Timing 101
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by srercrcr
I'm talking carbed vehicles here.....
Isn't it true that if the distributor holddown screw has never ever been loosened, the ignition timing will never change?
If so, then all these so-called mechanics who felt the engine needed to be timed were wrong....it could be checked/verified, but no need to adjust.
Isn't it true that if the distributor holddown screw has never ever been loosened, the ignition timing will never change?
If so, then all these so-called mechanics who felt the engine needed to be timed were wrong....it could be checked/verified, but no need to adjust.
Most of the folks Around Here time by ear, anyway.... Bump it around til she starts easy, then power time to JUST before you get pinging. By "power time" I mean go make a couple hard accelerations, noting carefully if you have any spark knock. If no, SLIGHTLY turn the distributor in the opposite direction the rotor goes in. Repeat til you get pinging, then back off til it just disappears.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Southeastern , Illinois
351W H.O. timing issues
I can't seem to get the timing right on my '86 351W-HO. I believe I may have carbon buildup on the pistons, that is causing my problems. The old truck has 165,000 miles on it.
Is there cleaner, that could be injected into the carb( while running) that would remove carbon from the tops of the pistons?
The truck can be timed with a light, but ,at that setting, won't start when hot. If I set it to start hot, it doesn't have much powerand poor performance. I have changed the timing chain and have a rebuilt distributor.
I have plyed with the timing for several months, but, on occasion, have hard starting when hot. The battery,cables,starter ,solenoid and flex plate are new.
Is there cleaner, that could be injected into the carb( while running) that would remove carbon from the tops of the pistons?
The truck can be timed with a light, but ,at that setting, won't start when hot. If I set it to start hot, it doesn't have much powerand poor performance. I have changed the timing chain and have a rebuilt distributor.
I have plyed with the timing for several months, but, on occasion, have hard starting when hot. The battery,cables,starter ,solenoid and flex plate are new.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Isn't it true that if the distributor holddown screw has never ever been loosened, the ignition timing will never change?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FALSE,
The timing changes on its own as the parts wear.
I drove my truck with the 400 until the timing would not allow the engine to run anymore.
Timing Gears & Chain wear !
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FALSE,
The timing changes on its own as the parts wear.
I drove my truck with the 400 until the timing would not allow the engine to run anymore.
Timing Gears & Chain wear !
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 734
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, CA
Bdox, in the old days of cars with carbs, they had points instead of electronic ignitions. Anybody remember points? If you replaced the points it would alter the timing. You had to set the gap or dwell angle of the points and reset the timing, because it would off.
Ed G
Ed G
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,610
Likes: 2
From: Northwest, Arkansas
Points, now that is something I had tried to forget about. How many of you always carried a point file in the glovebox? How about always having a book of matches to set the points with? Man I really like electronic ignition. LOL
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Originally Posted by edgl
Bdox, in the old days of cars with carbs, they had points instead of electronic ignitions. Anybody remember points? If you replaced the points it would alter the timing. You had to set the gap or dwell angle of the points and reset the timing, because it would off.
Ed G
Ed G
But my question was strictly Ford electronic ignition. How does it detect TDC, not having a crank sensor?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
it uses a magnetic pickup inside the distributer. senses each time the metal fin passes in front of it
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Originally Posted by ford390gashog
it uses a magnetic pickup inside the distributer. senses each time the metal fin passes in front of it
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 910
Likes: 4
From: Maryland
Originally Posted by Bdox
Yes, but that does not provide and absolute zero because it moves when the distributor is turned. I seems to me it should sense crank position directly in order to provide a fail-safe TDC. Is there any such mechanism? I'm missing something here.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,585
Likes: 5,614
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
Originally Posted by WoodN1_76
I can't seem to get the timing right on my '86 351W-HO. I believe I may have carbon buildup on the pistons, that is causing my problems. The old truck has 165,000 miles on it.
Is there cleaner, that could be injected into the carb( while running) that would remove carbon from the tops of the pistons?
The truck can be timed with a light, but ,at that setting, won't start when hot. If I set it to start hot, it doesn't have much powerand poor performance. I have changed the timing chain and have a rebuilt distributor.
I have plyed with the timing for several months, but, on occasion, have hard starting when hot. The battery,cables,starter ,solenoid and flex plate are new.
Is there cleaner, that could be injected into the carb( while running) that would remove carbon from the tops of the pistons?
The truck can be timed with a light, but ,at that setting, won't start when hot. If I set it to start hot, it doesn't have much powerand poor performance. I have changed the timing chain and have a rebuilt distributor.
I have plyed with the timing for several months, but, on occasion, have hard starting when hot. The battery,cables,starter ,solenoid and flex plate are new.
is the battery big enough?? my 66 7 litre would not start hot for anything. put a bigger battery in it, and it now turns over as good at 220º as it does cold.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,585
Likes: 5,614
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
another thing that can change the timing is replacing the cap and rotor.
they are not all identicle, even though parts sellers will tell you they are.
i have seen timing changes of up to 4º just by changing the cap and rotor.
as far as points go, the best thing ever invented was the pertronix ignitor.
they are not all identicle, even though parts sellers will tell you they are.
i have seen timing changes of up to 4º just by changing the cap and rotor.
as far as points go, the best thing ever invented was the pertronix ignitor.
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