be running , you can remove the spout & loosen the hold down with the motor off ...

 

yeah that makes sense. after all that, you can just shut it off and tighten everything back up then i guess

 

Yeah tighten the hold down then start it back up & check it again to make sure nothing moved .....

 

thanks alot. but i guess my last question about all this would be like whats the difference between advancing the timing and retarding it? do they have different effects?

 

As far as advancing the timing , most will tolarate 14 BTDC , some thing you have to play with , advance it some then take it for a ride , if you get any pinging then its to far advanced....

 

pinging from the engine?

 

Yes,,,.................