Ok, This may sound dumb, but I had trouble setting the timing on my truck.
1990 F150 I6

I disconnected the SPOUT connector, hooked the timing light up to the no. 1 cylinder and couldn't find the marks. I tried for a while and then tried the no. 2 cylinder and it worked. Seems to run fine. I assume I found the correct cylinder to time off of, but want to check to make sure. Did I do it right?

 

timing marks are on the passenger side, u'll have to clean em off because they're probaly filthy. find the notch on the harmonic balancer, mark it with some whiteout and mark the timing marks and u'll be good to go. dont forget to reconnect the spout and always use cylinder #1

 

so what's a spout connector?

 

I cleaned the marks and painted and are clean and visible. I tried turning the distributor both ways in small increments and nothing on cyl no 1. I didn't have a problem seeing the mark with the light on No. 2 cyl, but could not find it on cyl 1. So you'are saying it is supposed to be the no 1 cyl. Any ideas on why I can't see it? I don't think the dist has been removed or a gear off or anything.

The spout is a connector in the wires going to the distributor. I think it controls the timing advance rather than using vacuum.

 

Thanks for the info.
My 83 has vacuum, but I'm happy to know.
I've always had trouble doing the timing on my truck...just like you.
I finally set it with a vacuum gauge...it tells me when the ignition timing is late, so I set it just before it goes to "late".
Seems to be OK.

 

I set mine by trial and error. I set it, try and stomp the throttle, and if it works better or worse, I adjust as necessary. I am sure it isn't as precise, but it seems to work.

 

It supposed to be number 1. You are looking at the wrong timing marks. You want to look on the passenger side timing marks, not the driver's side ones on the timing cover..

 

WELL, HERE YOU GO BUB...SPOUT CONNECTOR ON DRIVERS SIDE VERY UPMOST CORNER OF FIREWALL. UNPLUG...PUT QUALITY TIMING LIGHT ON NUMBER ONE CYL. ( VERY FRONT) TURN OFF EVERYTHING INSIDE TRUCK....A/C, RADIO, ETC...MAKE SURE TRUCK HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR 20 MIN. OR SO. MAKE SURE TINY MARK ON DAMPER...(HARMONIC BALANCER) IS CHAULKED....OK, BOLT ON TAB ON TIMING GEARS COVER IS ON LEFT SIDE OF DAMPER...ON 95` F150 THERE IS A LARGER TRIANGULAR NOTCH SOMEWHAT IN CENTER OF TIMING TAB (SCALE) 10 DEG. BTDC. THATS THE MAGIC NUMBER. 9, 10, 11, 12 CAN BE OK. IF ANYTHING, PUT ON 10 DEG/ 11 DEG. BUMP IT UP TO 11 OR SO, BUT USE HIGHER OCT. GAS. OR 10 AND USE REG./UNLD....EVERY MOVE U MAKE WITH DISTRIBUTOR, ALWAYS REV ENG. AND LET IT IDLE DOWN, THEN CHECK...CHECK CAP/ROTOR/AND PULL A PLUG. LOOK AT IT~~~~ THAT`S THE FIRST THING U NEED TO DO. CAN TELL ALMOST HOW WELL ENG. IS RUNNING BY LOOKING AT A PLUG....WHITISH DRY AND GAPPED RIGHT...( .044--NOTHING ELSE .044 ONLY. LOSS OF POWER? THIS WILL PERK IT UP A LIL. USE MOTORCRAFT PLUGS ONLY!!! CLOSE HOOD ALMOST ALL THE WAY AND PEEK IN DARK AT WIRES...LOOK FOR (FIRE).....SPARK, SORRY....IF SPARK R/R WIRES. TOO!! HOPE THIS HELPS YA. TODD P.S. CHECK FIRING ORDER..........

 

Thanks for the responses

I am looking at the passenger side marks. Just for S & G I did try to find the mark on both sides and couldn't see it on either when on cyl no 1. I do have a deep v for 10 BTDC. I just changed the spark plugs (autolite) and the wires are in good shape and not very old. The old plugs were clean, but after 25k they were pretty eroded and the electrodes were rounded on one side.
Something seems odd here with my truck. I have it timed using No. 2 cyl and it runs fine. When I first posted my question, I thought it may need to be timed using a cylinder other than no 1, but now I am confused. As long as it runs fine...I guess I will leave well enough alone for now.
Thanks for the info.

 

I'm beginning to think the plug wires are misrouted.

 

Very suspicious! If the light doesn't give you the results you want, try your ear. Many guys I know just warm the engine up, then have some body run it at about 2000 rpm. Then you slowly turn the dist until you hear the best sound from the engine. Too avanced-it starts to slow. Too retarded-it starts to slow. So advance it until it starts to slow, then retard until it starts to slow, then put it about in the middle. If you get some pinging during driving conditions, you are a little too advanced, so retard a little. Give it a try and see if you end up in the same place the dist is now. Of course you will need to make a reference mark at the base. Good luck, John

 

I think I'll try it.
Which direction do I turn the distr to retard?

Steve

 

pop hood, loosen dist. start eng., put in drive and set parking brake, walk around to eng. clockwise (advance) run good? no ping? shut off. restart start ok? tromp it slightly, ping? (while in gear) if ping turn counterclockwise slightly, try again. learn the hard way like a lot of us have. sound like a BEAST? drive it tromp it, stop suddenly, ok? if not go back ( while hot) do over to firewall-adv. to you-retard....try it drive it.....put a can of sea foam in each tank and drive your heart out....e-mail if u have trouble, still..........bratpack@lightbound.com see ya, Todd PS youll get it....if u dont get your firing order isnt right. if not backfiring, though forder is prob. right.

 

hanh? i think people will understand u better if u type in complete sentences.

i think ur wires are routed wrong, bring cylinder #1 to TDC (pull the plug out and put ur thumb over the hole and have someone bump the key till u feel a push of air). see when the rotor is and route the wires accoring (1-5-3-6-2-4). then reset timing.

 

I think most everyone is missing something. There is a good possibility that his harmonic balancer has SLIPPED and is giving a FALSE READING!

Here's how to check it.

1.) Pull out the plug from #1 and turn the engine by hand With your thumb over the hole. When you feel pressure from the hole, stick a screwdriver (6" or longer) in the hole and continue to turn the engine by hand until the piston is at TDC(TOP DEAD CENTER). You will have to rock the crank back and forth to get it to TDC!

2.) Find the Marks on the passenger side. If the marks line up NO PROBLEM. If they don't go and get a new balancer. Try not to turn engine while R&R the balancer.


3.) With a Known good or new balancer on the engine, the marks should line up. If not then line up the marks to 10 BTDC (BEFORE TOP DEAD CENTER) by turning the crank BY HAND! ID the marks with Whiteout or white paint, or anything that will contrast the crank. DON'T TURN THE CRANK!

4.) Pull off the distributor cap and check where the rotor is pointing. This is #1. Mark on the distributor cap with a permanent marker where the rotor lines up with the cap. This will be your #1. Then rotating clockwise on the cap from #1 will be 1-5-3-6-2-4. DOUBLE CHECK ALL WIRES! Don't just look, physically put your hand on and trace it completely to a plug. sometimes your eye's get fooled.

5.) Put the plug back in #1.

6.) Now that the engine is set up for 10 BTDC go ahead and start it, and check it with a timing light. If the marks are 10 BTDC, you're go to go. If not adjust and TIGHTEN THE DISTRIBUTOR BOLT.

Disconnect the timing light, close the hood and grab a beer! Or a Coke if you're under 21!

Larry