Will not time part 2

[Doug orange]

Well have not degreed the cam, just want to make sure before I rip into it. ford 390 rebuilt, new timing chain and gears bored .80 over, Elgin E965P cam, Mallory unilite distributor, it will not run unless the timing is 35BTC initial timing at 750rpm manifold vacuum is at 12psi when I advance it up it will not ping the old 390 would ping at about 12BTC is it posable that the timing chain is off one tooth? Any help before I rip into it.

[SCOBRAC]

A more likely scenario is that you have the wrong harmonic dampner. The later 390 units and the early were different. I'm not a 390 guy but someone here will know. O r was it 391 and 390's are different. Either way you probably have the wrong dampner.

Forget the timing light for a min. Will it run well beyond 35 btc and idle? What is the idle? What is the intake vacuum? If it doesn't ping and hasn't detonated it couldn't be running at 35-50 btc. It just isn't. At 35 btc at idle what is the timing at 2800 rpm? If it's 55-60 I think what you really have is either a crossed up distributor in which #1 cylinder is something other than #1 on the distributor or you have the wrong dampner (timing marks in the wrong spot)

If it's running well don't tear off the timing cover, find a ford part number on the dampner and look it up. make sure it's for the engine you are using. Beyond that start fresh on the distributor. verify the firing order (every plug not just most of them) make sure #1 position on the distributor is really #1. The engine will run if firing order is observed regardless where #1 position on the distributor is. Of course this makes timing it impossible.

Try this. Try timing off each wire. If it is runing well one of them will be very close to 8-12 degrees btc. The order will still be 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8, it just won't be in the right spot on the distributor.

[Steve R]

Doug,
If you have your cam card and a degree wheel, you can check the cam timing without tearing into the engine. But first, if I were you I would remove #1 spark plug and establish TDC compression stroke on that cyl. .......does the harmonic balencer's "0" mark coincide with TDC on #1?? If yes, then check for other problems.
Steve