Hi.

I have a 96 f-150 4x4 with an i6. I just installed a long block rebuild from Jasper. Before installing the distributor, I found TDC as best I could and set the distributor rotor just slightly behind position # one as I set it into the engine block...there was a slight turn on the rotor as the gears meshed and I ended up more or less on the # one position. This seems have been successful because the engine fired on the first crank. I also replaced the harmonic balancer in the process...but before setting TDC.

So that was great, but....

I need to adjust the timing. I have spent a good deal of time trying to figure out what type of ignition system I have. Durasprk II? Duraspark III, TFI-IV? So that is my first question...how do I find out?

Also...the emissions sticker on the hood says that the engine is equipped with electronic engine control systems and the ignition timing cannot be adjusted. If that is true...I still feel like it would be necessary to get the timing right and within a certain threshold for the engine control system to work properly.

All of the research I have done leads me to believe that the degree marks stamped on the timing cover are useless for my model engine. There is a crankshaft position sensor near the upper left side of the balancer and a pin of sorts that sticks out towards the balancer at about the 9 o clock position.

I have painted a small white line on the TDC marking of the balancer...but when using a timing gun, what would I measure the degrees against? Would it be against the pin or the degree stamp?

It should be noted that anytime I made a slight adjustment to the distributor (rotating it a degree or two)...the engine would sound about the same.No idle or performance change.

Engine currently producing code P0385 and P0113

Hope this makes sense.

Thanks in advance.

 

Here are a few pictures. I think I need to remove the SPOUT to set the timing?