hi guys,
I have an 84 F-150 w/ I-6. I'll start from the begining so hopefully someone will be able to point me in the right direction. I was on my way home from work and it acted as tho it had jumped time and started running horribly. I pull over, pop the hood, look around, check the oil etc. everything looks OK. jump back in, keep in mind it was -20^F, try to drive about a mile more to teh store, and it just dies as I was going up hill towards the store. I look under the hood again, and just by accident, my hand hits the distributor and it moves very easily. So, not knowing where it was to begin with I just kept adjusting it until it started to run again, then tightened the bolt back up. Well, this got me home but barley, just felt extremely under powered. I had a freind look at it and told me that the "pin" in the distributor was sheered. How he knows this i'm not sure, he didnt pull the distributor or anthing, just listened to it run. I've wrenched on a few vehicles before but never my ford. Can anyone give me any info on this "pin" in regards to the distributor? Can it just be replaced? or does teh entire distributor need replaced?

Thanks in Advance guys,
n0lan

 

He may be referring to the pin that holds the distributer drive gear where the distributer gear is meshed with the camshaft. If it was bad you would also have no oil pressure since the gear also turns the oil pump.
Sounds like you just need to reset the timeing.
Methods differ depending on what ignition you have.


84 F150 I6

 

thanks for teh quick reply sail! So, what u are sayig is, If i have oil pressure, then the pin should be OK? and the timing just needs fine tuning?

another question, how do I determine what ignition I have?

thanks again bro!

n0lan

 

anyone?

 

If you have a vacuum diaphram and a hose running to the distributer you have the duraspark ignition,
If you have a little gray module fastened to the side of the distributer with a connector with about 6 wires going to it you have the TFI ignition.

 

Thanks again sail!! I have a TFI ignition. I'm gonna try to adjust the timing later this afternoon once i get off work! I'm sure I'll have more Q's tomorrow.

Thanks again for your help bro,
n0lan

 

Here is how to set the initial timing. I have used this method for years and you dont need a timing light.
first find the timing plate on the front of the engine you will probably need to clean it off. Find it just above the harmonic balancer the double pully on the front of the engine clean it good with some wd 40 and a green scotchbright pad.
ignition off rotate the engine and align the timing mark on the balancer to the 10 mark to the left of the "0". The zero is TDC to the left is BTDC to the right of "0" is ATDC.
Remove the two screws in the distributer cap and remove the cap.
The rotor should be pointing to the #1 plug wire. If it is not then rotate the engine another turn and get it right on 10 BTDC.
Remove the #1 spark plug. Hook up the spark plug wire to the plug you just removed. Ground the plug to the engine block ( i usually use a Battery jumper cable for this) place the plug in a position where you can see it easily.
loosen the distributer. Turn on the ignition switch but do not crank the engine.
Rotate the distributer and you should see the plug fire. Play with it a little until you find the spot where the rotation just fires the plug. tighten the distributer hold down nut.
Replace the plug and start it up
This should do it.
If you cant find the timing mark on the balancer let me know it just adds another step.
Good luck