1953 ford built hurricane engine M38A1 timing settings?

Headcase · Post by **Headcase** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 10:19 am

I am having trouble setting the timing on my 1953 M38A1 CDN1
I have several manuals and darned if I can find the degrees before top dead centre or after or what ever the case may be...?
If anyone can tell me what it is to be set at ...that would sure help me do it rather than read reemes of pages hunting for the info.

I have it set pretty much where it runs well but want to just set it and tighten it down.
thanks in adavnce
HC

Post by **wesk** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:32 am

The M38A1, M38A1 CDN & CDN 2 & 3 all use the same engine and ignition.

Original timing is set at 5 deg's BTDC. There should have been a timing tab on the front timing gear cover upper passenger side that has a TDC and a 5 DEG BTDC markings. The crank pulley has a notch or hole drilled in the rear groove rear edge. With modern fuels 87 Oct & up you can actually advance it another 2 or 3 degrees and get a better runner.

This is the correct timing tab set-up

Here's the view from the top

This is the earlier M38 setup but notch is typical.

Another earlier M38 with the typical drilled hole.

skyjeep50 · Post by **skyjeep50** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:33 am

Go to the "Downloads" section of this website, click on M38A1, go to page 2 of the list of manuals available, click on TM9-8014, go to page 170 (Section 149) - Ignition Timing.

The number is 5 degrees BTDC.

You can also do a search of all posts using the "search" function and get a bunch more posts dealing with ignition timing issues.

Headcase · Post by **Headcase** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:53 pm

Awsome info...have found the notch and now cleaning more to find the stamped marks... thanks all for helping me out...still warm enough here for a drive if the rain ever stops!

Post by **wesk** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 2:02 pm

You are welcome. It's been 20 blow overnight here for 3 days and today the daytime high has climbed to 25.

Headcase · Post by **Headcase** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:50 pm

Warming up here so that means more rain..but... could always be worse right?
Any way i was under the hood where i am spending most of my time and saw that there is the tab that you show in you pics. It has the tow lines on it and is spot welded to the timing chain cover...I am not seeing any bolts to bolt it on. It has a smal fork on the end with two prongs and that small gap between the two prongs seems to be approx the middle of the two lines.
Are the tow lines tha same as the lines that one would fins stamped on the timing chain cover?

If so the then the first line would be 5BTDC and the second lin TDC correct?
What about this little gap and the fork then...?

I read the downloadable manual for this in the TM9-8014 and it lits the three ways to set the tining...thinking I'll go with the second way the timing light. just watned to know which line to try to set it to or the gap?

thanks again soon out from under the hood! ? Ha! H Case

Post by **wesk** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:58 pm

with two lines the one on the passenger side is 5 deg BTDC

with two tits or points then the tit or point on the passenger side is 5 deg BTDC.