Ignition timing

[miwestlund]

Hi guys,

I saw in the manual how to check the ignition timing on my 65 T-Bird. In real life it seam harder. I don't see the pointer beacuse stuff is in its way. And I don't see the gradings on my damper. Any ideas on a easy way to check the ignition timing?

Mike

[tbirdjim]

To see/shine timing light on pointer, stand in front of battery looking at motor, look for pointer at crank pulley through the inside of crook of upper heater hose elbow, should be visible there.

To find timing marks, you can pull distributor cap and 'bump' the key until the rotor is in the general area of #1 wire. Now look at pulley for timing marks, again they should be visible at this point. I used white paint (model kit) on the 6 and 10 degree marks and play with the timing by ear in that range, as some say, these motors like advance timing...

Umm. Watch out for the fan when checking timing and moving distributor!

Then there's the whole disconnect vacuum advance thing etc...

[Harley Eaton]

As I recall, the timing marks are on the crankshaft damper, not on the belt pulley. What I do is go under the car, bump the starter to get the timing marks in sight, then mark the belt pulley with white paint or chalk.