Thread: My old 390 Tbird will only run at 45 btdc???

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Seems like a dumb question - but which plug are you using as #1? It's the RIGHT front. You said the rotor was pointing at #5, which would be the second cylinder on a Ford to fire and the front left - and the dist rotates CCW, opposite GM. If you are 45*, you are exactly 1 cylinder number of degrees off (360/8 = 45). FO is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8

Originally Posted by R Pope

Okay, it's 45 crank degrees, that's only 22.5 at the dist. Still halfway between the two towers, could spark to either one.
45 degrees initial will kick back hard enough to damage the starter. I still think you are reading something wrong.

Originally Posted by IC2

Seems like a dumb question - but which plug are you using as #1? It's the RIGHT front. You said the rotor was pointing at #5, which would be the second cylinder on a Ford to fire and the front left - and the dist rotates CCW, opposite GM. If you are 45*, you are exactly 1 cylinder number of degrees off (360/8 = 45). FO is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8

Guys, Birdland posted this about seven months ago (five posts over two days) and has not been back since. I doubt seriously that we'll see any response from him at this point. Just my thoughts, not saying don't reply...

Originally Posted by rspears

Guys, Birdland posted this about seven months ago (five posts over two days) and has not been back since. I doubt seriously that we'll see any response from him at this point. Just my thoughts, not saying don't reply...

I guess I need a 'spanking' now. I usually look at post dates but was following B Pope's lead - dang

Sorry I haven't been back in a while -- other stuff going on. I found that it was actually mechanically off. Looks like the cam gear locating pin is mis clocked. I moved the chain 3 teeth. It runs great and has good manifold vac. Thanks for your help.

Originally Posted by birdland

Sorry I haven't been back in a while -- other stuff going on. I found that it was actually mechanically off. Looks like the cam gear locating pin is mis clocked. I moved the chain 3 teeth. It runs great and has good manifold vac. Thanks for your help.

Good to see you back birdland! And thanks for taking time to close the loop on what was wrong with your engine, and your fix.