I am in the process of replacing heads, timing gears and chains. When I removed the pulley from the crank, I accidentaly moved the motor to a few degrees BTDC. Now I have the chain cover off and am about to remove the chains. My question is, how do I get the motor back to TDC at this point. I have never taken a motor, let alone a modular motor apart this far before, and I'm afraid to set the timing incorectly. I have a hanes manual which discuses the markings on the chains and the new gears, but I'm still nervous. It also explains the "special" ford cam tool, all the goodies. I just can't find anything on setting the motor to TDC at this point of the game. Any help would be MUCH appreciated. Thankyou.

 

Hi 88

You now know why you have to secure crank so it cant move....

As i recall..you have to turn the crank...with a compression guage installed in #1cyl. Turning clockwise... lining up O on the damper scale(timing marks) opposite pointer....remembering your setting on the comp. not the exhaust stroke...hence the guage.

Im gonna stop here...because i think theres more involved...you really should get an up to date manuel...also be aware there is a set torque sequence for those alumn. heads.

Remembering...if you dont get TDC right...check out price of new pistons just incase.

Maybe someone here can give up to date "how to" info. on your engine.

Good luck....OT

 

Easiest way to find TDC on #1 is to pull the plug, and insert a wadded up paper napkin, tightly. Rotate the engine by hand until the napkin pops out. You are now very close to TDC. next, place a long pencil into the spark plug hole, so that it rests on the piston. Rock the engine back and forth (clockwise/counterclockwise) while watching the pencil. Turning one direction will make the pencil rise. Turn it that way until the pencil stops moving. You are now at TDC.

Take care,
-Chris

 

Well

I have the cyl heads off. I can now see TDC, just have to rotate the engine a hair. By the way. How do I go about removing the carbon deposits on the pistons? Thanx for your help.

 

Here's a pic of the block in the bay.

 

Note the #1 piston is completely in the top position twice---Once is when it is on the compression stroke and then again on the exhaust stroke hence there are four strokes --intake,compression,power and exhaust--- Just beause the piston is completely up doesn't mean TDC, it may be up on exhaust stroke.-----------TDC refers to #1 piston up completely on compression stroke. When the cams and chains are timed properly with the crank, TDC occurs when #1 piston is up completely and both intake and exhaust valve on #1 cylinder are closed------------------------------If #1 piston is up completely and the exhaust valve for that cylinder is open, You are on the exhaust cycle and not TDC

 

if the cylinder heads are off then just rotate the #1 cyl all the way up. Without the heads on there is no compression stroke or exhaust stroke. In older engines where the cam was in the block it did matter but in overhead cams it doesn't matter. The chains are removed and so is the timing.

 

Cool. Thanks a lot folks. I'll be putting it all back together next weekend. Plus I'm replacing the headers with some JBA ceramics. Wish me luck. I'm gonna need all I can get.