I need to replace the distributor on my 1990 f-150 302 how is this done?

 

Take the cap and adapter off the top of the distributor.
Turn the engine by hand (crankshaft bolt) until the pointer in the distributor points to the rear about where number one wire was on the cap.
Then look at the pointer down at the crankshaft damper an position the engine where the pointer points to Top Dead Center (TDC).
Do not move the engine until after the new distributor is in place.
Remove the hold down bolt and pull the distributor out.
Drop the new distributor in and have pointer pointing to where number one wire would be on the cap.
Start the distributor hold down bolt until you can just turn the distributor by hand.
Remove the SPOUT shorting bar.
Hook a timing light to number one wire after you put the rotor, cap and adapter back on.
Start the engine and turn the distributor until the pointer points to 10 degrees BTDC.
Tight the hold down bolt and recheck the timing.
If still at 10 BTDC put the SPOUT back in and check to see that the timing moves some.
If so remove the light and you are done.

 

Thanks sub,how do i know if i have a steel gear or cast?

 

Do I need a steel gear or a cast gear?

 

You should have a non-roller flat cam so it would be a cast gear.
Steel gear is for roller cams.

 

thanks sub.can how can you tell by looking at the gear?

 

The smaller portion of the gear will have a rough cast texture for the cast gear and the steel gear will have a smooth machined surface.

 

The cast one is rougher.

 

Thanks guys,another question where is the spout on my truck and do the auto parts stores rent out timing light?

 

SPOUT location:

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Well today I got a new dizzy and put her in and she fired right up hit it with the timing light to 10 degrees and eveything sounded great so i shut it off and I here the fuel pump still running wich it didn`t do before so i had to disconect the battey.What could be the problem now?

 

I hope you pulled the SPOUT out when you timed it.

Sound like the fuel pump relay is bad or the computer has a short to ground on pin 22.

 

yeah i pulled the spout to set the timing,where is the pump relay and how do i test it?and does this mean i need a new computer if the relay is ok?

 

The fuel pump relay is on the drivers fender apron:


Pull the EEC power relay out of its socket and the fuel pumps should stop.
If they do not you have a bad fuel pump relay.
If they do you may have a bad EEC power relay also but your fuel pump relay may still be bad too.
Lets not talk about the computer yet.

 

Great thread guys, and just the info I was looking for. I don't have my manual yet and have to change the distributor on my '96 F-250 XL with a 4.9L 6 cylinder. Does anyone know the timing I need to set for in my case? Thanks in advance.

John