1995 Mustang GT 5.0 HO timing problem

I am trying to determine the cause of a rough running 1995 Mustang GT
5.0 HO (150K miles). The owner (who is inexperienced with engines) had
powerwashed the engine and then replaced the distributor cap, wires and
plugs. The engine runs like hell. I swapped the wires back to the
13726548 firing order and it helped, but still runs rough. I
disconnected and checked each electrical connection for water intrusion
and everything was dry. When I tried timing the car (SPOUT
disconnected), it would die before I could get it anywhere near the
correct timing. I tried bumping the distributor gear a tooth each way
as well as clocking the spark plug wires. No luck.

I am considering removing the timing cover to check for a jumped chain.
Before I do this, does anyone know the correct position of the
distributor rotor/cap when the engine is at TDC? Does the #3 position
of the distributor face straight towards the firewall? The distributor
cap has a "1" on it, but I am not too sure that this really is the #1
position.

The car ran OK until it was modified, which is why I am not too excited
about pulling the timing cover....

Thanks,
Joe
McKinney, TX

> wrote

> I am trying to determine the cause of a rough running 1995 Mustang GT
> 5.0 HO (150K miles). The owner (who is inexperienced with engines) had
> powerwashed the engine and then replaced the distributor cap, wires and
> plugs. The engine runs like hell. I swapped the wires back to the
> 13726548 firing order and it helped, but still runs rough. I
> disconnected and checked each electrical connection for water intrusion
> and everything was dry. When I tried timing the car (SPOUT
> disconnected), it would die before I could get it anywhere near the
> correct timing. I tried bumping the distributor gear a tooth each way
> as well as clocking the spark plug wires. No luck.
>
> I am considering removing the timing cover to check for a jumped chain.
> Before I do this, does anyone know the correct position of the
> distributor rotor/cap when the engine is at TDC? Does the #3 position
> of the distributor face straight towards the firewall? The distributor
> cap has a "1" on it, but I am not too sure that this really is the #1
> position.

http://www3.telus.net/neatcrap/pics1...order_50ho.gif

MasterBlaster wrote:
> > wrote
>
> > I am trying to determine the cause of a rough running 1995 Mustang GT
> > 5.0 HO (150K miles). The owner (who is inexperienced with engines) had
> > powerwashed the engine and then replaced the distributor cap, wires and
> > plugs. The engine runs like hell. I swapped the wires back to the
> > 13726548 firing order and it helped, but still runs rough. I
> > disconnected and checked each electrical connection for water intrusion
> > and everything was dry. When I tried timing the car (SPOUT
> > disconnected), it would die before I could get it anywhere near the
> > correct timing. I tried bumping the distributor gear a tooth each way
> > as well as clocking the spark plug wires. No luck.
> >
> > I am considering removing the timing cover to check for a jumped chain.
> > Before I do this, does anyone know the correct position of the
> > distributor rotor/cap when the engine is at TDC? Does the #3 position
> > of the distributor face straight towards the firewall? The distributor
> > cap has a "1" on it, but I am not too sure that this really is the #1
> > position.
>
> http://www3.telus.net/neatcrap/pics1...order_50ho.gif

You can use the following procedure to verify your distributor is
stabbed correctly.

Remove the #1 spark plug (front one on passenger side).

Have a buddy bump the motor over with your finger over
the spark plug hole until you get compression. Look at the
timing marks and turn the motor with a breakover bar
on the crank bolt until the timing points to about 8
degrees BTDC.

Looking at your distributor find the #1 spark plug wire
on the cap, and use a magic marker to make a mark on
the body of the distributor at the same spot as the #1
terminal on the cap.

Slide the distributor into the engine so that the rotor
points to the mark you made on the distributor body.
Tighten the hold down bolt enough so that the
distributor can be turned with some effort. Put the
cap and spark plug back in; start the engine; set
the timing.

For more local Mustang tech help visit dfwstangs.net and go to The
Garage forum.