Hi all,
I'm replacing the timing chain on my 1989 E150 302. I'm doing this since the timing cover gaskets are shot and I thought since I'm in there I would just replace the chain and gears too.

I've not taken the old gear set and chain off yet. I'm trying to line up the marks according to my Haynes manual. The crank mark is perfectly at 12 o'clock while the cam mark is slightly off of 6 o'clock. It looks real close but they are not exactly opposite. If you put a straight line on them they do not line up perfectly. How close do these marks have to be? Do they have to line up precisely? Or can they be ever so slightly off and a timing adjustment at the distributor can do the final?

Also, I used a trigger switch connected to the solenoid to bump the motor to align the marks. Is that that suggest way to align the marks? Is there a better way to do this without removing spark plugs?

Thanks for your help.
Rick

 

They should line up perfectly... unless your chain has stretched tremendously ....just make sure you install the new chain / sprockets exactly by turning the crank with a big box end wrench on the Harmonic damper nut and make sure Cylinder # 1 is at Top dead centre...

 

Hi Blageurt,
Thanks for the reply. I removed the balancer, and now the old sprockets and chain remain. I guess I can reinstall the bolt that holds the balancer on the crank and then put a box end on that to get it precisely aligned. Is that how it's done?

 

Thats what I would do

 

Done! And now the marks are aligned precisely. Thanks again.