71 Ford truck 460 timing

[hellcruzer]

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.

[jerry clayton]

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?

[hellcruzer]

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

[hellcruzer]

Other side
truck2.jpg

[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

[hellcruzer]

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.

[hellcruzer]

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?

[hellcruzer]

Inside distributor
029.JPG

[hellcruzer]

carburetor

030.JPG

[hellcruzer]

Carburetor

031.JPG

[hellcruzer]

What can be done to reduce the fuel consumption?

[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???

[IC2]

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

[hellcruzer]

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

[hellcruzer]

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