Good Morning fellow Ford Lovers...

In many of my past posts, I have discussed my oil leaking 390...Today I found out why and where.

Last night I picked up a set of intake gaskets. This morning I started pulling the intake. The Schmo that installed the Eldelbrock Performer intake didn't bother to install the front and rear gaskets...only the gaskets that mated to the heads. This person used about two tubes of blue RTV ( a good 1/4" thick ) on the front and rear mating surfaces. Poor motor didn't have a chance in heck to begin with. The tear down and cleaning process went fine with one exception....here is where I need help.

When I pulled the distributor ( Mallory Unilite ) I didn't pay attention to it's position...and in pulling it I am sure the shaft turned. The last time I did something like this, it was on a SB Chevy...in that case the end of the distributor shaft has a slot in it so you can only install it in two positions...the correct position and 180 degrees off. The ford seems to be a bit more fun. I don't have a timing light ( i will be getting one today It seems ) ....where do I start? I am sure there is something already listed here but this hot blooded Italian sitting at this keyboard would like some live answers.... Thanks in advance...you guys are all great!

Mike

EDIT:


I found quite a bit of info in the FE Engine forum....should get me there but if anyone else has any further tips ....let me know.

What do you think about the lack of gaskets on the intake?

 

I'm sure you've searched the FE engine forum...but I'll tell what I know.

You can seal it with or without the end gaskets. You'll find guys here that do it both ways. I have. I may have a slight leak now, and I didn't use the gaskets on the last install.

The oil pump shaft is hexagonal with no other alignment features...it doesn't matter. just makes sure it's still there and that the distributor engages it. It is difficult to get the distributor back in without properly engaging the pump shaft (assuming it's there)...but it can be done (personal experience).

Next, you'll want to get the #1 cylinder at TDC and make sure the rotor points at the #1 wire, then just follow the firing order.

 

Gtex....another dumb question...what is the firing order on this motor? It is usually shown in the intake..but the aftermarket intake does not tell me....I don't know which cylinder is #1...Sorry...Rookie.

EDIT Again:

Another thing I noted....I replaced the valve cover gaskets a few months ago...and will be again now...anyway, when I replaced the valve cover gaskets, I noted that the rear left ( facing the front of the truck ) of the intake did not line up flush with the face of the head...it sat up a good 1/32 or better. I thougth by changing the intake gaskets I might remedy this problem....not the case. I dinked around with the intake quite a bit trying to tweak the alingment and somehow split the difference with the other side ( rear ) but It just won't happen...so I am right back where I was before with the left rear of the intake sticking up higher than the head. What is the issue here? The other three corners all appear to be flush.

 

check out the FE FAQ, it has the firing order and a lot more!

http://www.clubfte.com/users/ratsmoker/FAQ.html


I'm not sure what would cause one of the head/intake interfaces to be off. But that is the only place I use some Black RTV on the vlave covers. I use the rubber Fel-Pro gaskets.

 

Warped intake??

 

My first 390 has the same poor fit of an Edelbrock intake. I put it together anyway. I used the silicone with no cork gasket for the manifold ends. I have no oil leaks. I put a ranchers 390 2 bbl together with the silicone. He has no oil leaks and really uses his truck.
I do clean all the gasket surfaces to bare metal and wipe with acetone before applying the silicone.

 

It's common practice to use rtv instead of the gasket on the front and back of the intake. The misalignment that you see could be that the heads were resurfaced before. Like FE said wipe down all the mating surfaces. I use laquer thinner or brakleen.

 

She is back together....and running! The alignment of the distributor wasn't a problem, but getting it seated into the oil pump was...as I found out the hard way. Once I got her all back together, I started it and it popped off and idled right away...and was noisey as hell. I shut it off right away ( 5-10 seconds max ) and pulled off the left valve cover again ( oh GOD! ) ...thinking I had left a wrench in there...I have been known to do dumb things...and everything was as dry as when I put it back together....then the light bulb came on. When I stuck the dist back in, I remembered that it didn't seem to seat all the way..and reading some of the info at the FE forum made me realize that it wasn't right....but just about then my wife called for me to come in the house and get cleaned up to go to Fort Dodge...so I spaced it off until it was almost too late. I put the valve cover back on...pulled the distributor again...and more carefully inserted it...this time tapping the shaft ( with the rotor off )...I had to crank the engine just a touch a couple times to get the shaft lined up then she fell into place. She started right back up and within a second the oil pressure was up and she was running nice and quite. Now, I hope it doesn't leak.

 

If it's an old Ford and you didn't want it to leak you should have left the oil pump disconnected!