I adjusted my timing for a backfire problem. It helped, but now my distributor is leaning to the passenger side about 3-5 degrees, actually may be a little more !!!!! . I do not recall it leaning before
Engine runs fine except 4 a slight backfire that I hope will stop after some more timing tuning.......... I did put a lot of pressure to originally turn my distributor because I did not have bolt loose enough..........WHAT SHOULD I DO...........Is this a normal lean.............???????????

 

It's cast aluminum. You can't bend it without breaking it. And the steel shaft inside would also have to bend, and that would wreak all kinds of havoc.

If it still runs, obviously it's OK.

 

Thank-U so very much @351Cleveland C4 I am gonna check to b extra sure I do not have an open space under the distributor. I have had so many unique & unusual problems arise that I am quick to expect another strange or normal situation appearing............The last little details are the hardest to accept & have patient with at times.........but at least I am making progress..........Hope u have a GREAT HOLIDAY & SAFE ONE..........
~~~YOUR HELP IS ENORMOUSLY APPRECIATED ~~~

 

I tighten the hold down bolt and it seem to still lean just a little..........It may have been that way before I loosened the bolt I just do not remember seeing it. I was afraid I moved distributor shaft a small amount so that it was not meshing with the gears correctly at a slight angle, like not seated all the way down in the hole, high on one side!!! It runs pretty good with the slight backfire every few seconds. Is the backfire harmful.........???
Thank-you for the response........it helps my nerves................ha.............and worry...........lol...........lol...........

 

Only way to tell if it's cracked is to pull it. If it is cracked and bent to the side, now is as good a time as any to find out.

 

The front mounted distributors on Ford small blocks and big blocks are all at a slight angle. If you did not pull the distributor out, then nothing changed.
Any backfire is not good. I can tell from some of your posts that you are on a steep learning curve with basic maintenance items. Thats fine everyone has to start somewhere. But you need to be more descriptive with your difficulties.
A backfire out of the carburetor and a backfire out of the exhaust can be completely unrelated as to the cause.
Was this backfire present before you installed the Pertronix.

 

Crop Duster you photo is worth a 1000 thank-yous !!!
My backfire is out the exhaust pipe with long tube headers no mufflers...
My lack of description details is usually for many reasons, I type like a chicken pecking for corn ...also I am usually excited & upset both when I post MY worries & problems.
And I am almost always stressed somewhat.......I have OVERCOME years of very SERIOUS problems & my truck & this forum is truly one of the few pleasures I have had.......
I HAVE BEEN FOOLING WITH THIS TRUCK FOR many years & driven it only maybe 2 miles.......
Anyway............I am doing GREAT NOW & my truck is doing great too
You taking the time to post this picture is ENORMOUSLY APPRECIATED ~~~
I plan on a full tune up with my never used, vintage Craftsman tune up box !!!
Just now wondering if projected nose plugs will work in my engine - Motorcraft SP420 ( BSF42c )
Engine was not backfiring until recently. I think it is gas, or plug related, it is not smoking at all...........just lots of black mostly dry soot specks out of the tail pipe.........
THANK- U............

 

AN ace shade tree mechanic timed my engine 6 months ago with the Pertronix installed & it ran fine. I believe since then gas has got a little water n it & plugs are carbon fouled because it never gets hot enough to burn all the extra gas at start up. Also picked up some trash from the bottom of the tank but now gas looks great in my see-thru filter, & put some fresh non-ethanol gas in with some Marvel Mystery Oil.
I really think if I can get the timing set again, at least close, & check my float level all this truck needs is running down the road & blow the SOOT out of it...........After I get my dash back in & trans fluid & diff fluid changed...........sooooooooo close.........thank-u all............

 

What motor are you running in your truck? Sounds like your timing is off and heeds to be reset. If you are running fresh gas a new set of plugs will not hurt. Do you know how to time the motor & get the #1 piston at TDC on compression stroke? Do you have a timing light?

 

Yes, I have all that, a good used inductive, advance light, vacuum gauge ( Had 21 hg when I checked years ago ), fuel pressure gauge, compression tester. I need valve seals I think...
I am gonna attempt to time my engine tomorrow.......maybe............I have no fan shroud ...may just take off in it first and hope for the best............
Thank-you..........

 

You mention headers, and that sometimes leads to multiple issues that can cause some regular and irregular backfiring out of the exhaust.
One is a potential leak in the exhaust, and the other is a lean running condition due to better breathing of the exhaust needing more fuel from the carburetor than it is set up for with stock exhaust.
Are there any other odds sounds that might lead you to suspect an exhaust leak? Such as unknown ticking from near the back of the engine or from underneath?
is it still a single exhaust, or a full dual exhaust? Either way, do you know what size tubing is used? The larger the tubing the more things you might need to compensate with.

And since the engine is running decently (other than the backfires of course) and was timed at one point in the past, I would not worry too much about finding TDC as much as just playing with timing if you feel it’s needed.
Exhaust backfiring doesn’t immediately lead me to believe that you need to adjust your timing. You might benefit from it of course, as these engines sometimes have a wide range of acceptable base timing.

and just so we are on the same page, is it really backfiring? Is it loud popping out of the tailpipe? Or just a little burbling and change of town?
Or something in between?

Then of course every time you advance or retard the timing you have to adjust the idle speed because changing the timing almost always affects the idle speed.
always more fun stuff!

 

Thank-You @1TonBasecamp, the back-fire is like a sharp crisp POP, about every 3 seconds or so, no smoke !!! The headers are less than 2 inches. I had a big backfire through my carb several months ago. I may have busted my power valve. I do not remember if it was before or after the pertronix install.
I need to fine tune the carb and tweak the timing, as you stated.......I have a manual choke. The little changes have helped. I will do my best to get some miles on it soon & full of fresh 89 octane non-ethonol gas and I think that will smooth it out. Oh and a new set of plugs maybe........
What is a good set of plugs to install...........Will projected nose plugs work in a stock 302 Windsor

 

Yes most of our Windsor engines benefit slightly from a projected nose plug.
I’m not sure if it’s possible to go too far, but it’s not that common to have plugs offered that stick that far through anyway.
Just as long as the thread length is not too long so no expose threads are inside the combustion chamber, the extended tip can be beneficial.

Sorry I don’t have an exact number since it’s been a while since I played around with plugs and they might be different from yours anyway.
Generally though I would stay away from the Uber fancy materials like platinum and iridium.
Just go with good old copper even with an updated ignition.

 

Yes, the Ford Motorcraft spark plug number you listed is the correct part number. Local Ford dealers and O'Reilly's/ Autozones may have them in stock. BTW, Ford called the extended tip (nose) a "power tip". Ford engines got them. Those from the bow tie brigade didn't.