yes yes i know but i need help with my 302 ford

1981coupe400ci · 02-23-2008, 01:31:26 AM

need the easiest way to find tdc #1 WITHOUT taking the valve covers off...(setting up the distributor for first start up/breakin)

i was thinking of turning the engine over and doing the thumb over the plug hole thing.. but i cant remember how it goes...

still having a heck of a time figuring this out... anyone got any advise? maybe a step by step or a webpage.

circle racer · 02-23-2008, 01:43:11 AM

put your thumb over the #1 hole and turn motor over clockwise untill you fell presure building then move the motor untill timing mark is pointing to 0 then set the distrubter in the hole with pointer at #1 plug wire

FF (ford front)
1 5
2 6
3 7
4 8

1981coupe400ci · 02-24-2008, 05:53:44 PM

we found the plug locations.
distributor(front)
5 1
6 2
7 3
8 4

still cant get it to fire... hmm..

gonna set it up again tomorrow... and use some ether to see if i can even get a pop out of it.

circle racer · 02-24-2008, 05:55:37 PM

Sorry Are you getting any spark at all?

1981coupe400ci · 02-24-2008, 06:27:21 PM

yeah i'm getting spark(hooked the timing light up to be sure and i'm getting flashes from it when turning over. i can hear the f-pump runing so i'm getting fuel...

just cant get the darn timing right....

finger on the #1 hole... turn over till it pops finger off hole. manually turn engine over till mark on balancer is lined up with balancer timing pointer. line up distibutor #1 plug wire on cap to rotor point.

does that sound right?

circle racer · 02-24-2008, 06:35:29 PM

Yes that sounds correct after I messed up the cyd #s I read the chiltons today. I am sorry about that.

1981coupe400ci · 02-24-2008, 07:27:29 PM

no problem... hopefully i can start it tomorrow or wednesday... i'm kind of afraid to do the break-in. 20 min at 2000rpm is no problem... but after i shut it down im affraid of cold air coming back up the open headers and possibly cracking a valve...

maybe just shove some paper towels/cloth into the header to prevent cold air from coming back up the header...??

SpeedAddict02 · 02-24-2008, 07:30:08 PM

you might be 180* off.. Meaning you probably are at tdc, only on the exhaust stroke instead of the compression stroke..

pull the dizzy up enough to clear the gear, and rotate it 180*.. also double check your firing order of your wires..

I will admit a brain fart I had.. lol I had a '91 GT a few years back.. Converted it over from EFI to carb, from auto to stick, did exhaust and a rear end swap.. Anyway, went to fire the motor for the first time, had cranking, backfiring, and all that.. but she wouldnt start.. I pulled the dist like 20x, checked for spark, fuel etc.. Come to find out, 3 days later, I was wiring the plugs with a SBC pattern instead of ford. LOL

anyway, double check your wires..

Chevy 350 · 02-24-2008, 10:14:46 PM

no 302 chevy no care

79camaro2001 · 02-24-2008, 10:23:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chevy 350

no 302 chevy no care

Don't care what you care about.

Might want to check that 180* deal. Was it popping?

Also is this EFI or carbed?

Knuckle Dragger · 02-24-2008, 10:27:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chevy 350

no 302 chevy no care

Now that's funny considering you always ask for advice about a third gen on a second gen board. This dude has been around a lot longer than you have. Maybe you should not post if you have nothing to contribute.

Back to the question. Once it blows your finger off the hole be sure you don't have to move the balancer too far. Most of the time you go backward. If you are going a long distance around you are likely 180 off. And like posted above, the exhaust stroke will give you some pressure, but nothing like compression. Sometimes you need to feel both to see the difference.

1981coupe400ci · 02-25-2008, 01:58:22 AM

its a stock 1993 f-150 so its EFI.

no pop, no sputter no nothin.... from what ive read i'm sure the distributor is in right but i think maybe i'm off just enough..... but i'll check about the 180 out.... if anything i'll throw the wires on 180 * off and see what happens.... had to do that on a chevy on time... worked out ok

74BIBELOT · 02-25-2008, 03:31:12 AM

1.-302 FIRING ORDER 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
2.-351 FIRING ORDER 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
3.-DISTRIBUTOR ROTATION=COUNTER CLOCKWISE (CHEVY=CLOCKWISE)
Not sure but some 302 engines could use the 351 firing order.
CHEVY DIZZY JUST 2 DIFF. POSITIONS 0-180
F... DIZZY 6 DIFF. POSITIONS.
Hope this helps.

-=79z28=- · 02-25-2008, 01:35:42 PM

i've heard with a big enough cam you have to swap the firing order to a 351?! i can't really figure out how a different firing order can work with a cam thats ground differently?

1981coupe400ci · 02-25-2008, 11:29:42 PM

some cams have he 351 firing order some have the 289-302 firing order.

H.O 302 have the 351 firing order

uses same crank but diffrent order... works kinda like the 5-7 cam swap some chevy people do.

its a stock 302 cam.. i'm gonna see what kind of trouble i can get into tomorrow before class.

lol