302 timing
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 29
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302 timing
87' f150 4speed 302
It has had a popping, backfiring problem since I first seen the truck 6 years ago. I bought it 2 years ago and have been trying to find the problem. It pops when accelarating, especially when in a low rpm situation. It was my daily driver until 5 months ago so now I can dig a little deeper into it. The other day it was runnign a little rougher than usual so I checked it the timing, which has been checked by several mechanics in the past. And I could spin the distributor by hand. Timing marks are confusing on this thing but somone has yellow paint on the M balancer. I couldnt get the timing close for lack of space for module to swing around. I noted that the plug wires are off by one hole according to the Haynes manual. So I re-plug the cap, have someone turn the key while I spin the distributor until it starts. I can barely get the mark on the balancer lined up with the pointer but its not running right. Is there a chance that someone has the distributor stabbed a little off and has compensated for it by moving the wires around? If so, is that just as good?
Thanks, sorry for the long post.
It has had a popping, backfiring problem since I first seen the truck 6 years ago. I bought it 2 years ago and have been trying to find the problem. It pops when accelarating, especially when in a low rpm situation. It was my daily driver until 5 months ago so now I can dig a little deeper into it. The other day it was runnign a little rougher than usual so I checked it the timing, which has been checked by several mechanics in the past. And I could spin the distributor by hand. Timing marks are confusing on this thing but somone has yellow paint on the M balancer. I couldnt get the timing close for lack of space for module to swing around. I noted that the plug wires are off by one hole according to the Haynes manual. So I re-plug the cap, have someone turn the key while I spin the distributor until it starts. I can barely get the mark on the balancer lined up with the pointer but its not running right. Is there a chance that someone has the distributor stabbed a little off and has compensated for it by moving the wires around? If so, is that just as good?
Thanks, sorry for the long post.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,558
Likes: 45
From: Concord, NC
Ignition timing is just as good, but for fuel injection I think it could be messing things up. The distributor is probably off a tooth or two. I'd pull it out and make sure the rotor points to the 1 on the cap. The computer gets a signal when the engine hits TDC on cylinder 1 so it knows what fuel injectors to fire, and if fires the injectors at the wrong time, it will run bad. I would also double check the mark on the balancer to make sure it is in the right relationship with TDC of cylinder number 1 (make sure the outer part of the balancer hasn't turned on inside part.
