I was wondering how would a shop do my timing on my 93 f-250 460 would they hook it up to a scanner or do it by ear like i would? If they hook it up to the scanner is it really worth my money to do it that way?

 

A shop would probably use a timing light...like you should.

 

Your pickup is still OBD1 so they would do like thechief mentioned and just use a timing light to set the base timing. To do this, unplug the SPOUT located over by the driver side fender, then with a timing light pointed at your crank, (be sure you can see the timing marks on the distributor...i had to use a steel brush on mine since there was so much rust) turn the distributor until your base timing is set to 10*. In all honesty you can get away with 12* or so and it will run a whole lot better along with improved mileage, but Ford recommends 10* just to cover themselves. Your distributor and computer takes care of the rest of the timing map.

 

I have a 97', whats the SPOUT? Does the computer compensate for altitude at all on these?

 

SPOUT stands for "Spark Out". It's a small little grey thing that's plugged into two wires on the drivers side fender, located next to the TFI Module. Basically all it does (to my knowledge) is links the distributor timing to the computer timing. With the spout plugged in, the engine is getting it's base timing from the distributor, which we were talking about earlier (whatever it's set to, most likely around 10*) PLUS extra timing from the computer...whatever that may be. But, with the spout unplugged, the only timing the engine is receiving is from the distributor. That is why you set the timing with the spout out, that way the computer isn't trying to mess with the distributor timing while you're trying to set the base timing with the distributor. Hope that makes sense.

 

What the SPOUT does is NOT allow the computer to adjust the timing with the plug pulled out. This is so you will see what the dist. is actually set at for a base timing.

 

That's right...basically what i said in my previous post...

 

Yes, but I said it in KISS language.

 

lol...if that's how you look at it, ok

 

Kiss Language what this lol?

 

Keep It Simple, Stupid!

 

Should the spout be plugged back in after setting timing or could it continuously operate without it?

 

Without the spout plugged in you will have no timing advance.

 

Do you understand how an EFI engine operates...?

 

Have a powerstroke as well and basically just ear adjusted it as the timing mark is a painted line on the harmonic balancer pulley and it sounded good so just plugged the spout back in and runs good.This is an infrequent driver and could use new plug wires as it is.