Hi all,
I have been haveing some trouble with my 5.0 L and decided to check the timing tonight. I was going to set it to about 10 deg btc, so i mark the dampner, unplug the spout connector and loosen the dizzy. I start it and notice it STILL idles at 1700 rpm warm. I hit the light on it and to my surprise i can't even see my chalk mark!!!! I am showing about 45 deg BTC by my dampner right now!!!???? I am not pinging but i am idling at 1700 rpm. thats why i am going through this, trying to fix this problem. Is there anyway that i have the wrong timing pointer or something? my pointer is a funny looking tab thing that has a straight pointer and then lower it has the 1/2 inch round hole in it. It looks real similiar to the one on my 82 302. It is mounted on the lower two bolts of the front cover. Is this the right pointer???? Is it possible that the dampner slipped or something????

I tried to bring it to the required 10 Degrees and couldn't even get close. I got the idle dlown to 600 rpm but, of course, I had ZERO power. I set it back to idle at 1500 rpm and have power again, but i would like to see what is wrong with this timing thing. My chain is extra shot and i am going to put a new one in as soon as i get a nice day on the weekend again. Is is possible for it to have jumped a cog or something?????
any help will be greatly appreciated!!!!!
thanks so much.
mike

 

1 way to tell if it jumped is to remove the #1 spark plug, bring it on TDC, remove the rotor cap, noting where the #1 is stamped on it and see if the rotor is close to it. Shouldn't be more than about 1/4" either way. Also while you have the cap off, rotate the crank one way until you see the rotor move, then back the other noting the amount of degree movement on the balancer. More than 3-5 degree's will make the computer act erratic. Excessive play in chain and gears. The harmonic balancer is bonded to the inner portion of the sleeve with rubber. Look to see if it's bulging, severly cracked or pieces missing. If it slipped to show the timing that far out, I don't think it would have stayed on. The indicator sounds correct, same as mine, at the 7:00 position looking at the engine.

 

thanks! I guess if i would have thought about it for another couple minutes i would have thought of checking tdc that way. My chain and gears are shot. When i put a cover to block gasket in, i checked it and i have about 9 degrees rotation before movement in the dizzy. is this enough to screw the computer way up like that??? the balancer looked good when i had it off a couple months ago. I was even real gentle with it when i removed it so i didn't hurt it. Ya my indicator is at the 7:00 o'clock position also. Maybe it is just that my chain is shot and needs the new plugs, wires and cap/rotor that are sitting here.

thanks
mike

 

I'm not trying to be a smartass, but are you sure you had the light connected to the number 1 cylinder. Sounds like you are experienced at it, but I am too and I will admit I have pulled a boner or two in my time.

 

Hey SuperFlare,
Ya, i hate to say it, but i am sure i was on number 1. I wish it was that simple. thats the first thing i checked when i got the mark so far from where it should have been.
thanks for asking though. I have pulled several boners too, but i try to minimize them.
thanks
mike

 

Hmmm, about the only other thing I can think of is that either your SPOUT system has shorted somewhere other than the removable connector, causing it to stay in loop, or your distributor has been re-inserted a tooth off from where it should be.