Can I Turn My Engine Backwards?

Engine, ignition, fuel, cooling, exhaust

Moderators: Ranchero50, DuckRyder

Post Reply
User avatar
colnago
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 1882
Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2011 8:48 pm
Location: Ridgecrest, CA

Can I Turn My Engine Backwards?

Post by colnago »

My distributor is off a bit, so I need to pull it and realign it (it's off a tooth on the camshaft). But in doing this, it won't be lined up with the shaft going down to the oil pump. In order to re-line it up with the shaft, I will probably have to manually turn the crank/cam back and forth.

Sorry, I'm not explaining this very well. But my main question is, can I turn the crank/cam backwards on an FE without damaging anything?

Joseph
"Sugar", my 1967 Ford F250 2WD Camper Special, 352FE, Ford iron "T" Intake with 1405 Edelbrock, Duraspark II Ignition, C6 transmission, front disc brake conversion.
Busboy
Blue Oval Fanatic
Blue Oval Fanatic
Posts: 943
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:51 am
Location: Nampa Idaho

Re: Can I Turn My Engine Backwards?

Post by Busboy »

Absolutely.
1967 F-100 4x4 custom cab.
Another 67 F-100 4x4 custom cab.
2016 F-150 Eco-Boost 2.7 liter. (It will smoke the tires!)
1972 F-350 Sport Custom cab & chassis.
1972 F-250 Explorer Special, Camper Special.
1971 F-100 custom. 302, C-4, p.s. p.b. factory 65 amp alternator with transistorized voltage regulator.
User avatar
basketcase0302
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 6805
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:11 am
Location: Hawthorne, Florida

Re: Can I Turn My Engine Backwards?

Post by basketcase0302 »

Yes you can turn it backwards without harming the engine Joseph.
But be cautious in doing so using the balancer bolt, (I always pulled the spark plugs if the compression was too much to grab ahold of the balancer and turn it by hand to get it aligned).
And make sure your on the compression stroke though before you waste time, (yep I've been there done that a few times LOL)!
Using a remote starter button while watching the timing marker come around makes it for short work, (just get it close using the remote starter button then finish bringing the piston up by hand).

Nice to see you at this point finally! :hd:
Jeff
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=46251
SOLD-71 F-350 dually flatbed, 302 / .030 over V-8 with a "baby"C-6, B & M truckshifter, Dana70/4.11 ratio, intermittent wipers, tilt steering, full LED lighting on the flat bed, and no stereo yet (this way I can hear the rattles to diagnose)! SOLD!
Many Ford bumps / one 76' EB / and several dents through the years.
A lot of "oddball" Ford parts collected from working on them for 34 years now!
2008 Ford Escape 4 x 4
User avatar
Ranchero50
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5799
Joined: Wed Nov 08, 2006 7:02 pm
Location: Maryland, Hagerstown
Contact:

Re: Can I Turn My Engine Backwards?

Post by Ranchero50 »

I just bump the starter while pushing down on the distributor until the oil pump drive engages and the dizzy drops all the way to the block. Easy peasy.
'70 F-350 CS Cummins 6BT 10klb truck 64k mile Bahama Blue

Contact me for CNC Dome Lamp Bezels and Ash Tray pulls.
Post Reply