I HAVE A 89 5.0. I HAVE 3 QUESTIONS ABOUT TIMING ADJUSTMENT.
1. WHERE ON THE DISTRIBUTOR IS THE BOLT I NEED TO LOOSEN. (FRONT/BACK/LEFT/RIGHT)
2.IS THE HARMONIC BALANCER MARKED SO THAT I CAN GET AN ACCURATE SETTING.
3.WHICH DIRECTION DO I TURN THE DISTRIBUTOR TO "ADVANCE" THE TIMING.(CLOCKWISE/COUNTERCLOCKWISE)

 

The bolt is on top of the intake manifold at the base of the distributor. The balancer should be marked...look closely at it. You'll know which way to turn it once you put a light on it.

 

You may need a special wrench to get at the loosening bolt for the distributor. They make one that has a couple of funky bends in it specificly for this. Once it is loosened and the timing is set (I ran 16* in my 5.0 on good gas), be very careful that the process of tightening the bolt doesn't rotate or move the distrubutor at all. Re-check it once it is tightened with the gun.

 

yes it's a 1/2" bolt at the base to hold it from turning.

pretty sure you go clockwise...if your shooting the marks you will see a range from 10-0-20

10*-0* is ATDC , and retards.....the 0*-20* is btdc and advance

with the car not running, get under it, and chalk up the timing marks...you might need to bump the starter over to move the marks where you can see them. then wipe off the excess....the lines will be bright white...a crayon also works...

after starting the car, you need to remove the SPOUT connector.

it is a plug on the end of the dist harness......then shoot the timing and adjust accordingly.

don't forget to replace the SPOUT after you tighten the bolt down and re shoot to make sure it didn't move...it usually moves a bit.

if you forget it, you'll run like you lost 40 hp.

 

THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO!