Hello, I have a '71 Maverick with a 200 engine, automatic trans. After rebuilding the carb, it ran much better, but I feel I'm having timing issues now--some dieseling, occasional rough idle. I'm still using points in the distributor, and it looks like I'll have to replace them again--yeah, go electronic--I can't right now. I have an induction timing light and portable tach, so I can get the timing right--if it's off. A friend told me to manually raise the #1 piston to its top position and make a mark on the pulley to correspond to the TDC on the pointer. Then with the engine running at 600, and the two vacuum advance lines removed and blocked, turn the distributor with the light on until the pulley mark matches the TDC. Would this be right? Thank you for your advice!
That is close but not quite correct. Best advice I can give you is to read this. http://classicinlines.com/IgnitionTiming.asp
Thank you! That was quite informative. Looks like I'll adjusted the timing as the official Ford manual states. I know that for an engine with over 135,000 on it, it just won't have the power nor have the smoothness as a newer engine. One day, I'll do a rebuild!