timing issues
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles - South Bay
timing issues
1978 f150 400... Trying to adjust my timing which appears to be waaaay off. I turned my distributor clockwise as far as it can go and now hitting my thermostat housing. I need to turn it maybe another half turn but out of room. How do I fix this? Thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville, TN
Sounds like it might be off by a tooth - pull it entirely out, and put it back in with the shaft rotated a bit. The *right* way to do it is to manually turn the engine over to cyl 1 firing TDC, then put it in with the rotor pointed to 1, but if you're careful, you can just offset it a bit from where it is.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,325
Likes: 14
From: Island Southeast Alaska
You can also move the wires around one hole in the cap.
But why is it out of time to start with? Was the dizzy taken
out for some reason? Or has the timing gear/chain slipped?
We need to know this to be of any help here.
But why is it out of time to start with? Was the dizzy taken
out for some reason? Or has the timing gear/chain slipped?
We need to know this to be of any help here.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles - South Bay
I really have no idea why timing was so far off. I just got the truck and trying to run through it to get to hopefully pass smog which sounds like its gonna be a pain as I don't know what's all required on this truck to pass. I've read many different emission options came on these trucks and kind of confused on what all should be there.
So I ended up taking out the distributor completely out after getting the engine on tdc. Then lined up the rotor to point at number 1 spark plug wire like mentioned looks like it worked I was able set my timing to 12 BTDC. Thanks was easier then I thought.
So I ended up taking out the distributor completely out after getting the engine on tdc. Then lined up the rotor to point at number 1 spark plug wire like mentioned looks like it worked I was able set my timing to 12 BTDC. Thanks was easier then I thought.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 13,120
Likes: 345
From: THIS IS SPARTA!, ...Mo.
Did you put a timing light on it to verify it was that far off? Did somebody replace the distributor? If the truck has been running, there's no logical reason for the timing to be a full tooth off. If it is, it's for one of two reasons, the timing chain is getting ready to break, or somebody set the distributor in the engine wrong. Timing doesn't just change for no reason. Make sure that's really your problem.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles - South Bay
Yea I have a timing light. I believe the distributor was pulled out previously because the bolt for it was pretty stripped. It was running just really rough. Looking at my timing light last night I also might have made a mistake. It has a timing advance **** on it that may have contributed to looking like it was further off then I thought 
... Its running a lot smoother then before though but something still seems off. I may need to adjust the carb.
... Its running a lot smoother then before though but something still seems off. I may need to adjust the carb.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,512
Likes: 3
From: Panama City
Make sure timing is spot on before adjusting anything. And you do know to disconnect vaccuum advance before making any adjustments dont you?
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles - South Bay
Yes I unplugged the vacuum hose leading to distributor advance and put a cap. My valve cover also says unplug the throttle selonoid and have it in neutral for timing. That's what I did and set it to 12. Re checked it few times and hasn't moved from there.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,895
Likes: 32
X'2 on rotating the wires.. But again, what was the reason for moving the distributor in the first place?
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,325
Likes: 14
From: Island Southeast Alaska
Yes but I for one am wanting to know why it was that
far out of time to start with? As to why was the dizzy out
in the first place to have it in wrong and hitting the T-stat
housing? Is this a new engine you just are putting together?
Or one you have been driving and this just happened?
Why was the timing off in the first place? Please give more
info on this engine so we can know what you know.
far out of time to start with? As to why was the dizzy out
in the first place to have it in wrong and hitting the T-stat
housing? Is this a new engine you just are putting together?
Or one you have been driving and this just happened?
Why was the timing off in the first place? Please give more
info on this engine so we can know what you know.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles - South Bay
The truck use to be my dads..it sat in mexico for about 10 years then brought back to U.S. where it sat for another like 5 years in storage. It was worked on here by random "mechanics" that my dad knew. Engine was supposedly rebuilt here before being left at a storage place. And now its out of storage and at my house where I am attempting to bring it back to life and have it in good running condition to pass smog. When it came from storage it wasnt running too good. Too many "mechanics" touched it while in storage so not really sure what was all done to it.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles - South Bay
Now there was a lot of vacuum lines just hanging around not going anywhere or plugged up by screws..PVS switches were broken. A lot small things were missing or needed replacing. So I don't know the exact mechanical history of it so I am sort of just starting from scratch checking all the basic things first. Its running now and timing is now spot on. Now dealing with trying figure the vacuum routing and carb adjustments.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,325
Likes: 14
From: Island Southeast Alaska
Okay, Cool info. Thanks Bud. That helps me if not others to
better understand what your dealing with. If it was me I think
I would basically just start over. Like figure prolly everything
is needing looked at to get it back running. I would start with
the timing gear set up and make damn sure it is properly installed
than go to the dizzy from there. Check timing marks and harmonic
balancer and make sure it all lines up on TDC. The timing gears may
well be installed wrong. Once on TDC let us know if all the timing marks
are lining up. Than pop the dizzy cap and see what plug wire the rotor cap
is pointing at. Than we can go from there.
better understand what your dealing with. If it was me I think
I would basically just start over. Like figure prolly everything
is needing looked at to get it back running. I would start with
the timing gear set up and make damn sure it is properly installed
than go to the dizzy from there. Check timing marks and harmonic
balancer and make sure it all lines up on TDC. The timing gears may
well be installed wrong. Once on TDC let us know if all the timing marks
are lining up. Than pop the dizzy cap and see what plug wire the rotor cap
is pointing at. Than we can go from there.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,895
Likes: 32
Well weather its what's a previous problem or not lets work on getting it fixed.. Try rotating the plugs clockwise so the distributor will rotate back towards the thermostat then see if you can dial it in.. If you have to skip 2 spaces to get it right it wont hurt a thing.. Assuming you already lined her up tdc..
**I see the other posts now.. starting over would be the best thing
**I see the other posts now.. starting over would be the best thing