460 Balancer Timing Question
 

Does the 460 balancer have a tendency to move in relation to TDC like I’ve seen on the 351m/400 balancers? The reason I ask is I just got a new project with a 460 and I’m checking/adjusting timing and right now I’m seeing about 15 degrees initial and that seems a little high? The truck has Atomic EFI and a Flamethrower distributor and coil. It seems like it wants more timing so I bumped it to 18 degrees initial and did a test drive. No pinging and much better response and it still starts easy. I’m going to keep adjusting but I was just wondering if the markings on the balancer could be off and it may be less timing than what I’m reading off the marks.

FWIW, I've been running my '97 F350/460/ZF5 at 16-20 degrees for the last 100K or so. The only time it will ping is if I lug it...so I don't lug it. It is doggy at the factory 10 degrees. Better snap and gas mileage at the 16-20 degree setting. If I really worked it, I'd back off timing a bit.

Thanks. Mine will never pull anything but it is a 1979 F250 4wd with 35” tires so it’s loaded pretty good. I do think it has 4.30 gears which helps a lot. I’m going to try 2 more degrees and see how it goes.