70mustangsal 10 Report post Posted February 19, 2009 i have installed a new intake, carb, coil, plugs and wires on my 351. the timing is way off. can i go to tdc and drop in the dist. and line the #1 wire up with the rotor as a starting point? Thanks for any input.:helpsmilie: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dennyb68 11 Report post Posted February 19, 2009 Have the rotor point to #1 on the cap after you find TDC on #1 as you drop it in and that will be close. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cupid 10 Report post Posted February 19, 2009 ^^Ditto. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
69BossMach1 10 Report post Posted February 19, 2009 ...provided that you are on the intake stroke and not the exhaust stroke.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
70mustangsal 10 Report post Posted February 19, 2009 what is the easiest way to tell if i am on the intake or exhaust stroke? Thanks for the help.:huh: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
69BossMach1 10 Report post Posted February 19, 2009 take off the pass side valve cover, rotate engine by hand, watch for intake valve to operate, and the TDC after intake closes is the one to set the distributor to. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
70mustangsal 10 Report post Posted February 19, 2009 valve cover is off. looking from the front of the engine. the vale spring is on the left side and the push rod is on the right. when the spring is compressed is that the compression stroke or the exhuast? thanks for your time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
69BossMach1 10 Report post Posted February 19, 2009 ok very front valve on the passanger side is the exhaust valve for #1 cylinder, the second valve from the front is the intake valve for the #1 cylinder. Thats the one you need to watch. Rotate the engine until the intake valve opens (compresses the spring) and then closes (uncompresses the spring). Just after it closes, you should have to turn the engine almost a half a turn or so to get to TDC. line up your marks on the balancer to about 4 degrees BTDC and drop in the distributor with th e rotor pointing to the #1 mark, and wire your plugs accordingly. Should fire right up and you'll need to fine tune the timing at idle, with the vacuum hose removed from the distributor and plugged so it doesn't leak. Set the timing to 8 degrees BTDC at idle and you should be good to go. Make sure you re-hook up the vacuum line after you are done timing the engine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
70mustangsal 10 Report post Posted February 19, 2009 just picked up an msd ready to run dist. (hope there not lying). i want to get rid of the pionts. hope that wont make it more difficult to set the timing. I owe you one for all your help. I will try to time this thing now. Just realized i have the wrong wires (not HEI). Is anything ever easy? not sure what to do now.\ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
