How to set the timing- TFI

[MOJO II]

I've upgraded my distibitor cap, plugs, and wires. Now I need to set my timing. I've never used a timing light, but recently bought a cheap one at the auto parts store. Could anyone explain to me how to read the right seting on my 90 wagoneer 360? and what it should be set at after the upgrade. Thank you in advance.

[dnixon]

I don't know about what it should be after the TFI upgrade but you might want to just start with the factory setting.. I'm not sure off hand what it is.. but you are going to wanna crawel under your rig and then on you harmonic balancer you should see a little line in it.. I take a piece of white chalk and go over that line so You can clearly see it.. then above that on a braket for me, you should see some numbers and some letters like TDC... well I rub those in white chalk too.. well then in a semi dark area you are going to want to l start up your rig and then oosen up your distributor. just enough so you can move it but DON'T move it yet. Then point your gun towards where the numbers and the harmonic balancer can be seen.. pull the trigger and it will flash and you will see the line and the numbers just move your distributor until that line lines up with whatever number you are supposed to have for timiing.. tighten up the bolt at the base of the distributor and your good to go.... you might need a special tool you get at kragens or where ever to loosen the bolt that tightens the distributor down at the base..

well this is a least what I do...

[ January 18, 2003, 02:31 PM: Message edited by: SLOwag aka-dnixon ]

[oddfire]

First find the timing marks on your engine block and clean them off so they are readable. should be on the front left lower part of the motor, under the ac and to the right of the alternator.
, use a small toothbrush and some brake cleaner, next find the grove on your harmonic balancer, behind the fan, just a small groove. I use white out to paint the groove and the O* degree mark on the block. next unplug the vacuun line leading to your distributor. If you unplug at the carb like I do, slip a vacuum cap over the nipple. Next, loose the distributor hold down bolt, 9/16, just loosen so distributor can move. Hook up timing light to #1 wire, first wire on right side of block, hook up power wires to battery making sure that all wires are out of the way of moving parts. Next, start the motor and let it warm up, if it runs ruff, move the distributor either way till it smooths out. When its warm, take the timing light over to the left side of the motor and point it towards the timing marks on the block, this can be a real pita, but I can do it in my sleep. Press the trigger and the lite will flash with every firing of cylinder #1, Timing is a bit of a trial and error game, I do mine in conjunction with a vacuum gauge, the factory specs are just a starting point. The groove on the harmonic balancer should be visable with every flash of the lite. Read this against the background of the timing marks on the engine block. Adjust the timing by moving the distributor either clockwise or counter. 12* is a good place to start,just move the distributor till the engine is running smooth, you dont want like 25* but I have mine set at 19*. Shut off the motor and retighten the dist hold down bolt, reattach the vac line, restart and verify that the timing did not move, if it did, loosen bolt and readjust. I usually throw my special 9/16 wrench, timing lite and vacuum guage in the rig and drive it around making slight adjustments if needed. If it pings under load back off the timing a coupla degrees till it stops. If its hard to start back off. you will also probly have to readjust the idle speed. any other questions, we're here for ya......phil

[ January 18, 2003, 02:56 PM: Message edited by: oddfire ]

[Green Giant]

If you clean it good and use white out or white paint(small brush) the marks will be visible for a nice long while.

[MOJO II]

Thaks alot for all of the help. I feel confotable doing it now. But how do I know if it is 19* or 25* advanced? All I see are the groves on the harmonic balancer. Dio they mean certain numbers?

[oddfire]

There should only be 1 groove on the balancer, the numbers are on a plate on the engine block, they can be a pita to see if there all gunked up, so they need to be clean to properly time it. aim the gun at the numbers and pull the trigger, you read the numbers as the light flashes on the groove in front of it. where ever the groove is when the light flashes, read against the background numbers is what your timing is set at............phil

P.S. make sure you look straight down the barrel of the gun when you are using it or else you can have quite a few degrees of paralax error.

[ January 19, 2003, 01:31 PM: Message edited by: oddfire ]