simply cannot find timing marks

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Jan 1, 2006 | 10:17 AM

datchew

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simply cannot find timing marks

1980 f100 w/300 I-6 standard.

I want to check the timing but I cannot find where to shine the timing gun.
I have the 1980 ford shop manual for the engine, but it doesn't tell me where it is. Did some searching and read something about them being under the alternator on the passenger side, but cannot seem to see it.

Could anyone give me some tips?
Also, to advance/retard the timing, can I just loosen something and rotate the distributor cap? I've done timing on old vw beetles and motorcycles, and would assume this is the same.

Please advise. Just not sure where to look.

Jan 1, 2006 | 02:06 PM

srercrcr

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You should get more help on this forum. If not do a search, cause there's been alot of posts about the timing marks.

Get under the front and locate the lowermost pulley...that's the harmonic balancer.
There's a line or a notch in that balancer. If not, the search will give you some ideas.
Now look for a little 2" plate on the passenger side that will have some lines on it. Your manual should have specs and probably a pic of that plate. The notch lines up with those lines. With the timing light pickup on the #1 plug wire, it will flash when the plug fires. So by turning the distributor (just like the VW) you'll change which line it fires at.
Note: Some 300s have timing marks molded into the front stamped steel cover...ignore them.

Jan 1, 2006 | 06:18 PM

Bdox

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From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada

The timing scale is cast into the front cover, driver's side. The harmonic balancer with the mark is behind the pully at the front of the crankshaft.

Jan 2, 2006 | 04:44 PM

datchew

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thanks guys.
Will look closer and report back if I DON'T find anything.
Sounds just like the beetle. the pulley attached to the crankshaft.

hmmmm.... just didn't see it there, but I'll make sure and look again. maybe a little grime is obscuring it from my view.

Thanks much. Gonna try to delete the other thread that got moved here from the 1980-86 truck forum.

Jan 3, 2006 | 11:42 AM

Oscar Meier

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The timing scale is on the passenger side - don't use the one on the drivers side.

Jan 3, 2006 | 09:36 PM

datchew

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Ok. Cleaned away some grime and I think I found it.
Looks like the edge of a wood saw (kind of) and rounded right?

It'll take some cleaning before I can read it, but I'm pretty sure I saw some marks on there. Does that sound like it? Funny, i have the 1980 shop manual, and though it goes into detail about some things, there's not a lick in it about setting the timing.

How many degrees is each notch? I'm supposed to be 6* BTDC according to the decal under the hood.

Jan 4, 2006 | 12:30 AM

stractor

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From: Saddle Brook United State

That is it, a saw toothed plate bolted to the timing cover. The numbers usually run in 2s --0-2-4-6-8 degrees and so on. On the later engines there is a large < at 10 Degrees(the normal setting for most 300) yours being earlier may not have the large cutout. The timing mark on the vibration damper is only a THIN scribed line, no bigger than a pencil line. You will most likely have to clean the outer edge of the damper really well to find it, when you do mark it with something White. Then have at it with your timing light, while keeping your fingers out of the fan and belts. I remarked my damper with another timing mark to use the cast in timing marks on the drivers side--much easier to see and not as dangerous.

stractor