1987 2.9 in a Bronco II. Had distributor out and need help timing. Originally set the timing to spec 10 degrees btdc. Vehichle lacked power, put a vacuum guage on it and it said slow timing. So I set the timing up to about 14 degrees btdc, run better but still a little slow according to the vacuum guage. Motor has about 50,000 mile on it. So what do I go by? I think I need to set it up a little more for the same power that I used to have, but that will probably be about 18 degrees btdc. All adjustments were with the spout removed.

 

you can advance it as much as u want
the catch is if the timing is too advanced it will ping under load and u dont want that

 

Are you setting the base timing with the SPOUT unplugged? I have to ask because it's such common mistake. If you set the timing with the SPOUT plugged in, you will get severely retarded timing.

 

I was trying to check my timing today on my truck and was wondering the same thing.

Where is the spout located in a 1990 F-150 5.8 Liter supercab engine?

Haynes manual shows a picture and says to look at the wiring harness that goes to the computer but I can't see anything like that in my truck that looks like a spout. I've got one on my Mustang so I'm familar how it all works.

Thanks,
Dom
1990 F-150

 

well i got a 88' 5.8 in a bronco and there is a convenient little plug right by the Ign control mod.

 

mrshorty, As mentioned in my original posts, "All adjustment were with the spout removed."

 

Sorry I missed that.
I've heard (and my 4.0 has this problem) of cases where the harmonic balancer gets rotated about the crankshaft so that the timing marks are no longer in the right place. Next thing I would suggest is to find TDC (compression) and see if the timing marks on the pulley match up with TDC.

 

i agree this will let u know if the timing you set is actual or not and is prolly a good idea

but regardless you will want to advance it to the point where it pings under heavy load and then back it off some so that it never pings