I've never set timing before, I just want to try and understand better what I'm up to. I just installed new gears and chain, I believe I have set the dissy correct, pointing at #1. I stuck a screwdriver in #1 while turning motor by hand, stopped it at its highest point after several passes. once timing light is hooked up and on, motor is running now, do I actually turn the whole top of dissy with cap and all? How do I deteremine how much, do I go by "feel", maybe some knocking will be heard? Sorry for long post, I find this a little confusing, my Haynes book isn't clear enough. Thanks, Blair :-X11

 

Do you have a timing light?

 

Yes sir, I do. I know how to hook it up and that is about it. I think it's a inductive type? Blair

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 14-Jun-02 AT 03:22 AM (EST)] First off, I stress here, "Be Safe"

No loose shirt sleeves, or shirt tails, keep your cords and your self clear of the fan blade.

Find a helper if you can.

Get under the truck and have a helper turn the motor over, find the timing marks on the crankshaft dampner. "Have good comuniction with your helper". Wire brush the dampner good or clean it some how where you can see the timing marks good. Take some white touch up paint (or white chalk or soap stone) and mark 12 degrees BTDC. The marks should be in 2 dergree increments. Hook up your timing (inductive clamp on the number 1 cylinder) light after you have warmed the motor good. With the motor off unplug the vacuum advance hose from the distibutor, now loosen your ditributor hold down bolt, leave it a little loose then move the distributor just enough to see that it is free. Then start your engine and from the top side, with the timing light aimed at your timing pointer, (do this on the pass. side) turn the distibutor what ever direction it takes to bring the mark you made on the dampner in alingnment with the pointer. Clockwise advances the timing, counterclockwise retards it. Stop the engine. Now tighten the bolt on the distibutor and re-check the timing again. Plug your vacuum hose back on to the vacuum advance diaphram. Drive your vehicle and listen for any spark knocking, if there is none you may try bumping up the timing another 2 degrees. If it spark knocks at 12 back it down 2 degrees. You would hear this upon initial acceleration or climbing a grade.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the instructions. You have put it in perfect laymans terms for me, the book was too confusing for me being a beginner. Thanks again, Blair

 

Blair ,In case none of us are aroud ,have a look at this site.


[link:www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/03/timing/index.shtml|Engine Ignition Timing|]

[font color=red]Dennis

Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font]


[link:www.ford-trucks.com/guidelines.html|FTEModerator]

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Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
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[font color=blue]78 F-150 429CJ,Silver,Explorer Pkg.
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Thanks Dennis, I printed it, and is turning out to be very informative and explains it really well for someone like me. :-X11 Thanks again, Blair

 

 

Holy cow, Dennis! Just what I needed! I've been looking for a tech article on how to recurve a ditributor for years! Thanks buddy!
Mark

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Ford started it; Ford will finish it!