Setting timing for 460 Ford

[Kerny]

i just replaced my heads on my 460, now i need to set the timing, i tried starting the engine to set the timing but i get nothing but fire balls. i turned the dist. around and around again but with no luck. i dont know if there is a trick i can do to help out
Thanks
Anthony

[drivendude]

By disassembling the moter without indexing the distributer you have opened pandora's box.1,REMOVE STARBOADSIDE VAVLE COVER.2,ROTATE ENGINE SLOWLY BY TURNING THE BOLT ON THE HARMONIC BALANCER WITH A LARGE BREAKER-BAR TO VIEW THE ACTION OF THE ROCKER ARMS.THE FOWARD MOST ROCKER-ARM IS NUMBER ONE EXHAUST.THE NEXT ROCKER ARM IS NUMBER ONE INTAKE.ROTATE MOTOR UNTILL THIS ROCKER ARM MOVES DOWNWARD.3,DRINK A BEER.4,ROTATE MOTER TILL ROCKER-ARM MOVES UPWARD,AND THEN A LITTLE BIT MORE TO LINE UP THE ZERO MARK ON THE BALANCER TO THE POINTER MOUNTED ON THE ENGINE BLOCK,USUALLY ON THE STARBOARD SIDE.5,YOU ARE NOW AT TOP DEAD CENTER OF NUMBER ONE.6,LOOK IN THE BOOK AND FIND THE TIMING ORDER OF YOUR MOTER,MAYBE 15463278 i AM NOT SURE,SOME FORD MOTORS ARE FUNKY,BUT WHAT EVER THE ORDER IS LOOK AT THE POSTION OF THE ROTOR TIP AND PUT THE NUMBER ONE SPARK PLUG WIRE FACING IT.BY THE WAY THIS IS FOR A NORMAL ROTATION ENGINE NOT COUNTERROTION.NOW TURN THE MOTER A LITTLE BIT AND VIEW THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE ROTOR.THE NEXT SPARK PLUG WIRE OF THE FIRING ORDER GOES IN THE NEXT DISTRIBUTER CAP TERMINAL,AND SO ON AND SO ON TILL YOU GO THROUGH ALL 8 WIRES.DO NOT TRUST YOURSELF THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE WIRES IN THE RIGHT PLACES,PROVE THAT THEY ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACES BY GOING THROUGH THE PROCEDURE.TO KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN THE MOTOR, LOOK AT IT WHILE YOU HIT THE KEY AND MEMERIZE THE ROTATION,IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE THE CLOCK WHEN YOU ARE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT.NOW THAT THE MOTOR IS ZERO'ED OUT AND THE WIRES ARE INTHE RIGHT PLACES THE MOTOR WILL START AND BE AT ZERO IGNITION ADVANCE.ROTATE THE DISTRIBUTER IN THE OPPISIT DIRECTION OF NORMAL ROTATION TO ADVANCE THE TIMING.DON'T BE AFRAID TO SCREW IN THE IDLE SCREW ON THE CARBURATER ONE FULL TURN TO GIVE YOU A HIGH IDLE FOR FIRST START UP.AS MOTOR WARMS UP PUT THE TIMING LIGHT ON THE BALANCER AND SET IDLE TIMING TO 10 DEGREES JUST SO IT WILL RUN SMOOTH AND NOT STALL.THEN REDUCE CARBURATER IDLE SCREW TO POSSESS 800 RPMS.THENRESET TIMING TO 10 DEGREES AGAIN.THEN ADVANCE THROTTLE TO 2800 RPM'S AND DOUBLE CHECK THAT YOU GAIN TOTAL ADVANCE OF 32 DEGREES.IF NOT ADJUST DISTRIBUTER BY ROTATING IT TO POSSESS 32 DECREES.THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TIMING NUMBER,IF THE IDLE DECRESS ARE NOT 10 THEN YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH WHAT EVER YOU END UP WITH OR SEND YOUR DISTRIBUTER OUT TO A PRO SPEED SHOP AND HAVE IT REPAIRED TO YEILD THESE NUMBERS.DONT PANIC OVER IDLE TIMING NUMBERS,ITIS THE TOTAL ADVANCE THAT IS IMPORTANT.ONE OTHER THING.THOSE MOTORS NEED TIMING CHAIN ADVACE DOWELS TO POSSESS 8 DEGREES OF CAM LEAD TO RUN TIP TOP.THIS MY BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU,BUT IT WILL YEILD 50-70 EXTRA HOURSEPOWER WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS DIALED IN PROPERLY.PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL IF THIS IS OVER YOUR HEAD. JAY...

[058]

I think you've had enough coffee for now....put the cup down and step away from the pot and no body gets hurt. :D

[Hotcrusader76]

And not a single mention about a 'PV' :D

[Oldsquirt]

And after all that yelling, he's gotta be out of breath :D

[slotracer]

someone give the man some decaf!!!!!!!
pat(slotracer) :D

[Hotcrusader76]

doctor....do we have a pulse????..... smile_sp

[LakesOnly]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by drivendude:
1,REMOVE STARBOADSIDE VAVLE COVER.2,ROTATE ENGINE...
His name: DRIVENDUDE! Drivendude...indeed....
LO
[ May 05, 2003, 09:08 PM: Message edited by: LakesOnly ]

[LakesOnly]

Kerny:
i just replaced my heads on my 460, now i need to set the timing...i get nothing but fire balls. i turned the dist. around and around again...
Kerny, buddy, did you just drop the distributor into the engine without regard to the orientation of the rotor? jawdrop
LO

[Kerny]

i got the timing right thanks to all

[058]

Hotcrusader76:
And not a single mention about a 'PV' :D Power valves???....someone mention power valves? :D :D :D