changed distributor on a 95 f150 5.0 ,when the distributor was removed my 2 year old son turned the key. can anyone tell me the process of finding tdc and setting base timing ? please help pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

Yeah, it is easy.

1. take the distributer cap off so you can see the rotor.

2. Take plug number 1 out

3. plug/cover the plug hole with your finger, but DONT PUT YOUR FINGER IN THE HOLE!!!!

4. Have someone crank the motor. When the cylinder is on it's compression stroke, it will generate pressure and go pzzzt. When it goes PZZZT look at the position of the rotor.

5. Now, when you re-install the cap, make sure/move the number 1 plug wire to where where the rotor was on it's compression stroke. and make sure the rest of the wires are in the correct order. This should get you close enough to start up and time your motor.

 

can you please explain how to do it when the distributor was removed,the way i attempted to do it was with the distributor removed cranked the engine with my finger over the no1 plug hole when i felt compression i installed the distributor with the rotor pointing to the no 1 plug hole,was this wrong?i didnt understand what you meant when you said to install the no 1 wire towards the rotor on its compression stroke.

 

i really need help quick. i had removed the distributor to replace (bad p[ickup wires) and my 2 year old accidentally turned the key when the dist was not in .someone was a great help and explained how to find tdc with the distributor installed, is it the same procedure? and when i do find tdc and the rotor is pointing in whatever position do i then install the number one wire over the rotor and then install the remaining wires accordingly?please help i need to get this truck going ,im commuting 80 miles a day in my girls f350 sd v10.its killing me on gas

 

Use your finger (I prefer using a wadded up paper napkin) and rotate the crank until you feel pressure (or the napkin pops out) at the spark plug hole for the #1 cylinder, and check your timing marks. The line on the balancer will be close to your timing pointer. Rotate the crank by hand until the mark on the balancer lines up with the 10 degree advanced mark on the pointer.

Install the distributor so that when it's flush with the block, the rotor is pointing towards the #1 spark plug wire on the cap. If it's not perfect, you can rotate the distributor, or move the wires on the cap, until it is. Once it's lined up, tighten the distributor hold down, put the cap on, and make sure the firing order is correct.

Should start right up. Check and adjust the timing as necessary.

 

your help was great,but can you tell me the sequence of lines on the marker? which way retards which way advances and the coresponding numbers?

 

Your degree marks will either be on the pointer, or on the balancer. The older 302's had the degrees on the balancer, but yours may have them on the pointer. Either way, find them and clean them off. Locate the mark that says "0". If the degree marks are on the balancer, the degrees to the right of "0" are advanced, and to the left are retarded. If your marks are on the pointer, it's the opposite.

If your marks are on the balancer, you want to mark (use liquid paper) the line that says "10" that is to the right of the zero mark. Then mark the line on the pointer with liquid paper, too. If your marks are on the pointer, you want to mark the line that says "10" that is to the left of the zero mark, and then mark the line on the balancer with liquid paper. This will make it easier to set the timing with a timing light.