My engine has been torn apart by someone else, kind of put back together, but not right, then I bought it.

Anyone know how I correct the timing? right now I have to time it off of the number 2 cylinder to get it to run decent. is it that someone bolted on the crankshaft pully 180 degrees off? or if I realign the distributor will that fix it?

 

Anyone know the answer to this?

 

Bring the #1 piston up to TDC on the compression stroke. Check and see were the rotor is pointing to on the distributor. It should be pointing near the the #1 spark plug. It is possible that the damper has slipped and is now showing it to be off time. If you have it on #1 compression stroke TDC it should line up with the mark on the damper. If it doesn't then the damper may have slipped.

 

If you are starting fresh and installing a Distributor in a new or rebuilt engine, then you will need to bring the number one cylinder up to top dead center (TDC) on the compression stroke. Note: Make sure you are on the compression stroke or you will be 180 degrees out on the timing. If necessary, have someone spin the engine over while holding your thumb over the number one spark plug hole until you feel it "blow", and this will be your compression stroke. Turn the engine by hand to line the timing mark up to 0 on the balancer. Once this is established, drop the distributor in the block (without the cap) and point the rotor toward the terminal you want to designate as number one. Once the distributor is installed and all clearances have been checked (see Topic 1), re-install the cap. Now, add the spark plug wires and follow the firing order starting with the terminal that was designated as number one. Leave the vacuum advance disconnected and plug the vacuum line. Your engine should now be ready to start. Crank the engine and adjust the distributor until it fires. Once the engine is runnning adjust the initial timing to about 10-12 degrees before top dead center (BTDC) while it is idleing at 750 rpms or less. Once initial timing is set, lock the distributor down and recheck the timing. Plug in the vacuum line and go for a road test. Make sure there is no pinging under hard acceleration. If pinging is detected, retard the timing until it is eliminated.

 

If you decide to get a new distributor, consider our custom curved Duraspark Distributor built with our new Full Length Oil Impregnated Bronze Bushing. The full length bushing improves timing stability and spark scatter. If stock appearance is not an issue, take a look at our one piece D.U.I. Distributor. Whether you choose the Duraspark or the D.U.I., we curve each on a distributor machine based on your engine combination. Please see them at:

http://www.performancedistributors.com/forddistributor.htm

Also, there is now an excellent installation article on the D.U.I. Distributor on the Ford-Trucks.com site at:


https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/idx/0/358/article/DUI_Ignition_Installation_In_A_Ford_351W_V8.html

 

WOW, that is alot of good info. will study it later and go step by step with it. Stock appearance is not an issue due to I will be putting this in an antique truck that I will use for pulling my camper. It just needs to work good and be dependable.