2.8 Distributor, timing screwed up

[rangerbum]

Hello guys.

85 BII 2.8 leaker

I needed to put in a new TFI, as most 2.8's do. I bought one, went to remove the old one(without removing distributor). Before I started I took a look with a flashlight and a small mirror to check for crud in the holes so I didnt have to fight getting the torx in. What did I find? Not torx heads. Two different size bolts. I got the upper one which was a 7/32 bolt with 4 washers on it. Couldnt get the other one to come out so I bit the bullet. Time to take out the distributor to pull it.

I marked the distributor with a sharpie... or so I thought. My whole engine bay is so damn greasy and oily that it must not have stuck. I got the TFI on, looked for my marks, nothing.

So i once again groaned and started timing it the old fashioned way, rotated to TDC, set rotor at #1. Put it all together. No go. Have gone through it 4 times now, cant see any marks on dampener to set to 10 BTDC, and it's kicking my ass.

It's taking up the whole garage and I need it done soon.

If you know any tricks with these buggers please let me know.

Thank you

Please help

 

[kunar]

double check you're on the compression stroke when you set cyl1 at TDC, poke your distributor in so the rotor points at the #1 spot on the cap. double check your firing order when you put your wires back on. hope that helps.

 

[rangerbum]

Will do first thing in the morning. Had to stop before I get frustrated to the point of breaking things haha. Pulling my hair out is fine, but start breaking parts and the bill adds up quick.

 

[martin]

You'll need to find the mark on the damper pulley, I remember it was hard to find on mine. Clean the thing and try to feel for it.

 

[rangerbum]

She runs! Okay, so I found the notch marks and lined them up. It started but didn't run well. Then tweaked the distributor a few degrees and now it runs great.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Use the pointer not the round thing. It is best to mark the damper from underneath just put a white or yellow crayon mark one line back from the 12 line and time it exactly at 10 degrees with the spout wire disconnected. The single wire from the distributor that has a connector is the spout wire. Disconnect it to set the distributor at base timing 10DBTDC. Then connect the spot wire and the computer will find idle rpms. If you messed with the idle air jets disconnect the idle speed motor bottom front of the carb and adjust the idle air needles for the highest lean rpms. Then plug the idle motor back in and it should idle right down to around 675 rpms.