Can anyone tell me exactly how to static time an 85 Ford Ranger 2.8, 4x4, auto. Do not mean to sound stupid, but I am not a mechanic. I just like to do my own work, especially when the bill is probably for more than the truck is worth at a shop. Any help would be great.

 

Did you have the distributor out or why are you trying to set the timing? Unless you had the distributor out and cant get it to start you should be setting the timing with a timing light

 

Rotate the crank to TDC (0 degrees on the pulley marks) for #1 cylinder. The dist rotor should be pointint to the #1 plug wire. If not, if it is 180 off, rotate the engine one more turn. With the crank at 0, loosen the dist body, and rotate the body in the opposite direction to the rotation of the rotor, to where you are past(before) the point where the plug would normally fire. Now, with the key on, rotate the body so that it seems as if the rotor is moving 'forward' in the dist until the points 'tick' or pickup makes the coil spit. Tighten the dis body down when you are satsified...
You would be at 0 degree advance this way. You can set the crank at 10 15 or whatever the book calls for, and you would have static timing. You can figure out the rotation of the rotor by using the firing order. Because it is "HARD" to rotate the crank, and you lose the timing marks if you do, you just pretend that the rotor is moving by moving the dist in the opposite direction... Got it?

tom

 

Hello, thanks for your response. Yes I had the distributor out, I have been having multiple problems with this truck.I finally got it running but not well, I have alot of blowby smoke and it will idle ok, but when trying to drive it, pops, sputters and backfires. i cannot seem to get the timing set right. Just thought maybe this method might help.
Thanks Terry