First I'd like to say HI to everyone as this is my first post. For as long as I can remember I have wanted an old Ford Pickup. Well my wife bought a 1953 Ford F-100 for my Christmas present. The original Flathead six was swapped out with a Ford 302 with a three speed automatic transmission. Now on to my problem. I am trying to get the engine to run as best as possible, but NO ONE here can help me with the timing. We can't find the timing pointer which I am told should be on the passenger side of the engine. The water pump has a hose that passes right where it should be. We did find a pointer of some type on the drivers side which looks like a short peice of round stock with the end milled to form a pointer. When we get the timing close to it, the engine runs worse and worse. Can anyone help me with identifying the year of the engine, setting for timing, and where the blasted timing pointer is?
The engine has a dip stick tube on the front which is plugged since the oil pan has one on the passenger side. The carb is an Edelbrock Performer series with aluminum intake, stock exhauset manifolds, and a mechanical fuel pump on the driver side front. If anymore iformation is needed to help with this, just let me know. I will even send pictures. Thanks.
Rick

 

Welcome to the only family Ford Truck site, on the net. The members in this forum are very knowledgeable about these engines; they will eagerly help you…hang around someone will be by..
Enjoy FTE

 

try setting your timing using a vacuum gauge. set the gauge up on manifold vacuum and adv. the timing until you get the highest reading then back off the timing until the gauge drops 1in. and you have optimum timing.

 

Thanks, I will try this today.
Rick

 

Thanks for the help. Did what you said and the engine runs great and starts a heck of a lot easier. Next thing for me to tackle is the rear end gears to try getting my gas mileage up past 13 mpg.
Rick