About a month and a half ago my TFI module crapped out on me and needed to be replaced. With the help of my brother in law we did just that...but we had to take the distributor out most of the way to get the old TFI off. When we reinstalled the distributor, i think we installed it a tooth or so off. When we cranked it up it ran like crap....so my bro in law set the timing the best he could. Ever since my truck has had like no power compared to what it use to. I can barely get up hills now on the road. Its ridiculous. So i came to the conclusion it must be a tooth off because when i turn the distributor clockwise for the timing, i can only turn it until i hit the thermostat housing. I remember before we messed with it, it was probably around a 1/4" to 1/2" to the right of the thermostat housing, and if i do try to push it back around to where it was stock it starts to run like crap so im pretty sure we didnt put it back in right, because even now i still got a lot of lost power. Ive been hearing something about moving cylinder one to TDC or something like that? Could somebody "walk" me thru the steps i need to do to get it back right. Sorry ive never ever messed with timing before so i need help bad because its getting very annoying driving my truck, especially with 35" tires which is making it even more of a dog. Thanks!

 

...anyone........?

 

bring number 1 piston to top dead center on the compression stroke. install the distributor so the rotor is pointing to the number one terminal in the cap. tighten down the dist until you can just barely move it . crank the engine and adjust the timing with a timing light with the spout removed.

 

hey thanks for the reply since nobody else did. But i still dont know how im suppose to bring piston #1 to top dead center?

 

i can wal you throught this but what motor do you have ?

 

Oh sorry, i got a 302.

 

If it is running you are near the right timing. But messing with the computer controls is always complicated, If that is all you did, then maybe it needs a timing adjustment. If you Don't own a Haynes or Chilton manual , then maybe it is time to buy one.

1. clean off the area where the timing scale is located( should be right next to the harmonic balancer pulley) you will want to see the mark for 10 degreesBTDC or whatever the spec is on your engine emissions sticker.

2. Find the scratch mark on the outside edge of the balancer pulley, there should be one line, ignore cutouts notches or holes.

3. Turn the crankshaft until the mark on the balancer reads zero (Exactly zero) degrees as read on the timing scale. Only turn the engine in its normal direction of rotation, use the key in short cranks or use a large wrench on the balancer bolt to turn the engine crank by hand. This may or may not be TDC, you will be right on, or 180 degrees out. Make a mark on the distributer housing just below the cap, and directly below #1 post.

4. pop the dist cap off, the rotor should be pointing somewhere near wire post #1... plus or minus a few degrees. if the truck was running you must have been close. If it is not pointing near #1 and pointing the other direction, turn the crankshaft again until the rotor is back near post #1. If you are not happy with the alignment, at this point, loosen the distributor and turn it just a little so it is pointing to where # 1 wire post should be. Retighten distributor.

5. You will need to read the directions for setting timing according to the emissions label on your hood underside . the label probabaly has instructions to disconnect the SPOUT connector before a timing test. The SPOUT is an acronym for "spark out" it is a signal sent by the computer which helps to determine when the engine will fire a spark. I don't have a 302 so I can't tell you where it is located. It will be a one or two wire connector most likely taped to the main wire harness near the PCM or TFI module.

6 once the SPOUT is disconnected, start the truck and warm up the engine, check the timing as usual with a timing light, and turn the distributor a few degrees clockwise or counterclockwise until you see that the timing is set where your label specifies.
if you are supposed to be 10degrees BTDC and the timing mark is at 18, 26, or 6 degreesBTDC, rotate the distributor a little at a time, until the correct timing is achieved.

7. reconnect the SPOUT wires, tighten the dist bolt and test her out.

8 I hope you don't have other problems. Good Luck

 

Thats what i was looking for. Thanks a lot, i appreciate the help

 

Can you just pull it out until the teeth disengage, and bump it back a tooth? That seems like the easiest way to me. Turning the distributor housing clockwise advances the timing, so I think you are not getting enough timing. When you pull the distributor out, turn the rotor counterclockwise a gear tooth and see if that helps.

 

I thought about doing that....but just wanted to see how everybody else does it.