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Timing question

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Old Oct 24, 2009 | 10:37 PM
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94XLT5.0's Avatar
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Timing question

OK so tomorrow I am going to advance my timing to 12 degrees. I have a 1994 F150 w/ 302 auto transmission. Just wondering what my steps to doing this should be. I have a manual, but its been wrong in the past so.. wanting to hear from people who have done it.
thanks in advance
 
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Old Oct 25, 2009 | 05:12 AM
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First i would clean the timing marks on the balencer so you can see them . Hook the timing light to the #1 plug wire , locate & remove spout , start & check timing at idle , lossen dist hold down bolt , turn dist till its at 12 deg before TDC , tighten bolt , replace spout.... Lew
 
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Old Oct 25, 2009 | 05:18 AM
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do what lew says, but before hooking up the timing light go for a 10 minute ride to be sure the truck is up to operating temp.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2009 | 07:53 AM
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OK sounds good. Hopefully I can find a pic in the manual on what the sprout looks like. And initially when I check the timing w/o the sprout hooked up it should be at 10 degrees. And that would be my base timing.

I am gonna go and give it a shot later today, hopefully if I get time.

thanks for all ya'lls help.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2009 | 10:59 AM
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The spout should be below the brake booster , its a grey plug that you just pull out of the end of the conector ... You can play around with the timing , sometimes you can go as far as 14 deg if it dosn't ping . Should help with performance.... Lew
 
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Old Oct 26, 2009 | 04:45 PM
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Yeah I finally found the spout connector (well my dad did, but I will take credit for leaning on the truck)lol. Went to put the timing light on and the damn timing light broke. Whats funny is its never even been used. Some part that is supposed to clamp to the plug wire just fell off and we couldn't find it. Anyways, I ended up just fixing my horn, tightening up some bolts and checking fluids and hoses and what not. When I find a timing light to borrow or buy one, I am gonna mess with it again. What exactly does advancing the time do, just basically make it peppier.
 
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Old Oct 26, 2009 | 05:25 PM
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Yes it will help in performance & fuel mileage , and its free !! ... Lew
 
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Old Oct 26, 2009 | 07:06 PM
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Advancing the timing will also make the truck run a bit hotter. I was running too coo so I just advanced my timing on my 351 from 8 to 15. Turns out the previous owner had problems with it running too hot. Odd. Before that I put it from 8 to 11 and the 3* certainly was noticeable.
 
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