ford 360

[Maverick]

Trying to time a fresh rebuilt ford 360. Every where I look online say 6-8 before tdc. Why is mine running better in the 20-25 degree range??? It's not perfect but that's where i can get it to run. Any help helps guys, thanks

[Huntbear]

Been a long time, but when I did my 390...

I do believe your distributor is off a tooth or two..  You need to reset that back to TDC with the timing chain...

[Maverick]

So which way do I need to move it?

[toothfangclaw]

You probably need to get the #1 cylinder to tdc and see if the distributor is at #1. That way you can tell which direction to go.

[HntnFsh]

 I think hes right. Your probably off a tooth or 2. You need to have #1 at tdc on the compression stroke. Or you could be 180 off.

[farmin4u_98948]

Also make sure the vacuum advance is unhooked when you time it. I would start over and put a h e i distributor ignition on it.. Makes the old motors run lots better.......   

[C-Money]

The ole 360s & 390s ran great! Sure brings back good memories! Hope you get your 360 running well!

[Maverick]

We had checked the distributor the other day abd i thought it was on one or close. ill check it again today. Id love to put a hei or msd distributor on it but moneys tight. My gf is restoring the truck. Its been your grandpas for years. Good ol 72 highboy on 33 inch bfgs with a stock 4 barrel manifold, carter afb carb and headers. I gotta quit putting my money into it and get back to my mustang! Haha

[Maverick]

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[toothfangclaw]

Also make sure the vacuum advance is unhooked when you time it. I would start over and put a h e i distributor ignition on it.. Makes the old motors run lots better.......   

I didn't know you could put a HEI distributor on a Ford!?  I thought that was a Chevy thing.

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Nice rigs!

[Huntbear]

Maverick..

That pic brings back a lot of memories.  My dad had a 72 High Boy.  When the 360 blew up, he slapped a 460 in it.  It would tow anything, and get 12 mpg even pulling a fully loaded travel trailer heading over 4th of July Pass going elk hunting...  I miss that truck, just not the work to try and turn it around with no power steering.. 

[Mudman]

Dist. is off.  Redo it.  If you upgraded cam during rebuild timing might change to 8-9.  One tooth off for sure.

[fillthefreezer]

love those bump side fords!
you could start by moving all the plug wires on dist 1 post over and see if it runs at the 6-8 and then restab if needed

[Maverick]

Maverick..

That pic brings back a lot of memories.  My dad had a 72 High Boy.  When the 360 blew up, he slapped a 460 in it.  It would tow anything, and get 12 mpg even pulling a fully loaded travel trailer heading over 4th of July Pass going elk hunting...  I miss that truck, just not the work to try and turn it around with no power steering.. 

We actually planned on putting power steering in it. We have a 72 2wd we were gonna have the steering off of. Had the instructions from online how to do it. But the steering was totally different. It would have been way to much of a pain so maybe the next time we drop a motor in. Ages hoping the next motor will be a cummins 

It does have a mellings cam. I think youre right about it being a tooth off.

I love the look of the old fords. I need to find me a 75-77 f250. What is really love is a crew cab   
My brother got ahold of my grandpas 77 this spring and we got it up nice. The old man has a 76 that's next on the list!

[JackOfAllTrades]

Digital camera's are a must for me any more!  When I rebuild an engine now, I shoot a photo of how I set the timing gears up. Most newer timing gears have dots for TDC, 2-6 degrees retart or advance. It helps to know for darn sure how I set it up when trying to time the ignition.  If you happened to install an aftermarket cam with higher lift and longer duration, then valve timing may be advanced 9 degrees or so. (depending on grind) Check the cam card for timing info. If you also advanced the cam with the timing gear, it is quite possible to require ignition timing at 22 degrees or so.
If you rebuilt with stock spec components, I would agree that you've probably got the distributor gear off a tooth on the cam gear. Rotating it one tooth counter clockwise should get you closer to where you want to be. Be careful not to drop that oil pump drive shaft out the bottom of the distributor into the pan.
 
-Steve

[Maverick]

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[farmin4u_98948]

You can get H E I ignition for most any vehicle. I put one on my 304 jeep this spring... Love it... also put one on my 69 ford... good and hot....   

[Maverick]

well bad news..... cant get the distributor out... my only guess is stuck on the oil pump rod?!!! now what?!!!!!!

[Ridgeratt]

If you haven't had it out before there could be a carbon build up on the shaft bottom side just give it some love carefully.

[Maverick]

Shouldnt be carbon build up. The motor was rebuilt

[Jason]

well bad news..... cant get the distributor out... my only guess is stuck on the oil pump rod?!!! now what?!!!!!!

Just rotate the wires one hole then.

[Ridgeratt]

There is also a o-ring thats a tight fit in the block.

http://www.fordification.com/tech/images/schematics/distributor_V8-02.jpg

[Maverick]

well bad news..... cant get the distributor out... my only guess is stuck on the oil pump rod?!!! now what?!!!!!!

Just rotate the wires one hole then.

Wouldn't that be 180 degrees

[HntnFsh]

well bad news..... cant get the distributor out... my only guess is stuck on the oil pump rod?!!! now what?!!!!!!

Just rotate the wires one hole then.

Wouldn't that be 180 degrees

No. it would only be about6-10 degrees.

[Jason]

well bad news..... cant get the distributor out... my only guess is stuck on the oil pump rod?!!! now what?!!!!!!

Just rotate the wires one hole then.

Wouldn't that be 180 degrees

If your off a tooth then just rotate the wires one hole either direction to advance or retard just like Fillthefreezer mentioned earlier, go two holes if you have to, If your off more than that then you'll probably have to pull the distributor.

[Maverick]

Okay I understand. Was hoping to get it out. I was given a new msd pro billet distributor!

[Jason]

well bad news..... cant get the distributor out... my only guess is stuck on the oil pump rod?!!! now what?!!!!!!

Just rotate the wires one hole then.

Wouldn't that be 180 degrees

On a FE if your a tooth off then thats 24* , if you rotate the wires one hole that gains you 45*.
I think my math is correct since the FE distributor i have has 15 teeth on it. 

[Maverick]

it moves left and right fine i can left it up about a inch and thats as far as itll go.....

[JackOfAllTrades]

On a FE if your a tooth off then thats 24* , if you rotate the wires one hole that gains you 45*.
I think my math is correct since the FE distributor i have has 15 teeth on it.

PRECISELY!

Wiggle the distributor while pulling up, while backing off on the crankshaft bolt with a ratchet. It'll come free.
 
-Steve

[Ridgeratt]

it moves left and right fine i can left it up about a inch and thats as far as itll go.....

You have that much wiggle it will come free!!

[Maverick]

im thinking the oil shaft is stuck in it and its pulling up until the clip on the shaft hits...... dont want to pull to hard and lose the clip... ive been wiggling and wigglin and pulling some with no luc... never had this happen

[Maverick]

Got it figured out guys! Used 2 screw drivers to get it unstuck. She's timed and runs great. The msd didn't fit though but oh well. Thanks for the help!

[400out]

now that it's out what intake do you have on it and r u looking to upgrade

[Ridgeratt]

Good on ya! sometimes it just takes a bit of love to free old iron parts. 

[Maverick]

It's just a stock 4 barrel intake. Rebuilt 360 with a 4 barrel carter and headers. 4 speed manual.

[runningboard]

for those asking about HEI distributors for other than GMs, as OP found out clearance can be a problem with 'em though

http://www.performancedistributors.com/

& for OP who said wants to put cummins in his Ford

http://fordcummins.com/