289 distributor timing HELP!

[65FBE2]

I recently rebuilt a 289 to concours level except I added a petronix modual to the distributor. Its in a 65 GT Mustang. My problem is that when I put the distributor in the block and I get it timed correctly, the vacume advance is to far to the left and hits the upper radiator hose. I removed the dist and moved it one tooth on the cam in the counter-clockwise direction which should have allowed me to rotate the housing to the right and center the advance unit. BUT, when I went to start the car it would not run until I had it about 50 degree's advanced. And once running it would not keep running below 40 deg. What did I do wrong? When I moved it back one tooth it started and ran fine but I have no room to install the vacume tub.

 

[D.Hearne]

The harmonic balancer's outer ring may have slipped. Get the #1 piston at TDC on the firing stroke and see where the pointer is in relation to the timing marks on the balancer.

 

[2+2GT]

I recently rebuilt a 289 to concours level except I added a petronix modual to the distributor. Its in a 65 GT Mustang. My problem is that when I put the distributor in the block and I get it timed correctly, the vacume advance is to far to the left and hits the upper radiator hose. I removed the dist and moved it one tooth on the cam in the counter-clockwise direction which should have allowed me to rotate the housing to the right and center the advance unit. BUT, when I went to start the car it would not run until I had it about 50 degree's advanced. And once running it would not keep running below 40 deg. What did I do wrong? When I moved it back one tooth it started and ran fine but I have no room to install the vacume tub.

Always do this with the engine at TDC. If you have any doubt about the outer ring of the damper, pull the bolt and look at the front of the crankshaft, the key slot should directly be on top.

Once this is verified, install the distributor with the rotor, when done, pointing toward the master brake cylinder. If you have the wires in the proper place on the cap, you should end up with the advance pointing toward the radiator. This varies, because every distributor gear is a little different.

 

[65FBE2]

The balancer is new and was verified when I installed it. What confuses me is that it starts and runs and times correctly with the dist in its current location, In my mind it should not make any differents if I move the dist one tooth on the cam except to move the dist housing counter clockwise to get proper timing which is the goal. But when I do that, I get this crazy 50 advance before it will run deal going. Makes no sense to me!

 

[rbohm]

make sure you are using the correct plug wire to trigger your timing light. remember that on ford engines the number one cylinder is passenger side front, where as on chevy engines it is drivers side front.

 

[65FBE2]

I'm going to try moving the plug wires on the cap and see what that does. I don't want to fix it this way because then the wires are not in the factory location. I'll let you know what happens. By the way 2+2GT, That is a very clean, nicely done engine bay!

 

[2+2GT]

By the way 2+2GT, That is a very clean, nicely done engine bay!

I won't claim credit for that. It's not mine. Mine is a little on the revolting side right now. Fortunately, it runs a lot better than it looks.