302 engine trouble (timing) still in need of help!

I have a 1980 F150 4WD that I have recently put a new 302 motor in. The company that I bought the motor from is a reputable local company that I have done business with before. However, the new motor runs pretty rough and timing seems to be off. The previous motor ran good with the exception of worn rings. The new motor is a long block with new cam, lifters, bearings, ect... I can not get this thing in time. I have set it to top dead center countless times and checked the timing (which is off). The truck will not idle on its own. I have replaced the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, distributor and checked the coil. All of the plugs are getting fire, but, it still runs rough. It does not start very easy and I have to keep the motor at about 1000 rpm to keep it running. It also will not run unless it is at about 30 degrees below top dead center. As I was saying before, the previous motor ran pretty good. It is getting plenty of gas and I can not find any vacuum leaks. It isn't smoking and it is not backfiring through the exhaust or carburator. I would appreciate any help that you can give me.

I have also advanced and retarded the distributor one tooth. I am getting fire to all of the plugs. Could this be a problem with the cam gear alignment? I now have the timing cover off the motor with it set at top dead center. The mark on the timing gear is at the top and the mark on the crank gear is also on top. Is this correct?

Every Ford that I have ever worked on has always had the mark on the timing gear down and the crank gear up, like next to each other. I don't have a book available for that particular size engine so I can't verify it for sure. Try it and see if it works for you.
Good luck,
Jim





I have a 1980 F150 4WD that I have recently put a new 302 motor in. The company that I bought the motor from is a reputable local company that I have done business with before. However, the new motor runs pretty rough and timing seems to be off. The previous motor ran good with the exception of worn rings. The new motor is a long block with new cam, lifters, bearings, ect... I can not get this thing in time. I have set it to top dead center countless times and checked the timing (which is off). The truck will not idle on its own. I have replaced the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, distributor and checked the coil. All of the plugs are getting fire, but, it still runs rough. It does not start very easy and I have to keep the motor at about 1000 rpm to keep it running. It also will not run unless it is at about 30 degrees below top dead center. As I was saying before, the previous motor ran pretty good. It is getting plenty of gas and I can not find any vacuum leaks. It isn't smoking and it is not backfiring through the exhaust or carburator. I would appreciate any help that you can give me.

I have also advanced and retarded the distributor one tooth. I am getting fire to all of the plugs. Could this be a problem with the cam gear alignment? I now have the timing cover off the motor with it set at top dead center. The mark on the timing gear is at the top and the mark on the crank gear is also on top. Is this correct?

I agree with jim, I think the cam is way out. When you tach it up does it die out say.. around 6K? If so, who ever set the cam set it outside of stock. The timing marks should be straight up and down with the marks as close to each other as you can get.
ervinj

Hey Irvin, Is that an interference engine or can he adjust the cam with out damaging anything?

I agree with jim, I think the cam is way out. When you tach it up does it die out say.. around 6K? If so, who ever set the cam set it outside of stock. The timing marks should be straight up and down with the marks as close to each other as you can get.
ervinj

I'm not sure about adjusting the cam without damaging anything. But I do know that it IS set wrong as winddrifter stated. Both marks should be pointing at each other. The crank mark should be point up and the timing gear mark should point down. So that they are both point AT each other. If they are both pointing up, I would take it back to the company and ask them to straighten it out due to it was their mishap and you don't really know how to fix it now.