Guys - I've got an older F150 with the 300 c.i. straight six in front of a trusty NP435 four speed. Oil pressure is great and I'm sure compression is good also. Thing is, she bogs down trying to get up a hill. Now, it could be there's not enough fuel pressure since I'm using the small, red Edelbrock "clicky clacky" for fuel delivery, into a Carter YF knock-off. Could also be timing. Should I try advancing or retarding the spark - and which way do I twist the dist for either? Thanks so much!
Clockwise for advance…..borrow a timing light as a little twist goes a long way. It would be easy if you had a fuel pressure gauge to see exactly what the pressure is. Going uphill in high gear would put the most demand on a borderline fuel pump, line, filter…..
looks like they rotate clockwise, so you'd turn the distributor housing counterclockwise to advance it...till it pings...then go back the other way. But might want to get a timing light involved at some point. And check the other things that make it not want to go up hills. There are lots of them.
okay, I am not the most mechanically inclined guys but I have one of those engines in my model T. yes make sure the screw in fuel filter at the carb is clean and DON'T strip it. those engines don't take a lot of fuel pressure, maybe 8 or 9 psi? I don't know what year engine you have but the later ones are a how should we say " managed" and advancing the timing is a little harder. if it is the regular Duraspark II system, you are good to go. if it is a stock engine with a stock cam, one of the best upgrades is to install a set of chevy straight six rockers. the increased rocker ratio will give a larger lift and duration to the valve timing and move the power band up in the rpm range. just make sure that the head has the right size rocker studs for the swap. Ford had two sizes on the 300.
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