Problemo...timing?
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Joined: Jun 2013
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Problemo...timing?
Hey, new here and I had some questions about a truck I recently bought, hopefully some of yall can help.
First off, it's a '86 F150 with a 302. I bought it knowing it didnt start up and I've pretty much put my whole brain into it with no luck whatsoever. Has all new plugs, wires, cap/rotor, I think the water pump's new, yada yada yada. One of my mechanic buddies told me to switch out the ICU, so I did, still nothing. I just don't want to be throwing money at the damn thing if it's not the problem. It cranks but won't turn over...could it be a timing issue? When I put the distributor back in I (knock on wood) thought I put it back in perfectly. I don't know if something's off or what. How would I check that? How do you find TDC? First timer in this kinda crap.
Timing stumps me.
First off, it's a '86 F150 with a 302. I bought it knowing it didnt start up and I've pretty much put my whole brain into it with no luck whatsoever. Has all new plugs, wires, cap/rotor, I think the water pump's new, yada yada yada. One of my mechanic buddies told me to switch out the ICU, so I did, still nothing. I just don't want to be throwing money at the damn thing if it's not the problem. It cranks but won't turn over...could it be a timing issue? When I put the distributor back in I (knock on wood) thought I put it back in perfectly. I don't know if something's off or what. How would I check that? How do you find TDC? First timer in this kinda crap.
Timing stumps me.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
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From: Northeast, OK
Find TDC by pulling all the plugs (to make it easy to turn the engine over) and using a socket and breaker bar on the crank bolt turning it over with you thumb over the #1 plug hole. When you feel pressure on your thumb you know it is coming up on compression. At that point stick something soft, like a soda straw, in the cylinder through the hole and continue to crank it slowly. When the straw gets as far out as it is going to go you are at TDC. You may need to redo that to make sure, and you can by turning the engine backward a few degrees and then coming up slowly again.
Now that you have TDC check to see that the timing pointer is showing TDC on the harmonic balancer. If it is, great! If not, either you didn't quite find TDC or the balancer has slipped, and that is very possible with an old balancer, and that's also why I didn't tell you to use it to find TDC.
Once you find TDC and get the dizzy installed properly see if it'll start. If not, it is time to check for spark and gas. But that's for later.
Now that you have TDC check to see that the timing pointer is showing TDC on the harmonic balancer. If it is, great! If not, either you didn't quite find TDC or the balancer has slipped, and that is very possible with an old balancer, and that's also why I didn't tell you to use it to find TDC.
Once you find TDC and get the dizzy installed properly see if it'll start. If not, it is time to check for spark and gas. But that's for later.
New User
Joined: Jun 2013
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i do this the old fashion way take the number one plug out put a rag in the hole and un hook the coil wire so it don't start bump the starter till you here it pop the rag blows out. then check the tip on the rotor button to see if it is pointing toward the number one plug wire . it might be just a bit past it, then you know if you have the dist in correct or not.
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