5.0 timing issue?

[shane96ranger]

OK, to be honest, this is not a Ranger question.....it's an 86 T-Bird (speed density) I'm working on. A co-worker bought a T-Bird that does not run worth a shit when it's cold, and stalls a lot, and shakes violently before it dies. After it warms up it runs OK, but still spits and sputters. Listening to it run, I think it's a timing issue. I hooked up my light to it and I'm getting a goofy as hell reading. I can't get it anywhere close to 10 degrees BTDC. It runs best at 30 degrees BTDC. I did unplug the spout, and I did make sure I was on cylinder 1.

The PO had the ignition module changed just a few hundred miles ago and said it's never ran the same since. My thinking is the place that did the ignition module pulled the dizzy out and it's a tooth or two off. Any other possibilities? Also, dumb question......how do I know cylinder 1 is at the top so I can check? I don't have a compression tester.

 

[originalnitro]

To make sure #1 is at tdc remove sparkplug place your finger over the hole and turn engine over by hand when you feel air pushing past your finger the piston is moving up remove your finger, with an ink pin in the sparkplug hole feel for the piston to reach tdc.

 

[shane96ranger]

Are there any other possibilities on a cause? Throwing the timing off that far......it seems like the only logical reason to me.

 

[Josephnhouston]

Take the module off and take it to autozone or Oriellys and have them test it if its good next would be restab the distributor next check the injection. is it fuel injection? Anyway if it is check the omes. From the injectors. Let me know if u have any luck

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Did you check the timing chain. pull the cap off the dizzy and with a wrench turn the crank clockwise a little and then counterclockwise watching the rotor how far does it turn before the rotor turns do that a couple times there should be little movement of the crank without moving the rotor. if yopu get more than a couple degrees check the cam gear on the dizzy by pulling the dizzy and looking for wear. It may have skipped a tooth or two on the timing chain.