Ok, I'll start with what my truck is. 85 F150 1bbl. I've been on a constant quest to find the missing power in my truck. Figured out my timing was way off. So I got a timing light and got busy.

Questions are...

On the plate bolted to the cover there are scribe lines with numbers. Going from left to right they read higher to lower and back up. On the right side there is a thing that looks like a sight hole where you would guesstimate that the second line marked 10 would be. Someone at work told me that the hole is something to do with a different type of tool used to check timing. Anyone know which line I use to get 10btdc?

When I first put the light on it the mark I had put on the notch of the pulley with a paint pen was almost 2 inches off the whole plate. I turned the dist. counterclockwise(advance?) until it was in line with that sight hole thing. I stopped there because I had turned the distributer a lot to get it to there. Well, it idled better and ran smoother so I figured I'd try it right there. I adjusted idle mixture and speed to get the right idle. When I was done I put the light back on it to make sure the distributer had not moved because I forgot to tighten it back up.

Well, loe and behold the notch on the pulley moved to line up with the 10 I had marked with a paint pen on the plate where as before it was under the sight hole. Confusing to me, maybe some of you know better of what happened?

I did take it out on the road to see how it ran. Had better pickup than before I set the timing. And could not get it to ping.

 

Did ya disconnect the vacuum advance from the dizzy and plug the hose before timing?

 

It doesnt have a vacuum advance. Its electric I guess?

 

Than ya have to disconnect the spout connector. And that is getting to new school for me.

 

I'm still learning a lot. By the spout connector I recon you mean the wires going into it?

 

Also, seems like I have the timing where it needs to be, but its kinda hard to start. Not that it cranks over and over and doesnt fire. Turn the key over and it sometimes cranks real slow. I've heard this could be the timing?

 

Yes timing for sure. Why is no one that knows this stuff jumping in?

 

Hoping everyone is asleep and I get all kinds of helpful knowledge in the morning. Got this thing so close to running like it should I think. Trying to get it running at its best power and gas mileage wise before the end of the month when me and the wife pull a camper 10-12 hours with it.

I guess the good news is that I can pull it now. Before it took everything to keep it at the speed limit going up a small hill with no load.

 

You will git er as soon as the late model guy's jump in.

 

Kinda scary when an 85 is called a late model!!! Just sold my 03 Lightning about three weeks ago, so trying to get this 85 to where I can start it and drive it where ever and not worry about breaking down. Sooo nice to be out from under payments of a new vehicle.

 

My 84 through 88 Rangers all have Dizzys. So has my 90 W250 and the 93 Olds. Got an early 90's f350 down in the yard I need ta look at. Thought it had a Dizzy too.

 

this is the same thing im dealing with and was hoping i could get some answers from replys to your ?

 

I have a 85 300 I6. The stock timing is set by the computer. The computer is fed by multi sensors which all have to work in unison. That might be a bit to ask from a 22 year old rig. Good luck with all the sensors and wiring. The carb is even set by the computer, read feed back carb. If you can't get the Ford to run right with the computer, you can always go old school and go back to a dizzy with a vacumn advance and a carb that is not wired to the computer. See EEC and 1bbl to points and 2bbl post.

 

My carb is not a feedback. Not sure if it was switched or came like that. It has no wires going into it. So a dizzy with vacuum advance is that something I might find at a salvage yard? Also what is involved with the vacuum advance? Do you have to set the advance somehow?

 

Back up a model year or two and obtain a Duraspark II dizzy and ignition box...common junkyard stuff. Also do a search on this forum, here http://gofastforless.com/ and here http://fordsix.com/forum/ and you should find a ton of info on the DSII and ignition upgrades,