Put the top radiator hose on my truck last night and while it was warming up again to check for leaks I decided to get the timing light out to see where it would show up.

Hooked everything up and could not see any mark in the light. Ran a screw driver over the area on the balancer and still no line.

I then looked at the distributer and noticed that number one plug wire was coming out of the hole that is about 10 o'clock instead of the one at 8 o'clock where the Haynes manual says it should be.

Did not have time to hook the timing light up to number five plug wire to see if the mark showed up then.

Any ideas? Distributer shaft off by one plug? Worth it to reset or just use number five to set timing?

Thanks ahead.

 

Set it to #1 TDC on compression stroke! Much less complicated for future adventures! Take you time, Dbl. check you dist. wire positions related to corresponding plug. Plenty of opportunities to mix em up. Don't take any of them!

 

That is just it - I have not set anything - I just wanted to see where the mark would show up on the light and saw no timing line.

Chance the distributer is off by a tooth or two?

 

not sure how it is on a Ford, but on my Chevy the distributor can only be installed two ways, the wrong way being 180 degrees off because the oil pickup end of the distributor shaft had a flat head type slotted end, if that makes any sense..i'll probably be shot for this comment

 

My 1996 F150 I6 marks were on the Harmonic balancer, and you measured agains a mark on the timing cover. Cannot remember if it was a circle type marker, or an actual mark. But I do remeber having the same trouble as you, and I found out is was on the harmonic balancer. Might have to scrub some surface rust to tind them. Hope this helps, although yours may be different.

 

Actually, a narrow piece of sandpaper held up the HB while the engine is at idle is an easy way to clean things off...but needs to be done from the bottom - too many things spinning to try from the top.

 

 

http://www.fordfuelinjection.com/?p=71

 

on the 90 series Fule injection you do NOT use the marks on the timing cover...

you MUST use the timing tab UNDER the AIR pump...

 

This may be very true, seems familiar that I think about it now. Was the tab bolted on near the air pump? I think I remember what you are talking about.