does any one have specific instructions for setting the timing with a timing light ?????i recently replaced the head gaskets on my 94 v6 3.0 and every thing went fine... the truck is not running 100%, and i feel its because the engine is out of time... i set the motor to tdc and made sure all the timing marks lined up when put a new belt on it... also i made marks on the rotar and the distributor to make sure it went back the same way ( i set the motor to tdc before i removed any of the parts) i assume a vaccume line needs to be plugged or a diagnostic port jumpered before i put a timing light on it. does any one have any advice or specific instructions ???? please help

10 degrees Before top dead center at idle, with warm engine, and E1 and TE1 shorted on the diagnostic connector.

Honestly have no idea how to help for this but I'd check factory service manual

This guy gets it.

A Chiltons or Haynes is a great tool too.

Whats the mechanical history and why are you timing it? (symptoms)

gigerunner, thanks for the advice i knew something had to be jumpered. bills86e, the t4r had blown head gaskets, i replaced them, the timing belt, waterpump, and thermostat. i reassembled the motor exactly as the all the timing marks are supposed to line up, (when the motor is tdc) and made sure the distributor was positioned the correct way as well... once it was all together it fired right up, but i can tell its running at 70%. i figured if i timed it the correct way with a timing light, the t4r might be back to 100%

Incorrect routeing of the vacuum hoses, especially the three together comeing out under the plenom on passenger side need to be correct to the vacuum switching valves down low on passenger side fender.
My other advice is to fully clean the TB & IAC with CRC throttle body cleaner, Modulator internal filter (take cap off top), look for hood vac line diagram, or check internet or a close-up picture, Gap the *plugs, test the compression on each cylinder, Charge the battery, clean corrosion off rotor & distrib cap brass electrical contacts, report back!

Bills86e

best info I have gotten from ANYONE. Its going in the garage Saturday... i'll report back with results

It turns out the t4r was 5 degrees past tdc. luckily the hood on my dads t4r of the same year still had the sticker with the correct timing info. i proceeded to jumper the diagnostic port, start the motor and with a quick rotation of the distributor brought the motor to 10 degrees before tdc @ 800 rmps. besides that i did clean the corrosion off of the cap and rotor. the T4r is a completely different animal and have noticed gains in HP and MPG immediately. I only wish i would have known that the information i had been looking for the whole time was under the hood on a sticker. i still plan on checking all the other stuff Bills86e mentioned, in time . thanks for the info... its been more than helpful