I recently bought a 90 Super Duty rollback with 460 and 5 speed. It starts hard (like out of time). I looked for the spout connector and couldn't find it but found 2 red/black wires stripped and twisted together over by the left fender area. I assume that this is where the spout should be. I disconnected that and checked the timing and it is set at 20+ where is supposed to be 10. I reconnected those wires and nothing changed. Also you can rev it up and nothing changes. I'm guessing something is wrong and the previous owner just picked a setting for the timing to make up for it. It starts hard and seems underpowered. Being at 20 timing all the time with no advance is probably the issue. Question is....Is my computer bad? Or is the timing advance done by the ignition module, or in the distributor? Does that spout connector plug actually do anything, like resistance, or does having those wires connected do the same thing? I will go the a salvage yard Monday and see if I can find a spout connector to put back in my harness, just in case. I don't want to replace a computer, (if that's what I need) and possibly burn it out by having something missing or wired wrong. Looks like somebody has been messing with the wiring in the truck. I have also heard of part stores "reflashing" the computer....what is this and does it work? Any help apprecieated. Thanks,,,

 

Do you think the previous owner had a high-lobe cam installed and didn't get the proper valve springs?
Yeah, I'd bet it's the timing issue, but makes no sense why the wiring and such is FUBARed

Your thread would probably do better in the 1990 truck forum.

BTW - welcome to FTE!

 

get a mallory unlite desributer and solve all uor probles jusd make sure the coil is wired propely,,,12 volts when cranking, 8 volts for running,,for a at least 20 hpgain,,replase the cam gears with pre 1970s