What is the timing setting for my 1985 302 FI 5.0? I set it at 0 and it is not correct at all for some reason. Runs like crap/ barely runs. Is it 10 degrees BTDC? Thanks.

 

On my '86 the info is on a sticker with the vacuum routing etc. under the hood over the radiator.
Note my truck is set up for CA emissions and AOD.

Warm engine and turn off.
Put tranny in neutral with parking brake set
Disconnect SPOUT connection.
Start engine
Set timing 10 deg. BTDC.
Reconnect SPOUT.

Note the SPOUT is one of the wires going to the distributor TFI module. There is a single wire connector for the SPOUT near the distributor.

 

I think you are on the money. The Haynes doesn't even come close to mentioning this. I will try tomorrow. THANKS.

 

I set accordingly. Just to confirm, when we say set timing to 10 degrees to BTDC we are setting the harmonic balancer scaling to 10 degrees BTDC and the rotor pointing to 1 plug on the cap, correct? Or.........an I looking to set harmonic balancer scale to 0 TDC and the rotor set to what would be 10 degrees before TDC on the cap? I set scale to 10 BTDC and had rotor pointing directly to 1 plug on dist cap. Thanks.

 

Can't quite follow what you are asking?
The rotor/cap is fixed and can't be adjusted. Assuming the distributor is correctly installed.
To set the timing with a timing light you loosen the distributor hold down bolt and turn the whole distributor until the timing marks are at 10 BTDC.

 

Ok. Suppose for the sake of my question that you just put in a new engine, but it had no distributor so you buy a new one. Now......Setting timing to put it in correctly would go like this right.

1. Set HARMONIC BALANCER SCALE to 0 TDC OR 10 BTDC (which is it)?
2. When drop in distributor should ROTOR be pointing to plug 1 OR 10 degrees BEFORE it hits plug 1 (which is it)???

In other words.....10 degrees BTDC means set harmonic balancer scale to 10 BTDC and drop in distributor or should HARMONIC BALANCER SCALE be at 0 TDC and just the rotor pointing to 10 degrees before it would point to 1?

Hope this clears up my question.

 

From 86 shop manual:

http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...6F150/DIST.jpg

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Thanks Klricks, but that document assumes that you know where the old distributor was. Pretend that I bought a new one on a new engine. How do you put it in is the question. I am thinking that "set timing to 10 degrees BTDC" means put cylinder 1 at 0 TDC and set rotor/distributor pointing to 10 degrees BTDC (by using the scale on the harmonic balancer? I did not do it this way....I set harmonic balancer to 10 BTDC and dropped in distributor and set rotor pointing to cyl 1.

 

I think you are making this harder than it is.
They have you mark the position of the #1 terminal on the base for convenience so that later on when you install the distributor you know where the #1 cyl is. (rotor pointing to #1). If not you would have to pop the cap back on and figure it out from the '1' mark on the cap, then pull the cap back off etc.

The only thing you have to worry about is if the engine is rotated to the top of the #1 cyl compression stroke - installation Step 1 and Step 2 align the timing marks.

 

I really appreciate your help here, but I still am not clear. I understand regarding all markings. I have already marked the inside of the dist where 1 is based on the cap location of the "1." My question is.........

1. Set cylinder 1 on TDC on compression stroke, or 10 BTDC on compression stroke (BEFORE PLACING DIST BACK IN)- WHICH IS IT? This is a question I have.

2. When you place distributor back in, rotor should point to plug wire 1 OR 10 degrees before wire 1? WHICH IS IT? This is a question I have.

If I can have these 2 questions answered, I will be in fine shape. Again, I really appreciate your help I am probably on a different page.