The Ford Barn

CJStefan · 07-17-2024, 01:38 PM

It fires right up, runs well, has 19.5" of vacuum, and accelerates as strong as I feel it should being my first flathead. Before I started the motor for the first time I lined the pointer and pulley mark up and the rotor was pointing right to #1. It fired up almost instantly after sitting for 4 years.
Anyway, on to my question. I hooked the timing light up to it yesterday. While the motors idling at about 575 RPMs, the bb that's pressed into the crank pulley is about an inch past the pointer. According to everything I read it should line right up at idle. Is it ion the right spot or what?

Update... I disconnected the advance and the BB moved even further clockwise from the pointer. I loosened the bolt for the distributor hold down clamp and rotated it counterclockwise and got the BB dead in line with the pointer. The motor picked up rpm, smoothed out like crazy and my vacuum went to 20 on the dot. I took it for about a half an hour drive which is the longest I've driven it so far and the temp stayed between 175 and 180 the entire time even sitting at stoplights. I shut it down for about 10 minutes I touched the carb and it was warm but I didn't have to pull my hand right off like I did yesterday so I'd say all is good. I appreciate everybody's input

07-17-2024, 01:38 PM	#1
CJStefan Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 181	8BA timing It fires right up, runs well, has 19.5" of vacuum, and accelerates as strong as I feel it should being my first flathead. Before I started the motor for the first time I lined the pointer and pulley mark up and the rotor was pointing right to #1. It fired up almost instantly after sitting for 4 years. Anyway, on to my question. I hooked the timing light up to it yesterday. While the motors idling at about 575 RPMs, the bb that's pressed into the crank pulley is about an inch past the pointer. According to everything I read it should line right up at idle. Is it ion the right spot or what? Update... I disconnected the advance and the BB moved even further clockwise from the pointer. I loosened the bolt for the distributor hold down clamp and rotated it counterclockwise and got the BB dead in line with the pointer. The motor picked up rpm, smoothed out like crazy and my vacuum went to 20 on the dot. I took it for about a half an hour drive which is the longest I've driven it so far and the temp stayed between 175 and 180 the entire time even sitting at stoplights. I shut it down for about 10 minutes I touched the carb and it was warm but I didn't have to pull my hand right off like I did yesterday so I'd say all is good. I appreciate everybody's input Last edited by CJStefan; 07-18-2024 at 10:40 AM.