Engine timing

Tiny
DAVIDCHANEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1976 FORD F-100
I installed a roller chain on my ford 400cid engine.I installed the crankshaft sprocket in the 4 degree advanced position. My question is do I install the distributor in this position or do I install it at top dead center position?
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 AT 9:36 AM

2 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Top dead center

Roy
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Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 AT 5:52 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,741 POSTS
Doesn't matter. You're going to have to adjust ignition timing anyway later by turning the distributor.

I'm not clear on the 4 degrees thing. That modification is normally done at the camshaft sprocket with an offset dowel pin, key way, or offset bolt holes. If the crankshaft sprocket is advanced four degrees on the crankshaft, that will put the camshaft two degrees advanced which is a lot. That is going to greatly increase the torque on the high end. That's used for police cars that need to go from 60 to 90 mph very quickly. The trade-off is it's going to be real doggy on the low end and act like a small V-6. Motor home engines use camshafts that are retarded about one degree to give them lots of low-end torque to get going from a stop, but the trade-off is they need a tail wind to go from 60 to 65 mph.
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Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 AT 6:35 PM

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