Need help with a timming issue

[fireguy12117]

I think i have bad timming on my 4.0. i got a rebuilt long block back in january, and have since installed and ran the motor. ive been having detonation issues that i cannot seem to pinpoint to the usual suspects.

I've borrowed a timming light and took a look. i saw the pin that sticks out of the pickup sensor and could barely see some marks on the inside of the pulley- couldnt make anything legible out. it looked to me like there was two markings about half an inch apart and both were well before the pin, the pin was not pointing between these two marks. they were probably a good half inch before the pin, like the pin is at 10oclock, the parks were at 7oclock.

Am i looking at the right thing, and what does this tell me?

 

[fireguy12117]

anybody have some input on what to be looking for on that crank pulley, or got a pic somewhere of this?

 

[MAKG]

I find it A LOT easier to clean off the harmonic balancer really well, and then put a little dab of white paint (or Liquid Paper in a pinch) on the 10 deg timing mark. It's a lot easier to read them with the engine off and a bright flashlight in hand.

You didn't say anything about the SPOUT connector. If you missed that, your timing will be far advanced beyond base, and in general won't be steady.

 

[fireguy12117]

Lets talk about that SPOUT then...

im on the basement computer so i cannot read my ford CD page i have up from earlier, but i did see something in there about it. the timing does fritz out every so often where the timing light looses a pulse it seems like. and from a pervious post, i tried messing with those shorting bars. i pulled the one nearest the ignition control module and got the idle to drop, and the timing mark to where the pin was bewteen those two marks. still dunno whats zero and 10. but when i backed the truck out it was not running smoothly in gear and idling, so i dont think that really did much, except confirm you can impact your timing...alright, sorry for the ramble, i am going to go looking for SPOUT info, and whatever anyone can post here is always great!

so i just looked at a wiring diagram and only saw one line between the PCM and ICM for the SPOUT...is there a connection in between or something?

EDIT: i just went and looked...the plug i pulled was the pink wire SPOUT connector. that blows...with that shorting jumper in, the timing is out and still not entirely steady. its a smooth idle, but the timing light tells me im either loosing, or not getting a strong spark pulse every so often.