Hi Guys. Quick question Trying to time a Ford 390 FE in a 63 Ford Galaxie 500. Engine has not been started in 40 years. No 1 is on TDC. No matter how many teeth i skip between distributer and cam, its keeps ending up too advanced or too retard. (Rotor ****on between cap posts, or even a full post out). Harmonic balancer has not moved. 100% sure that I'm on TDC. Any idea on the solution? Cheers
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Is the oil pump shaft not allowing it to drop down where you want it? Sometimes the oil pump shaft won't allow the distributor to drop down if it's not lined up with the hex drive on the bottom of the distributor shaft. Try installing it with the rotor pointed to #1. If the distributor won't drop down all the way, turn the engine over until it drops down then bump the engine around until your timing marks line up and check the rotor position. No need to go to some other site for this it's really not that difficult.
You are correct. It's not going down where I need it to go. By rotating the engine, this won't turn the hex drive on the pump will it? The oil pump is driven by the distributer? I also noticed that the hex drive moves about in the slot? Many thanks for the quick reply. Cheers. Tim
Have you checked the point dwell? The engine may run with the dwell way off, which directly affects timing. Also, make sure the mechanical advance moves free and not stuck, along with disconnecting the vacuum line.
Yes , the distributor drives the oil pump. On a SBC its a simple matter to turn the oil pump w/ a long screwdriver, but you dont have that option. You could do it if you had an old distributor shaft without the gear. Maybe able to get to it with a long 1/4 drive extension and the right socket. I think its 5/16, but I may be wrong. Just look at the bottom of your distributor shaft. Good Luck
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