timing, distributor problems

[bart]

i recently dropped the motor back in, and i got it started up and warm. pulled the spout and checked it. i was sitting about 10* atc, to the left of the 0. before i pulled the motor, i was running around 16* btc, which was to the right of the 0.

when i stabbed the dizzy i had the VC off, both valves were closed, i had my finger in the spark plug hole, i got compression, when the piston was all the way up, i was at 0. i stabbed the dizzy with the rotor pointing to my #1 plug wire, back and slightly to the left.

ok, when i turn the dist counterclockwise...the idle gets worse for a sec and then the motor dies. if i turn it back towards the water neck, the idle gets better. the truck will not start unless the dist is in the perfect spot. what did i do wrong, and WTH am i now on the ATC side??

the timing chain was never touched when the motor was out...as a matter of fact the cover for the chain was never off.

 

[5.0Droptop]

i recently dropped the motor back in, and i got it started up and warm. pulled the spout and checked it. i was sitting about 10* atc, to the left of the 0. before i pulled the motor, i was running around 16* btc, which was to the right of the 0.

when i stabbed the dizzy i had the VC off, both valves were closed, i had my finger in the spark plug hole, i got compression, when the piston was all the way up, i was at 0. i stabbed the dizzy with the rotor pointing to my #1 plug wire, back and slightly to the left.

ok, when i turn the dist counterclockwise...the idle gets worse for a sec and then the motor dies. if i turn it back towards the water neck, the idle gets better. the truck will not start unless the dist is in the perfect spot. what did i do wrong, and WTH am i now on the ATC side??

the timing chain was never touched when the motor was out...as a matter of fact the cover for the chain was never off.

is this a mustang motor in a truck or is it s non ho motor?

 

[88 Fox GT]

Try putting a 15/16" socket on the crankshaft bolt which holds the harmonic balancer on. Turn the engine so the pointed is right at 10º BTDC. Then, move your distributor so the rotor is pointing at #1. (I made a mark on the inside of my distributor on the #1) This should put you as close to 10º BTDC as possible.
This should be a good spot to start from, then you can hook up your timing light with the SPOUT disconnected to check your base timing to be sure your starting at 10º BTDC. Then plug the SPOUT back in and make sure it starts and runs correctly.