Can anyone tell me what the procedure is for timing the engine in terms of a distributor installation, timing mark on the harmonic balancer and the #1 piston on TDC of the power stroke. I have an 88 and I have been over and over on the timing and I can't seem to get the car started. It wants to start but won't. I have fuel and I have spark. I am firing this engine up for the first time after a rebuild. All help appreciated.
Thanks guys. :banghead:


[Modified by ciscokid, 5:52 AM 4/11/2003]

 

First bump the engine over with your finger in the #1 plug hole.
When you feel compression your close.
Continue to bump until the damper is on TDC
Then install the distributor when seated completely, with the rotor pointing at the #1 position on the dist cap.
Hope this helps......... good luck............. :cheers:

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Pretty much what mike said. From what you describe, it sounds like you are one tooth off. Put it back on #1 TDC, and pull the cap back off. You will probably be able to see which direction the rotor is off relative to the #1 tower. Also, is there any chance you have a plug wire reversed? Retrace the firing order, I've seen this one before. I had a friend once who did a rebuild on his Ford pickup, and when he tried to start it, it backfired out of the intake. He called me over, and by tracing the firing order, I found the problem. It was his first Ford, and he was setting it up like a chevy....left bank 1-3-5-7, right bank 2-4-6-8. Ford is left 1-2-3-4, right 5-6-7-8. A quick change of the wires, and it was running.

I know it's a bit late for this, but on your next rebuild....Prior to removing the distributor, set the engine on compression stroke of #1, move balancer to TDC. Remove the cap, and make a mark on the distributor shaft relative to the distributor body, and another one on the distributor body relative to the intake. Then, on reassembly, you just set the motor to #1 TDC and reinstall with the marks lined up, and assuming it was in time before the teardown, it will fire right up.

Good luck, and let us know when it's running... :cheers: You're almost there.

 

I have been through the same problem as you have. I usually just pull the distributor and don't really care where it was sitting. My problem was the wires were one off on the distributor cap (real dumbo mistake)

There is a single wire to the passenger side of the power brake booster that you have to unplug to set the timing. I think its brown in color. Do a search in the archives of this forum for 'set timing' Also somewhere (maybe in this forum?) there is also a writeup and picture on exactly how the pickup triggering wheel in the distributor is supposed to look when at top dead center in relationship to the pickup coil. Maybe someone else remembers it.

You can actually time the engine with a timing light even when it won't start. the engine will spin fast enough to see the marks. You could also take the plugs out to get it to spin faster.

 

Do what they said to get the rotor pointing at the #1 cylinder post. It actually should be sorta pointing at the #1 cylinder on the block too, just works out that way. Anyways once you have that done. You will still have to have someone out there to slightly turn the distributer to get it to fire. Have them keep advancing the distributer till it starts then have your timing light ready. It should fire right up if they keep indexing it a little at a time. :thumbs:

First triple check the wires. Its real easy to make a mistake, especially if you have not done it before. It will run extremely rough if a wire is off, becuase its firing the wrong cylinder.

Good luck :thumbs:

PS you may have to give it some gas to get it to fire up and also keep your foot on the gas a little to keep it running. You are gonna have to go through the steps to set your timing first, base 6*, your min idle, TPS ~.59V

After that it should purr like a kitten. :smash:


[Modified by ski_dwn_it, 8:51 AM 4/11/2003]


[Modified by ski_dwn_it, 8:52 AM 4/11/2003]