My first Ford pickup....
Old School Hot Rodder
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,472
Likes: 11
From: Exmore, VA
I hope you bought the one for the EFI (88-97) engines, it is a straight up set unlike the 1972-87 set which has a 4° retard at the crank gear. I used to tell people to buy the early (1968-71) set but the manufacturers decided that one size fits all and dropped the early set and just show one set for 1968-87 429-460 engines.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,491
Likes: 26
From: Algona,WA
And that there is a prime example of why it's so important to change the coolant regularly.
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 39
From: EXTREME southwest CT
But you can see where it got into the pockets of the timing cover...
I'm pretty good about changing my coolant and my backing plate is still all pitted.
There's a lot of cavitation and scouring going on in there.
I don't think it can be helped.
Nice to see you're doing it right, so you don't have to deal with it again.
I'm pretty good about changing my coolant and my backing plate is still all pitted.
There's a lot of cavitation and scouring going on in there.
I don't think it can be helped.
Nice to see you're doing it right, so you don't have to deal with it again.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,491
Likes: 26
From: Algona,WA
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Senior User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 376
Likes: 2
From: Lake Elsinore
PO probably. The engine's been replaced sometime in the past. The rocker cover decal says 1977 model year. The engine's also been repainted before so it may have been apart for rebuild or ring job, no way to know right now.
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 39
From: EXTREME southwest CT
when the rubber gives up like that it can be hard to find the marks. 
Imagine there's a pretty good groove worn in it too.
Imagine there's a pretty good groove worn in it too.
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 39
From: EXTREME southwest CT
This information might help others that find this thread in the future.
Old School Hot Rodder
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,472
Likes: 11
From: Exmore, VA
Jim, are you forgetting that the 385 engines like the FE and MEL have a sleeve or counter weight behind the balancer where the seal rides? Trackerrrr, if it is indeed a 1977 then it shouldn't have the "hatchet" counter weight behind the balancer, which doesn't look quite as bad as mine did.