Am I reading this timing pointer right?

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Apr 23, 2017 | 08:20 AM

#31

CountryBumkin

Posting Guru

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 1,636

Likes: 5

From: Orlando area

Quote:

Originally Posted by xjpilot

thats a very good point. Maybe I'll try that tonight when I get home

Just connect your timing light to a different plug wire and check again. If your 40 degrees out you may be connecting your timing light to the wrong plug wire (you may be clamped to cyl #3 instead of #1).

Switching the wires around on the dist cap is not going to help. It doesn't matter where the wires are attached to the cap as long as they are in the correct firing order and the rotor is pointing to the #1 wire when the engine is at/near TDC.

Apr 23, 2017 | 08:24 AM

#32

ArdWrknTrk

pedant

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 23,576

Likes: 38

From: EXTREME southwest CT

Switching wires over one terminal will allow him to move the distributor body back 45° so the vacuum advance is not hitting whatever is keeping him from being able to set the timing where he needs.

Edit; Or maybe I am reading post #23 wrong...?

Apr 23, 2017 | 09:09 AM

#33

CountryBumkin

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Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 1,636

Likes: 5

From: Orlando area

RE Post 23:
I'm nor sure if OP couldn't get distributor to seat fully when installing (oil pump drive engagement misalignment) so he turned rotor a little and then installed - or if OP couldn't rotate distributor enough to set timing because it was physically hitting something so he pulled it, turned rotor, and then installed.

Jun 25, 2024 | 02:32 PM

#34

markvdoucett

1st Gear

Joined: Jun 2024

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

Timing

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountryBumkin

I am new to this forum but very glad I found it. I own a 1991 ford xlt lariat 5.0 efi pickup and she is my baby. Im learning her. Anyway, I am currently dealing with this same issue and just learned a few good tips. In the 40 degrees, thats a lit and could have the distributor off a notch, thats a brilliant observation, but if it has an EEC computeri, the computer will advance the timing 20 to 30 degrees when running based on inputs it receives from various sensors. The timing should be 10 degrees btdc plus the 20 to 30 advance would have it showing up at 30 to 40 degrees btdc. At the distributor, the ignition module wiring plug should have an additional two wire plug just sitting there doing nothing. This is the spout.It should have a cap on it. Remove that cap, it is a computer bypass and when removed it bypasses the computer allowing the timing to be set at 10degrees, no auto advancing if 20 to 30. Dont forget to reinstall the cap after setting timing like I did. Hope this helps