After going around and around trying to figure out why I can't get my timing right, I finally figured out the problem. Brought it to what I thought was a reputable Auto/truck mechanic shop and was told they needed to recalibrate the Distributor. I said what? Told them not to touch anything and retrieved my truck before they could screw it up. THE PROBLEM, my Harmonic Balancer, (which has the timing marks stamped on it) had slipped. Pulled my old one off which is a pain in the *** because you have to take out the radiator, fan and pulleys off. Took it to my neighborhood NAPA and compared it to a new one. It was off by at least 20 degrees. Installed the new one and all is well.

BTW the reason this became such an issue, California Smog Testing test timing and if its not set to the recommend Ford setting stated under the hood then you FAIL the whole test. Otherwise I could have cared less since I timed the truck by ear and it ran perfectly until I had a problem with the Alternator which I go into in another POST.....

What a pain in the butt trying to figure that one out just to satisfy California Smog Testing!!!!