i've got my engine apart for a rebuild and i'm wondering if there's any difference between the '76 360 timing gears that i have and any older ones. i've heard that, due to emissions, a different gear can add to performance. is this true? if so, what should i look for?
any info would be great

 

Hi,

What your are referring to is what I believe is called "timing the Cam". This involves a "Degree wheel". The Cam can be advanced or retarded. This setting depends on the Cam spec's.

That's about all I know about it as I have never performed the adjustment.

 

Put a pre-73 timing chain set in it, After 73 ford added i think it was 8 degrees of advance in the cam timing for emmisions and when you get rid of that it adds about 20HP. I did it on my 76 390 and noticed a big difference in power and how it ran, I also have a comp cam but I think you would notice a difference even in a stock application

 

how is the pre-73 timing kit different? would i be able to line the two sprockets up differently? what sprocket would i need new? or would i need both of them?
thanks for the info so far

 

anybody? what sprocket is changed? or are they both different on the older engines? is there any way i could just move one of them a few teeth either way to do the same thing as a different sprocket?

 

In the early '70's the cam timing was retarded (4° I think) for emissions reasons. The teeth on the sprocket are spaced farther apart than the change in timing so just moving the chain on the sprocket won't work. BTW, I think it was just the bottom gear that changed. If you get an aftermarket set that has the 3 keyways on the bottom gear, you'll be able to set it where you want.