Thread: 71 Ford truck 460 timing

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I got a 1975 Ford F-100 with a 1971 460 truck engine. It has a edelbrock torker II intake manifold and a Holley 750(780) Can anybody help me with information how to adjust the ignition timing? Thanks.

the 460 wasn't in the trucks until 1973 ( except for the one I built in 1970 that Ford copied)

Do you have the ford distributor and is it points or electronic?
Vacume advance?
And where is the dist vacume hooked on the carb?

Here is a picture of the engine.
8e6b_3.jpg

Other side
truck2.jpg

can you post a pic of the carb and inside of the dist without the aircleaner or dist cap?

Looks like ognition box on the fenderwell behind the brake ---you will need to disconnect and plug the vacume line running to the distributor and set the timing around 12 to 14 degrees---check the vacume line to see if you have a lot or next to no vacume at idle---with it hooked back up the timing should advance as you rev the engine---since it is a 1971 engine it is hi compression and you will need premium gas and be wary of spark nock on accelleration

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

can you post a pic of the carb and inside of the dist without the aircleaner or dist cap?

Looks like ognition box on the fenderwell behind the brake ---you will need to disconnect and plug the vacume line running to the distributor and set the timing around 12 to 14 degrees---check the vacume line to see if you have a lot or next to no vacume at idle---with it hooked back up the timing should advance as you rev the engine---since it is a 1971 engine it is hi compression and you will need premium gas and be wary of spark nock on accelleration

It is a ignition box on the fenderwell. I am away at the moment but I will be home at Friday. I will take some more pictures then. The engine is coverted to unlead fuel.

Thanks Jerry, I have taken some new photos. I think the vacum line to the distributor my be connected to the wrong vacum port on the carburetor. What do you think?

Inside distributor
029.JPG

carburetor

030.JPG

Carburetor

031.JPG

What can be done to reduce the fuel consumption?

vacume line is on the correct port for the ford dist. unhook and plug the line when setting the timing- for a 1971 4* btc is listed, 10* for most other years---starting around mid 70s they retarted the camshaft 8* and advancing it back up will help--when they lowered the compression and did all the smog stuff the econ went to hell but advancing the cam, more timing and possibly going to 68 - 70 jets in the primaries will help performance---It isn't a 4 wheel drive is it???

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

vacume line is on the correct port for the ford dist. unhook and plug the line when setting the timing- for a 1971 4* btc is listed, 10* for most other years---starting around mid 70s they retarted the camshaft 8* and advancing it back up will help--when they lowered the compression and did all the smog stuff the econ went to hell but advancing the cam, more timing and possibly going to 68 - 70 jets in the primaries will help performance---It isn't a 4 wheel drive is it???

I do agree with the later '70s retarded camshaft in early 460's. It does entail a front of the engine tear down and a new pair of timing gears and new chain - which if it has over 50K miles, probably needs anyhow as the OEM's are 'silent nylon'. From doing that mod to a '76 F250 and a '79 F350, I can assure you that it does make a difference in gas mileage and even better, performance. Set the timing then at 9-10 deg BTDC. Also, trash that bitty 475/525 cfm OEM carb for something that has some venturi area so it can breathe a bit better - the mid to late '70's heads aren't the best

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

vacume line is on the correct port for the ford dist. unhook and plug the line when setting the timing- for a 1971 4* btc is listed, 10* for most other years---starting around mid 70s they retarted the camshaft 8* and advancing it back up will help--when they lowered the compression and did all the smog stuff the econ went to hell but advancing the cam, more timing and possibly going to 68 - 70 jets in the primaries will help performance---It isn't a 4 wheel drive is it???

No it's a 2 wheel drive

Originally Posted by IC2

I do agree with the later '70s retarded camshaft in early 460's. It does entail a front of the engine tear down and a new pair of timing gears and new chain - which if it has over 50K miles, probably needs anyhow as the OEM's are 'silent nylon'. From doing that mod to a '76 F250 and a '79 F350, I can assure you that it does make a difference in gas mileage and even better, performance. Set the timing then at 9-10 deg BTDC. Also, trash that bitty 475/525 cfm OEM carb for something that has some venturi area so it can breathe a bit better - the mid to late '70's heads aren't the best

The carb is a holley 3310 750 cfm