ford 302 upgrade to Efi from central FI on 84 country squire, suggestions wanted

ok next stupid question i do belive fords had a 2 prong plug you pull to set the timing. it's near the distributor flat and i belive(not sure on memory here) its yellow? You pull the plug off set timing and then replug it afterwards. If you don't do that it could be throwing the ecm off?

 

I'm gonna give you guys a simple tip that even many experienced mechanics don't seem to know. You even see it all the time on the TV shows where the engine is backfiring and shooting flames because the timing is off.

Manually turn your engine until the required degree marker is lined up with the pointer. Hook your timing light up to #1 plug wire and turn on the ignition. Slowly turn the distributor until the light flashes. Your car is now static timed.

It is not uncommon to get a Ford dist. one tooth off. If you have to turn it too far for your light to flash, pull it out and re-clock it to the proper position. Fords will run, albeit crappily, one tooth off. The other problem is that someone may have moved all the plug wires over one position to correct this instead of re-clocking the distributor. Check the manual to see where #1 is "supposed" to be on the dist. cap.

 

Mac i like OldFoxs suggestion as it is so simple and often over looked . why not give it a shot might just save you aloot of

 

We also don't know if the cam specs were checked out with a degree wheel.

 

Is the knock (Ping) something that changes or is it fairly constant? Do certain things make it worse?/Better? What about the load on the car? Are you hauling a tractor trailer behind it? What about the engine running temperature? Below 200? Crappy gas? Fuel filter changed lately? Fuel pressure OK? Too hot a set of plugs? Borrow a temperature probe from the autoparts store and check your exhaust manifold temp. Higher than 950 degrees = lean= PING!
I'd start by getting the timing set statically like my buddy ahead of me says and then recheck your timing with everything hooked up. See if your advance mechanism is working. Vacuum advance diaphragm intact? Does it even have one? Where is the cam timing? Valve adjustment? (It could happen!)
How bad is it? I hate it when my engine knocks. It must be frustrating as h-ll!
Let me know how it goes. I am interested as I might be changing over to EFI soon and need some ideas where to go if something like this happens to me.