Other than purhcasing repair manuals, does anyone know of any good web sites (w/ diagrams) that illustrate how to adjust the timing.

I have an 86 F-150, 5.8L 351, w/ 4 barrel carb.

Thanks for any help. -

 

What exactly do you want to know?

 

I'm looking to find out what tools I need and how exactly to adjust the timing.

I know the factory setting should be 12 degress, top dead center, I would like to know how to check it, and adjust it if needed.


While I consider myself, a handyman and can perform basic automotive tasks, I'm working on learning the intricacies. I bought the truck last year, 1) b/c i bought a house and needed a truck, and 2) as a project truck to work on.

It's actually in great shape and the engine has already had some work done on it, including a head job, new cams, new lifters, new oil pump, etc.. It's a strong engine and runs well.

 

You could take a piston stop, unscrew the number one cylinder plug wire. (Facing engine, the first one on the left side.) It is easier to rotate the engine if you take all the plugs out. If unsure mark all the plug wires before you take them off. The firing order is 1 3 7 2 6 5 4 8 facing engine the cylinders are numbered, left front to back 1 2 3 4 right side front to back 5 6 7 8.

stick your finger in the #1 cylinder spark plug hole, and rotate engine by hand clockwise until you feel air coming out, stop, install piston stop, rotate engine slowly, until you feel it hit the stop, find a point on your pointer for reference, now mark your damper with something visible, remove piston stop, rotate your engine clockwise until it begins to go back down, reinstall piston stop, now slowly rotate the engine counter clockwise and bring the piston back up until it stops, using the same reference point on the pointer make a mark on the damper, remove piston stop, know take your first mark and the second mark and find a half way point make a mark, now rotate engine until this mid way mark is aligned with your reference point on the pointer. Find the TDC mark on your damper, make a mark on the pointer where tdc is on the damper, this is the reference point you will use for now on, your at tdc, now rotate engine until your desired timing mark 8 or 12 BTDC is in front of the last mark you made on the pointer. Now find the number 1 cylinder wire and follow it to the distributor, make a mark down the center of the #1 wire terminal on the cap, down to the lower cap, now remove the upper cap, loosen the hold down bolt at the base of the distributor, rotate the distributor until the rotor is pointing at the mark you made on the lower cap, tighten bolt, reinstall, upper cap, reinstall plugs and wires, your initial timing is set. Now get a timing light with a dail back, and you can check your total timing. This is probably confusing but I tried. Good luck with your project.

 

You advice is actually really good and really easy to follow, and it will come in handy

A piston stop like this one?
http://www.shopcranecams.com/craneca...*toptopde.html

> find a point on your pointer for reference, now mark your damper with something visible

1) What's a pointer?
2) What's a damper?
3) What's the best thing to use for marking it?

I'll print it out, use it tonight or tomorrow, and also file it for future reference.

A couple more quick questions.

4) How exactly does the timing light work.

Also, the distributor was replaced just befor I purchased the truck. So the timing is probably right on the mark.

5)What if I want to drop the timing about 6 degrees. I need to drop it about 6 degrees temporarily for a special purpose, then bring it back up to the current timing. What's the best way to do that??

Where does the timing light come in on this task of dropping the timing, and then bringing it back to normal later on.

I'm sorry to sound like such a moron, but I'm pretty new to auto mechanics (I'm only 25), but have always been fascinated with cars and have a couple of project cars in mind for the future. I need to learn this stuff sometime.

Thanks for your patience and help. I really appreciate it.

 

A pointer is the little thing attached to the block, that points to the damper markings.

A damper is the big thing behind the large pulley at the bottom of the engine, it has the timing marks on it.

You can use anything to mark it, some use finger nail polish, but anything will work. I used acrylic paint, put some on my finger and rubbed it into the grooved timing marks, I used white and now they show up very well. When finding tdc as I mentioned use different colors so you don't get lost trying to figure out which mark was the last or correct one.

Actually the timing light is the first thing if I were you to do. If someone told you that the timing was at 12 then go that route first. YOU have four wires off the timing light, on is a black clamp hook it to the - side of battery or ground, then a red clamp hook it to the positive side of the battery, then you will have a large clip or box, attach it to the number one plug wire. Remove the vacuum line to the vacuum advance canister on the distributor, plug the vacuum line or put a cap on the carburator were the vacuum line runs too. Start engine, point light at the damper, pull the trigger, you should see a flash see if the 12 coincides with a mark on the pointer, if it does then your set. Should you wanna drop the timing, loosen the bolt holding the distributor, have someone start the engine, point the timing light pull the trigger, rotate the distributor until the flash conincide with the timing setting you want and the timing pointer.

Best bet that I can think of, get a haynes manual on your vehicle.

Your link didn't take me anywere so I dunno, what you where showing me.

If the motor is running correctly, you might wanna leave it at whatever the timing was set at before, they probably tuned the advance and carb for that setting. Good luck

 

Hey man, thanks for all your help, you are a great resource. I went to buy a Hayne's manual on saturday, but all parts stores within decent driving distance were out.

After not finding one, I thought I would get on-line today and see what info I could come up with. I came across this site, a great resource and you have been an awesome help.

I'll try to locate one tonight.

>Should you wanna drop the timing, loosen the bolt holding the distributor, have someone start the engine, point the timing light pull the trigger, rotate the distributor until the flash conincide with the timing setting you want and the timing pointer.

I'm supposed to turn the engine off before doing this right? then loosen the bolt, turn, then tighten, start the engine again, check timing with light, and repeat as many times as necessary until I reach the desired timing?

 

Yeah loosen the distributor and hook up timing light with the engine off. Be sure the timing light wires are away from the fan and belts. Good luck, there are probably websites with visuals, but I do not know of any off the top of my head. Good luck once again, let us know how it goes, later

 

YOu can mark the timing you want with something and it will help it show up, when it flashes, you'll know what I mean when you try it. Hook up the timing light and point it at the damper, before you do anything, that way you can get a feel for what is going on, later