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Firing order question

pearljam724

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If my #1 piston is sitting at tdc and unlike this picture, my distributor pointer is pointing straight back to the firewall. Is that where I put plug wire #1 ? Then follow the firing order sequence ? I believe so, I just want to make sure because my distributor pointer doesn’t point toward cylinder two , like it does in this picture.

B94330D5-74E9-467C-90B1-E90662562D28.png
 
Sure you are not off by 180 degrees?
2 crankshaft revolutions / 1 distributor rotation
You may be on the top of the exhaust stroke, not the compression stroke.
 
If my #1 piston is sitting at tdc and unlike this picture, my distributor pointer is pointing straight back to the firewall. Is that where I put plug wire #1 ? Then follow the firing order sequence ?
Correct. The direction the rotor is pointing is irrelevant (assuming that #1 is at TDC on the compression stroke. as long as the #1 plug wire is in that tower.
 
Install the distributor correctly and get things to line up.
Use the factory service manual - you DO have one of those, right?
 
Correct. The direction the rotor is pointing is irrelevant (assuming that #1 is at TDC on the compression stroke. as long as the #1 plug wire is in that tower.
that's the first time I've heard someone say that and your right. I've never actually looked at the wire routing to see if there may be better options other than pointing at #1 cylinder.
 
Here's a useless fact. The "suggested" position of the rotor allows for the uniform production each individual spark plug wire length.
 
Here's a useless fact. The "suggested" position of the rotor allows for the uniform production each individual spark plug wire length.
Useless, it is. Cylinders 1 and 2 are the longest wires. For the pointer to be pointed toward the front as suggested. Is defeating that purpose.
 
now that I look at the position it makes sense, you could technically make the wires shorter if you ran them as the crow flies in the position with #1 tower pointed at #1 cylinder. 1,4,3,2 are clocked to the front!
 
YOU ARE ON THE RITE TRACK. TO VERIFY YOU ARE AT TDC #1.. BOTH INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES SHOULD BE CLOSED
 
If my #1 piston is sitting at tdc and unlike this picture, my distributor pointer is pointing straight back to the firewall. Is that where I put plug wire #1 ? Then follow the firing order sequence ? I believe so, I just want to make sure because my distributor pointer doesn’t point toward cylinder two , like it does in this picture.

View attachment 833619
Pull the number one plug, rotate the engine and when a puff of air pushes on your finger the rotor will be pointed at number one plug on the distributer, then follow the sequence.
 
that method will work just fine. as long as your engine has compression that you can feel.
Pull the number one plug, rotate the engine and when a puff of air pushes on your finger the rotor will be pointed at number one plug on the distributer, then follow the sequence.
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could be sum simple stuff, blown head gasket valve not sitting on the seat or broke off, even a hole in the cylinder head from injesting a small amount or foreign debris. HARBOR FREIGHT CAMERA CAN TELL YOU A LOT. PROBABLY FOR THE PRICE OF GASKETS. you make the call. every job is unique.
 
I learned a cool trick. It’s not too easy to crank the engine by hand and feel for air at the same time by yourself. Put a ballon over the hole attached to a threaded connection. Tells you exactly when air starts to exit and stop exiting. Or just use a dial gauge. I don’t like listening or feeling for air. It works, but not the easiest method in my opinion. The car has been back on the road for a few days now. Running better than ever. I got the 360 making good power. The temperatures dropping outside in the last few days drastically helps too. Feels like it has 50 more horsepower. Or it might just be my mechanical skills. I don’t know ? Ha ha !
 
I learned a cool trick. It’s not too easy to crank the engine by hand and feel for air at the same time by yourself. Put a ballon over the hole attached to a threaded connection. Tells you exactly when air starts to exit and stop exiting. Or just use a dial gauge. I don’t like listening or feeling for air. It works, but not the easiest method in my opinion. The car has been back on the road for a few days now. Running better than ever. I got the 360 making good power. The temperatures dropping outside in the last few days drastically helps too. Feels like it has 50 more horsepower. Or it might just be my mechanical skills. I don’t know ? Ha ha !
 
that sounds like a great idea.
hogranch
Thank you, you don’t have to listen or feel. Just watch the ballon. Works great if someone doesn’t have a dial gauge. Listening can be deceiving or difficult to decipher where the sound is coming from. Because air may be escaping from somewhere else other than cylinder one. Just buy a party pack of small balloons from the dollar store. A condum, might be better. You can watch it rise and fall above the valve covers. Will remind you, of the good old days.
 
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I learned a cool trick. It’s not too easy to crank the engine by hand and feel for air at the same time by yourself. Put a ballon over the hole attached to a threaded connection. Tells you exactly when air starts to exit and stop exiting. Or just use a dial gauge. I don’t like listening or feeling for air. It works, but not the easiest method in my opinion. The car has been back on the road for a few days now. Running better than ever. I got the 360 making good power. The temperatures dropping outside in the last few days drastically helps too. Feels like it has 50 more horsepower. Or it might just be my mechanical skills. I don’t know ? Ha ha !
You get a pushbutton with 2 alligator clips and connect them to the starter relay. that way you can hold your finger over the plug hole and push the button to crank the engine without the key in ignition. It won't start but will crank and push air at top of stroke in cylinder.
 
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