96 F-250 5.8. Which way do you rotate the distributor to retard the timing?

 

Counter clockwise when viewed from above.
Got a pinging problem? If you're gonna put a timing light on it don't forget to remove the grey spout plug in the ignition module harness(drivers side fender) to disable computer advance before setting the base timing. Factory is 10deg BTDC.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

The rule is that you retard timing by turning the distributor in the same direction as the rotor turns. You advance timing by turning opposite the direction of the rotor.