• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

1993 5.0 Wanting 30+ Degrees Initial Timing


Acgallen

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Feb 20, 2020
Messages
97
Reaction score
33
Location
PA
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0 306
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Car Notes: 1993 A9L computer, 19lb stock yellow injectors, stock MAF, 5.0 Freshly Rebuilt 306 engine

Some background to the situation:
Around 2 weeks ago I finally tracked my no fuel condition down to faulty capacitors in my A9L computer. Re-soldered new capacitors onto the board and truck now had fuel. It started up and warmed up pretty normally, but i couldn't drive it due to the driveshaft being fixed. Fast forward a few days, put the driveshaft on the truck and truck is back to no start condition. I spent a few days retiming and double checking everything, still couldn't get it to idle.

Yesterday I unplugged the negative terminal for about an hour, pulled all plugs( they were all fairly black ) cleaned them and put them back, then double checked wires. Used an endoscope to locate TDC on the correct stroke, and it still aligned with 0 on my balancer. Dropped the distributor in and aligned the 1st plug with the rotor. Unplugged the spout and cranked it. Would barely sputter. Advanced it to 14 degrees, it would fire but it couldn't keep itself alive. 20 degrees below top dead center, starting to sound like its firing all 8 in time but wont stay alive. In the end i moved the distributor to 35 degrees BTDC, it was firing all 8 sequentially and was able to idle reasonable around 1000 RPM. Got it to operating temperature and re-plugged the spout connector. Though when i go to drive it, it will drive pretty well if you dont go WOT, but if you do it will fall flat on its face. I haven't heard any pinging, only popping out of the exhaust sometimes

I just had this truck drive 500 no issue miles but all the sudden all of this crap is happening. Any feedback is appreciated, I'm trying to cover all my bases here so i can give enough information to solve the problem. When the spout is plugged in, i cant even read a number because its to far advanced on the balancer. My timing chain is brand new and aligned correctly. When i tried to set it back down to 14 degrees BTDC at operating temp, it just stalled itself. My only guess is my injector and MAF aren't calibrated for some reason. I know the steps to a base idle reset but that wont really help with the timing. The picture is of plugs 1 and 5 after a drive.
 

Attachments

Last edited:


alwaysFlOoReD

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
14,349
Reaction score
5,668
Location
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
Vehicle Year
’97, '06
Make / Model
Pontiac, Dodge
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
2.2,5.7
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
You're checking timing with spout out? That's the correct way....
Edit; rereading and it sounds like you had the spout out while timing it...
 
Last edited:

2011Supercab

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2021
Messages
583
Reaction score
616
Location
Washington
Vehicle Year
2023
Make / Model
Toyota Tacoma
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Are you sure you're using cylinder #1? Passenger side front.
 

Acgallen

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Feb 20, 2020
Messages
97
Reaction score
33
Location
PA
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0 306
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
13,312
Reaction score
8,549
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
Stretched timing chain? Loose harmonic balancer? Busted key on balancer?

I would think at 30* intial timing it would sound like a ping pong table
 

Acgallen

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Feb 20, 2020
Messages
97
Reaction score
33
Location
PA
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0 306
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Stretched timing chain? Loose harmonic balancer? Busted key on balancer?

I would think at 30* intial timing it would sound like a ping pong table
Keyway is good. i keep rechecking 0 on the balancer with TDC and it stays correct, so im assuming my balancer isnt moving. Timing chain is literally under 1000 miles old, very unlikely. And i agree with sounded bad at 30 degrees, but it honestly wants more.
 

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
13,312
Reaction score
8,549
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
Keyway is good. i keep rechecking 0 on the balancer with TDC and it stays correct, so im assuming my balancer isnt moving. Timing chain is literally under 1000 miles old, very unlikely. And i agree with sounded bad at 30 degrees, but it honestly wants more.
Hmm.

Would something in the distributor drive cause it?

If not....im out of ideas unless its a odd ecm or TFI issue
 

alwaysFlOoReD

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
14,349
Reaction score
5,668
Location
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
Vehicle Year
’97, '06
Make / Model
Pontiac, Dodge
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
2.2,5.7
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
What pointer are you using to get your timing mark? Take a pic?
 

SenorNoob

Well-Known Member
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Oct 24, 2012
Messages
2,953
Reaction score
1,011
Location
Middle Tennessee
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
1.5" Front + 4" Rear
Tire Size
245-70-R16
Wouldn't 30° be about a tooth on the distributor drive?
 

Acgallen

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Feb 20, 2020
Messages
97
Reaction score
33
Location
PA
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0 306
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Hmm.

Would something in the distributor drive cause it?

If not....im out of ideas unless its a odd ecm or TFI issue
Distributor is pretty much new as well. TFI was tested and was good to go. ECM had some capacitors resoldered but i dont think that would cause this condition.
 

Acgallen

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Feb 20, 2020
Messages
97
Reaction score
33
Location
PA
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0 306
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
What pointer are you using to get your timing mark? Take a pic?
Pointer is the stock bracket that mounts into the block. I checked TDC multiple times to the pointer and it aligns with 0 everytime. I can take a picture but its what came with the engine.
 

Acgallen

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Feb 20, 2020
Messages
97
Reaction score
33
Location
PA
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0 306
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Wouldn't 30° be about a tooth on the distributor drive?
Not that ive found. Ive put it in a tooth on either side and it never performs like where its at now. When timing the dizzy rotor, it should be pointing between the intake bolt holes or around 11:30-12 oclock position. Mine aligns there with TDC.
 

Acgallen

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Feb 20, 2020
Messages
97
Reaction score
33
Location
PA
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0 306
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
You're checking timing with spout out? That's the correct way....
Edit; rereading and it sounds like you had the spout out while timing it...
Spout is always out when timing it. Ive had to do the timing procedure a good bit so im pretty confident im timing the car correctly. Just not sure why it wants such a high initial timing
 

alwaysFlOoReD

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
14,349
Reaction score
5,668
Location
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
Vehicle Year
’97, '06
Make / Model
Pontiac, Dodge
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
2.2,5.7
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Its been a long time...
I remember that the rotor should be pointing at #1 cylinder approximately.
And the caps #1 sparkplug wire is in the same place.
 

Acgallen

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Feb 20, 2020
Messages
97
Reaction score
33
Location
PA
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0 306
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Its been a long time...
I remember that the rotor should be pointing at #1 cylinder approximately.
And the caps #1 sparkplug wire is in the same place.
Rotor points at the #1 plug yes. But thats when you initially time it. My engine would not run at that setting, i had to advance it 30+ degrees to get it to run "correctly"
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Members online

TRS Events

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Latest posts

Truck of The Month


Rick W
October Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

25th Anniversary Merch

Follow TRS On Instagram

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top