Hi all,

I'm in the process of putting on a new timing chain set in my '79's 351M. It's a stock replacement Carquest unit. I guess my plan is to line up the dots on the gears, and let her rip (unless now is the time to install it "straight up"......with only one keyway on the crank gear, can I do this by advancing the cam a few degrees so the dots are no longer valid?).

By the way, we're looking at this rusty hulk at work, and one guy asks how to time it. There's one groove on the harmonic dampener, and some sort of bolt-on bracket for the front of the engine. Should there be degrees indicated on the dampener?

 

Without a degree wheel, you have no idea how much you're advancing the cam timing. You might advance it so much that the engine runs like a dog.

 

I don't have any idea what timing chain set you might have. If you get an aftermarket chain set with multiple timing settings to use then you can time it straight up and be good.

Under all the rust on the damper you should find marks to set the ignition timing.

 

Thanks to all for the input.............I just put 'er in, dot-to-dot. It'll be OK for what I need.


Thanks again!

 

Some of the parts store replacement chains are exact OEM replacements and are retarded 4 degrees. The "performance" replacement chains usually come with multiple keyways and are marked for timing positions like "0, +2, -2, +4, -4". I can usually tell by looking whether the cam sprocket is a straight up or 4D retarded sprocket. The Ford OEM sprockets were always set with the crankshaft sprocket for these engines. I have heard that the 460's can get a little strange...

 

A Summit brand chain had the mark on the cam gear 180° away from the stock piece. My Carquest brand unit has the cam gear mark in line with the dowel on the cam. The crank dot is right inline with the keyway.