On the front of your engine down by the crankshaft toward the passenger side you should find a metal pointer that sticks out over the crank dampener (a thick metal ring on the crankshaft). On this crank dampener, you should find some numbers stamped in (you may have to clean off some crud). The numbers shoud read something like 20 I I I I 10 I I I I 0 I I I I 10 I I I I 20. The zero in the middle is top dead center on #1 in your firing order. The numbers to the right of zero are degrees of advance. The numbers to the left are retard. Typically, this era Ford will run from 6 to 10 degrees initial advance (with the vacuum advance unhooked and plugged. Clean the crannk dampener with some good solvent, then with a white or yellow paint pen, mark the proper timing mark and the edge of the above mentioned pointer. Unhook and plug the vacuum hose going to the vacuum advance (the round thing sticking out of the side of the distributor). Hook up your timing light to #1 cyl. (the front cyl on the passenger side) Loosen the distributor hold down bolt, start the engine and adjust so that the timing light flashes as the two marks are aligned.
