I mucked up the timing on my 4.5 - trying to pin down
a missing/galloping issue under load and higher rpms.
Changed fuel filter, better, but still some there.
Suspected the timing was advanced - last setting was done by ear.

If I'm not mistaken, the balancer is rotating on the hub - oy !

the details:
New Timing Chain, Crane Ign, was running ok, last tune by ear
(could be a little advanced).

Timing light showed WAY off - as in some major mark I painted white that I knew was nowhere near TDC - but it ran ok.
Hmmm.

Went through the Crane line up -
Rotate motor to TDC, dist rotor looks one notch retarded.
So I pull it and move it fwd one notch and verify the crane is set correctly - looks fine, but crank and kaplow ! - backfire through intake - ok, that's not right.

This AM, try to reverse the error - move dizzy back on notch.
This time, it idles VERY high like its WAY advanced.
AND - the timing marks are rotating counter clockwise !

So, it appears my balancer is off and freewheeling at higher RPMS.

I suppose I could pop the pass valve cover, align the cam mark,
and approx TDC.

What's involved with a fix ?

thanks,
Joe Warner
Nashville, TN