Spark Plug wires on a distributor cap

[57rookie]

At the end of the day does it really matter which distributor cap terminal you start connecting spark plug wires to so long as you go clockwise with the engine firing order of 18436572. It This a fair statement?? I have been stressing about my distributor replacement and then I realized if I keep it simple and mark where the old rotor has stopped and then put the new one facing to the same point then when connecting the new wires (have to replace the wires for HEI) that as long as I go clockwise in the firing order it does not really matter where I start plug wire #1 on the cap. Hope I am right here.

[B. W.]

No it does't matter. You can put #1 any where you like & just follow the firing order. (in the correct direction!)

[Steeveedee]

B.W. is correct. But if someone other than you goes to work on the ignition, they're going to freak out.

[57rookie]

OK thanks gentlemen. Reason I asked is when i traced out from the spark plug in the block to the distributor cap on my current points setup I found that #1 is way over on the passenger side of the cap. It did throw me for a loop until i realized that moving clockwise that the firing order was still good.

[demian5]

#1 is in the right place when the rotor tip is pointing towards the #1 cylinder on the motor.

[VetteVet]

What probably happened in your case was that the previous owner had dropped the distributor in on no. 6 cylinder on the compression stroke instead of no. 1, so instead of pulling the distributor out and rotating it 180 * he just moved the no.1 wire over to the no.6 tower and followed with 8436572. CW.

One other problem you might run into is the distributor timing. You may not be able to rotate the distributor enough to get your timing without the vacuum diaphragm hitting the intake manifold.

[Steeveedee]

^^^ Yup. Now, if you ever think that a member of your family might be on the road and have a problem with the truck, you might want to think about popping the distributor out, going half a turn, dropping it back in and moving the wires around half way. I've known enough "mechanics" that got confused and sold timing chains and all kinds of paraphernalia, trying to sort out an easy problem.

I made it a habit to make the vehicle work exactly as it should. No "start button" under the dash, etc., because my wife got all kinds of indignant about any little thing out of the expected. Don't get me started on toilet seats.

[B Myers]

Originally Posted by 57rookie

At the end of the day does it really matter which distributor cap terminal you start connecting spark plug wires to so long as you go clockwise with the engine firing order of 18436572. It This a fair statement?? I have been stressing about my distributor replacement and then I realized if I keep it simple and mark where the old rotor has stopped and then put the new one facing to the same point then when connecting the new wires (have to replace the wires for HEI) that as long as I go clockwise in the firing order it does not really matter where I start plug wire #1 on the cap. Hope I am right here.

It does matter, the best way to not make a mistake is to rotate engine to #1 TDC meaning the rotor is on the #1 plug wire connection on the cap and the balancer mark is straight up on TDC then remove distributor and install new one and it really doesn't matter where the rotor points as long as you start your plug wire rotation at that point. I think that's what youre getting at where you say it doesn't matter, your'e right as long as the engine is at #1 TDC and you start the plug wire installation where the rotor is pointing.

[57taskforce]

All of the above is true. I once helped my father in law get an old 350 running. It had a stretched timing chain and I couldn’t get enough timing in it without the vacuum advance hitting the intake. I moved the number wire over one terminal and finished the firing order. Got it running good enough for him to drive around a little while he gathered parts to fix the problem the right way.

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by VetteVet

What probably happened in your case was that the previous owner had dropped the distributor in on no. 6 cylinder on the compression stroke instead of no. 1, so instead of pulling the distributor out and rotating it 180 * he just moved the no.1 wire over to the no.6 tower and followed with 8436572. CW.

This used to be a pretty common thing back in the day. I have bought a number of rigs over the years that had the wires on a 180-out cap and rotor. Have worked on a few buddies rigs that had the same thing.

Gary