I am getting ready to install the motor, but want to get everything ready before I set it in. As I'm putting it together I notice that there's no timing pointer? I'm assuming thses motors had one?

And if so...Where would I go to get one, other than praying there's one at a local you-pull-itt, and ebay of course?

William



1957 Ford Fairlane 500

292 Bored .30 over

Fordomatic

Will, you can buy them new from
tee-bird.com

Part Number:
6023A
Price:
$13.60
Description:
1955-57 Thunderbird: Timing pointer

Dave

Royal Oak, Michigan (Four miles north of Detroit, and 12 miles NORTH of Windsor, Canada).  That's right, we're north of Canada.

Ford 292 Y-Block major overhaul by simplyconnected

Apache:

Before you spend you 13.60, check to see if the pointer will fit.  If I remember correctly, you're working on a truck.  Bird pointers are Bird specific in my parts book.  Sorry, I don't have a truck book to cross reference with.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Sorry, I always assume everyone knows what i drive..lol



I drive a 57' Ford Fairlane 500 ;-)

William



1957 Ford Fairlane 500

292 Bored .30 over

Fordomatic

One other item about timing pointers. I have also seen later model 292 engines (1960-64) have a timing pointer setup where the crank dampener actually has the TDC mark only, and the timing pointer itself have degreed increments.

Most of the earlier (including your 57) should have the type where the timing pointer is one set mark, and the crank dampener has TDC and the degree increments stamped on the outer ring.

Don't know much about Tbirds - out of my league unfortunately.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

John is right, Will.  I always call before I order, just to be sure.  Bill or Ellis at tee-bird are the go-to guys.  Here's their number, 800-423-3723. 

By the way, if this isn't the right part, they will help find the correct pointer for you.  At the front of tee-bird's website, it says, "... We also stock parts for 1957-1959 Ford cars although these parts are not yet listed on this site."

If anyone sells it, tee-bird will find it.  Hope this helps.

-  Dave

Royal Oak, Michigan (Four miles north of Detroit, and 12 miles NORTH of Windsor, Canada).  That's right, we're north of Canada.

Ford 292 Y-Block major overhaul by simplyconnected

THANKS GUYS..i'm gonna call'm on monday...but i wanna start this thin so bad..u think i should just "do my best" and it'd be okay?

William



1957 Ford Fairlane 500

292 Bored .30 over

Fordomatic

Why not?  Many of the members retard their spark until they hear pinging while driving, then advance a decent amount to prevent detonation.

Royal Oak, Michigan (Four miles north of Detroit, and 12 miles NORTH of Windsor, Canada).  That's right, we're north of Canada.

Ford 292 Y-Block major overhaul by simplyconnected

Guess i'm gonna just try it by hand for now, try to order a pointer tomorrow

William



1957 Ford Fairlane 500

292 Bored .30 over

Fordomatic

Retard the spark until you hear pinging???  I don't think it would ping until you retarded it so far that it fired the wrong plug.  Apache, when you get the engine running, at idle, advance the timing until you get maximum idle rpm, then retard it enough to reduce the rpm by about 50.  That will get you in the ballpark.  Then drive it and if it pings under load, retard enough to stop the pinging.  If it doesn't ping initially, advance it until it does, then retard it until it stops.  I'm sure that's what Dave was referring to.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"