Ok, I've got the brakes rebuilt, and gone through all wiring to lights under dash. Now attention to engine.

It runs OK, sometimes smooth, sometimes not so much. I keep finding things that may or may not be issues. I also want to be approaching this in a logical sequence...what to do first etc of course I understand that all is related and changing one thing will affect everything else. But to start out on an unknown.

352 with auto lite 2100 carb. I've rebuilt the carb and it runs smoother and less hesitation . Set mixture with tach. Changed timing from 6 to almost 10 BTDC, on acceleration mechanical advance climbs to about 30. Reset points to .016. Not sure what order these things should have been done... Needs new plug wires, they zap me, but I realized that they are 180 degrees off at the dist cap. The cap location marked 1 is at about 7 o'clock , but the #1 wire is over about 2 o'clock position.180* off. The rotor turns cc and the wires are all in proper order. How can this be? wouldn't this throw everything off? I checked timing with light on #1 cylinder wire. Am I worried about nothing or is something way off? gear on dist or timing chain . Should I install new ones as is "right" or as they are since truck is actually running. I will be set up with vacuum gauge for further diagnosis later in the week.

Figuring out why someone has done something odd is a true brain storm sometimes. Thanks for any advice here.

 

It doesn't matter where #1 is on the cap. some one put the distributor in wrong and put the wires in right. IF it bothers you , you can start over. Find #1 tdc then drop the distributor in so the rotor is pointing at #1 on the cap. But it doesn't matter either way.

 

Thanks Eric, Think I'll just put the new wires in the way they are. Rather not pull the distributor if not necessary. or later when there is nothing else that needs attention ha

 

Try to get in some reading on older engines, these are very basic technology so anything you study will be helpful even if generic. Tune-up manuals from the 1930s thru 1960s are always very good. Many are available online, sold on FleaBay. The military and others also had self-paced education courses that are very good. Then there's the Ford Truck shop manual for your truck. Lots of theory and operation, repair, and specifications.

Older engines benefit from a cylinder compression test to see what's what. The materials used back then meant an engine was ready for overhaul fairly quickly. If an engine has real low or uneven cylinder compression, excessive oil consumption, a tune-up will not help much and is probably a waste of money.

 

I hear you Tedster

 

When I first bought my slick it had quite a few engine derangements. The tune-up and instruction manuals are all similar for a reason, they really do have diagnostics and setup listed in a logical reasonable sequence. One thing I've noticed watching the forums for a while is measuring or setting ignition timing is misunderstood. The first thing that should be done with older engines is to determine or verify true TDC or "top dead center" with a piston stop tool.

The reason it's so important is because all ignition and valve timing events are based on this point. With age and use the crankshaft balancer heavy outer steel ring slips off its index or "clock" relative to the crankshaft keyway. When this happens that means the timing marks are way off and this is pretty common. There are some work arounds to this, but a new balancer is required. So often we'll see engines in 2019 with the ignition timing way off the beam, and they won't run right this way.

Check cylinder compression, run an engine vacuum test, check for timing set or chain stretch, and inspect the spark plugs for evidence of excessive oil consumption, head gasket leaks, fouling etc., and you'll have an accurate idea of internal engine condition. If it's basically sound, you'll be able to get it running very well without much trouble. There is a learning curve, just follow the tune-up manuals. If something doesn't check out during a test or procedure, the numbers aren't right, find out why, don't skip it.