Been a lurker for some time here and gotta say this is one cool site. I've seen some threads here asking to look up a part in the old PAW catalog. I'm hoping if someone still has one on the shelf from around 2000 if they could look up a BBF timing chain set # 509? Trying to figure out if this is an early straight up set or the later 8 degree retarded.
Ford started using 8 degree retarded timing gears in 1972 , 429 and 460 for emissions, I believe the 460 camshaft had revised valve timing also, but 429 did not. I have an old PAW catalog at the shop, I will check it tomorrow for the info on the 509 and post what I find.
OK I checked a 1995 PAW catalog and it listed the 509 as 68-91 429-460not very specific, but the back side of that page was for Milodon double roller sets and the Ford listings matched the PAW Ford listings except for starting with a 1 and having an an extra 0 in the middle ex PAW was 509 Milodon was 15009 it was like that for all the listings and for the Milodon 15009 it specified 72-78 so its not looking good. Look at the crank gear if the dot lines up with the crank keyway its straight up if its offset its retarded.On a straight up set on a BBF the crank keyway the crank gear dot, cam gear dot and cam gear dowel hole will all line up. If not its not a straight up set.
Gotta go with @Johnny Gee on this. When dealing with a block that could easily have been machined so the cam and crank aren't spaced as far, a timing set (your question) and the alignment of both the cam and the crank, there is enough to question what the actual number is, especially when there was a mid production change. If you have this old stock for sale and a buyer is asking, I'd explain that they shouldn't take what's stamped on the box either.
Page 364, PAW roller ,3-key way chain ,#PAW-509. 1972-1987. $39.95. exactly the the years Ford used the 8 degree retard gear. Milodon #MIL 15009 1972-78. Ford sets of that era are listed as 1968-71 TDC. or std. 8 degree, factory retard., 1972 on. Consult your cam supplier for gear to use .
Sorry for the delay getting back. When I built this 460 24 years ago I knew much less about important details like this than I do these days. It has and still is a great running combo. Thank you all for looking into this for me.
Oh they'll run just fine with the retarded timing set just with 25 to 30 hp less than it would have with a straight up set, now if by any chance the camshaft had 8 degrees of advance ground into it then they would offset each other.
The Jalopy Journal
