I'm definitely on compression stroke, definitely pointed at number one


Little consern your not on the compression stroke, you keep saying that you are but seams you're basing that on rotor location only.

Then you stated "Turns out my timing marks are not correct".

How are you verifying number one is up on the compression stroke? Are you using your thumb?

If it won't start and run once you set the distributor in place right away, rarely do unless very lucky. Leave the hold down loose, have someone crank the motor while you slowly rotate the dizzy until you hit the sweet spot where it will run and idle, now use a timing light and set the base timing.

But you gotta be sure you have #1 up on the compression stroke, set the dizzy in rotor pointing at #1 on the cap first or everything is a big question mark after that point.
As suggested remove #1 spark plug, put your thumb or finger over the hole, jog the motor slowly until the pressure blows your finger off. Now take a long skinny screwdriver and find the top of the piston, hold it there and turn the motor by hand forward and back until you find exact tdc, then set your dizzy. You should see the notch in the balancer line up with the mark on indicator, if it doesn't your balancer has spun on itself and you must replace it.

 

6 in the engine / 2 in the glove box! We were just yankin chains.

 

ok, I ask that because I just had someone bring me their truck to work on, and swore it was a V8 6 cylinder...

 

Oh, they mean the one w/ a 5-speed automatic!

 

Well...the timing marks do not line up. I've got the truck at TDC COMPRESSION right now. I verify by eyebaling the rocker arms through the oil cap. Most forward arm is exhaust, next is intake. Oh and it's so bright/hot out here I can see the damn piston through the spark plug hole (and used my long bar).

My notch on the balancer was way past TDC mark before the piston got close to reaching the top. I'll take the serpentine belt off now and see if the balancer freespins.

Well it doesn't freespin, if you get it turning it's turning the pistons and everything. The balancer mark lines up with the center bolt on the oil pan when the truck is at TDC compression. Yea the mark just about points straight down to the ground

I know that's not good, but now that I have found TDC the truck should still fire up. Maybe it slipped, maybe this isn't the original and some numnuts didn't know how to line it up. I don't know. Now to go see where the rotor is.

 

SHE FIRED UP!! YEA BOY!! And ran better than I've ever heard her, but I cut her off. Now to check timing.

 

Do yourself a favor, & at least start at 12-13 BTDC! If you ping under load, retard a degree at a time. And Seafoam the combustion chambers to further "wake it up"! How to Seafoam an Eighth Gen F150 (1987-1991) - Ford F150 Forum - Community of Ford Truck Fans

 

How the hell am I supposed to time it correctly when my timing mark is off? I just realized that. The timing mark isn't accurate, so will the timing light be?

 

how far off, is off? 180?

 

Just about 180 yea. I'd say it's 180 degrees out to the 10 degree mark, not the TDC mark.

 

cut a piece of paper in a circle the same size as the balancer.......fold it in half, line up the fold with the mark, the other end of the fold will be 180 degrees from the mark.......make a new mark, and this should give you a starting point.....

is it possible to put a balancer on "upside down" IE: 180 degrees out, on a six ?

you can keep folding the paper, lining up the previous folds to give you the 90, and 270 marks as well, then just keep
going still to get up to all 360 marks if need be......not laser guided accuracy, but will get you in the ball park for where
your marks should actually be

 

Well I've just yanked this dizzy back out. The truck won't stay running long enough for me to time it. Starts everytime, but won't stay running long enough. I'll report back shortly

Finally idles below 1000 RPMS, but dies by the time I go to grab the light haha.

 

Before you install the distributor make sure the engine is at TDC/ Compression stroke for cylinder one. Drop the distributor so the rotor is aligned with that 1 molded into the cap. Note that the actually positioning of the distributor to the block is not important; we are aligning the rotor inside the distributor with that 1. Make sure there is enough room to rotate the distributor in the block 1/8th turn. You will need to rotate it to set the base timing. Not sure if your flywheel is negotable or non negotable during install.

 

When you turn the motor over by hand to the TDC mark on the balencer on the compression stroke , both valves closed on #1 , you should feel the compression with your finger with the plug out . When the piston is at the top of the cylinder it should be on the TDC mark , if not the balencer is bad or your keyway on the crank is missing ....Lew

 

I'm wondering if it's possible to flip the side facing out! A straight keyway may allow it. That wouldn't put you 180 out, but would surely put you in the wrong neck o' th' woods. There are other defining marks on the flywheel surface, darned if I can remember what they denote at the moment.