Locating your "Top Dead Center Marks" and how I set my timing

For those of you who are new at timing your 1960's 170ci straight six Ford and have no idea where the TDC (top dead center) marks are....here's something I put together after a lot of hassle searching for it.

The TDC block mark is way down there almost hidden on a slanted out part of your block...probably covered in oil residue.  The pulley mark is a V notch located on the lip.  Get under the van to find and mark it white.

TO SET THE TIMING....

1. Loosen your distributor clamp  
2. Hoop up your timing light
3. Start your engine
4. Make sure your idle is around 500-550 (it's pretty low for me)
5. Set your timing light to "0" and turn your distributor till the marks line up.
6. Set the correct degree on the timing light. Twist the distributor till the marks line up.. I think mine works nice at 5 degrees advanced.
7. Tighten the distributor clamp (the hardest thing to do)
8. Give it a run!

good luck!

simple! nice write up.

this is awesome. thanks! So the idle should be set at 0 yeah and then adjust up from that with the RPMs raised? I've never done this before so any specs would be nice. Thanks!