Distributor timing

[cobrabuilderI]

NEW SVO 351 Engine No marks on distributor-
Which one is number one? I tried using the set up from company that I bought it from but it I think it only hit one cylinder. They said it was 3 plugs left of screw that holds cap on nearest carb. I then tried the 16 year old method (wish I hadn't)- please have a good laugh as I did- hope I didn't screw anything up- took all the spark plugs out found out which one was the highest then noted on distributor where rotor was pointing- made that number one on the distributor with the firing sequence of 13726548 counterclockwise. IT BACKFIRED THROUGH THE CARB- WHITE SMOKE!!!! Scared the crap out of me. Please tell me I didn't screw anything up.
If anyone can help me I would appreciate it. I haven'e checked spark yet but feel all is okay new MSD wired according to instructions. I read about mark on damper crank till on 0 then check distributor rotor. Is this good idea? Thank you in advance-

[cobra427mnsi]

cobrabuilder1

If you look closely at the front of the engine, you will notice that the bank of cylinders on the passenger's side sticks out a little further than the driver's side. Number one cylinder is the front one. In otherwords, number one is on the passenger's side at the front of the engine. This is true for all Ford engines (other side on Chebbies).

Pull the spark plug on number one. Hold a finger over the hole so you can tell if the air is going in or coming out. Turn the engine over ( remove the distributor wire so the engine won't fire). If the air is coming out, that means the piston is coming up on the compression stroke. When it gets to the top, it is at top-dead-center and the distributor should be pointing to number 1 plug.

This is how I do it. I hope this is the info you are looking for.

Paul

[blykins]

cobrabuilder...

You don't need a mark on the distributor...Put #1 piston at TDC on the compression stroke, then just put the rotor on the #1 plug position on the distributor cap. Make sure your firing order is correct.

I think you may have done that, by your saying that you pulled the plugs out and found which one was highest...but remember, t here is a TDC on the exhaust and compression strokes both. You have to get the compression stroke. Just pull the #1 plug out, stick your finger in the hole, then rotate the engine (make sure you have no electricity to the engine at this point) and wait until it blows your finger out. You should be reading close to 0 degrees TDC on the harmonic balancer. Then just pop the distributor out, and put the rotor pointing at the #1 plug wire on the distributor cap.

I don't think you screwed anything up....just don't make a habit of it. It's awfully hard on power valves.

Has this engine been ran before?

[cobrabuilderI]

It ran from Ford for 20 min. at factory but that was probably a year ago. Can you turn the engine by hand in order to check compression? Seems awefully hard to do so. 'Harmonic balancer' where exactly is that- I do have guage on the side of block at pulleys that says 'time'- would that corespond to the number one cylinder firing once I get it to TDC of compression?
You guys are the best!

It's sitting like I stole it- ready for the chop shop.

[blykins]

You can turn it by hand...it depends on what the compression ratio is if it will be easy or not . If it's high compression, and all the spark plugs are in, it will be a bear dog. However, you can remove the plugs and it should turn easier.

The harmonic balancer is at the end of the crankshaft under the pulley...it will have the timing marks on it. It's probably what you're looking at that says "time". When you get #1 cylinder at TDC of the compression stroke, the pointer should be reading 0.

Make sure you pull the coil wire off before you start turning it by hand. More than likely it won't start, but you'd be in for some broken arms if it did.

When you get #1 cylinder (the foremost cylinder on the passenger side) at TDC of the compression stroke, then pull the distributor cap and see if the rotor is pointing at that particular plug wire on the cap. If not, you'll need to pull the distributor out far enough to where you can turn the rotor...just turn it so when you wiggle the distributor back down to mesh with the cam gear, it will stay pointed at the #1 cylinder spark plug wire on the distributor cap.

I checked the firing order you specified. It's the correct one...you might wanna go around and check it to make sure the spark plug wires follow that order. The passenger side cylinder bank is 1-4...the driver's side is 5-8.

Plug your coil wire back on, install the plugs, and let her go.

[Bluesman]

If you don't have one, go to the local auto parts store and get a momentary pushbutton switch. I think you can just ask for a "remote start switch". There are two lead wires coming out of the switch. One goes to the + battery or equivalent and the other clip lead goes to the the positive terminal of the start relay. I am telling you this so you can eliminate having someone turn the key on to get your #1 piston all the way to the top of the cylinder. You can bump the engine to the point that you will get the piston exactually to the top of it's stroke. Timing is not hard. I always put a fat white chalk mark on the "0 degree" mark on the crankshaft damper. The other posts covered everything you need to know. Oh... I bought this slick timing light that has a degree adjustment knob on the back so all I ever look at is the white chalk mark at zero degrees.

[Bluesman]

I will give you a simple example:
My engine's total advance is 36 degrees at 2500 rpm.
I set the timing light knob at 36 and rotate the "just finger tight" distributor until the strobe shows exactly 0 degrees on the harmonic ballancer (crankshaft dampner). That is the big white chalk mark at zero. Don't forget to tighten the distributor when you are done. Good Luck!

[cobra427mnsi]

Blykins

Bluesman suggested the remote start switch. This is a good idea that way you can bump over the engine by yourself. I have included a pic of the one that I fabricated from a momentary starter switch. They are easy to make and can be a marriage saver. No more yelling at the wife as she turns the motor over too far.

Paul

[cobra427mnsi]

Also, here is a pic of the type of timing light that Bluesman mentioned.
They are much more flexible to use than the standard type.

Paul

[cobra427mnsi]

oops!!

Here it is.

[blykins]

The remote starter is a great idea...That makes things a whole lot easier. I usually just pull the coil wire and turn the motor over with a breaker bar...but this is simpler.

[cobrabuilderI]

THE CAR RAN LIKE A DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It almost as good as my wedding night (not really) But Thank you all for your help.
Had a friend come over and we bumped the engine to fine TDC. Man it sounded sweet. I think that Cobra people are the nicest around.

[cobra427mnsi]

Glad to here it that it started and ran like a dream !!

Paul

[blykins]

Glad to hear you got it running...

It's not that hard, now is it? :-) It's intimidating at first, but once you do it a couple times, it's like second nature.

Good luck with that Cobra...