1973 F100 5.9L 360 : Timing Chain Installation

Asked by ChadAshley May 11, 2016 at 01:25 AM about the 1973 Ford F-100

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have my heads and intake manifold off. I
have put cylinder one at TDC. ( Piston is at
the top and cylinder one lifters are resting
at the bottom. I have aligned the dot marks
on the cogs so that the dot on the cam
sprocket is at bottom and the dot on the
crank shaft sprocket is at the top. That part
makes sense. However when I install the
chain cover and harmonic balancer, the 0
degree mark on the balancer does not line
up with the fin marker attached to the
cover plate. In fact, the 0 degree mark is
way over on the other side of the balancer.
I checked with a performance shop and
they verified that the balancer and the
timing cover are the stock parts. So my
question is, am I doing something wrong?
Or is this configuration some how right?

4 Answers

2,190

Google your question. There you will be able to see pictures if what your doing. An there's probably a video of it on YouTube. Check that out as well. Good luck.

220,965

Your timing mark on the balancer should be somewhat close to showing at the zero mark on the pointer. Intake and exhaust valves should be closed. Sounds like you are 180° off. Verify where the marks are suppose to be on the cam gear. #1 definitely needs to be at TDC. Once you get the timing chain on keep the cylinders lubed up and rotate the engine two revolutions to make sure the timing marks line back up to insure you are not off a tooth or two.

1 people found this helpful.
220,965

Make sure you are using the correct cylinder for #1, Ford is different from Chevy.

Best Answer Mark helpful
157,445

#1 cylinder on a Ford is passenger's side front. I'll bet that is the problem. It sounds like everything else you are doing is correct.

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