Distributor help

[skokie]

Ok got a hei queston here. How do you get the firing order right on a 350 when all of the plug wires were pulled in the first place.

Thanks a bunch

[Classic Heartbeat]

1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
#1 is Driver side
#1 front Drivers side #2 front passager side #3 second back drivers and so on.

to find #1 on the cap, and pull #1 spark Plug out.
Place your finger in hole Bump the Engine over untell you get a air trys to push your finger out from the spark plug hole. Thats is when #1 is at top bead center. Place your distributer back in the engine, be sure that the rotor is pointing at #1 cylinder.
Now replace your spark plug and connect a plug wire from the #1 possition on your distributer, (points to the #1 cylinder), to the #1 spark plug. Now move counter clock wise and this is the order on the distributer cap. #1, #2, #7, #5, #6, #3, #4, #8
Hope this helps. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[bpmcgee]

1) Get the engine to TDC on the compression stroke (have to take off the drivers side valve cover to watch #1 valves).

2) Mark on the distributor BODY where the #1 plug should go. That's normally the second plug clockwise of the cap connector.

3) Install the distributor so that the rotor is over this mark. This should in theory be 0 degrees advanced.

4) Reinstall the cap and plugs, the firing order is 18436572.

5) Have someone try to start it and slowly rotate the distributor until it will start.

6) Time it with a timing gun.

Voila!

Brian

[bpmcgee]

Originally posted by WES
1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

Wes, double check this. I think you may have it a little mixed up.

Brian

[Classic Heartbeat]

bpmcgee, Your right, I don't know what I was thinking!! Long day!! LOL WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[Classic Heartbeat]

You will find a diagram on my site. It is in the tips section. Here is a link: http://www.classicheartbeat.com/Firing%20order.htm
WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[Solver]

the firing order as fas I know for all 350's is 18436572

[ZOOMY]

I've used bpmcgee's firing order for 40 years......Zoomy

[skokie]

Ok update. We have put it in but we have a issue. With the vacumn tube from the carb unplugged it runs pretty good if you plug it in the carb backfires. What could be causing this?

Thanks

[bpmcgee]

Originally posted by ZOOMY
I've used bpmcgee's firing order for 40 years......Zoomy

You can't have Zoomy. I'm only 36!!

Skokie, what is your timing set to? Make sure your PCV is in, and the vacuum advance is disconnected and PLUGGED at the carb. Your truck should be someplace between 8-12 degrees advanced at idle.

Brian

[skokie]

By pcv I am guessing that you mean the hose from the advance from the dist to the carb? If that is correct then the pvc is plugged and disconnected.
Sorry newbie here..

[skokie]

Ok with pcv plugged it is backfiring through the carb. I will un plug it and let it run so i can get the timing off of it.

[bpmcgee]

Skokie,

No, PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. That's the valve that sticks out of your valve cover and goes to a port on the front of the carb.

The vacuum line to the distributor is called the Vacuum Advance. That should be disconnected and capped. Also, make sure all your other ports are capped if they don't have a hose on them.

My guess is that you've got too much advance. Either that or your idle mixture is set too lean.

Have you been doing anything else to the engine other than the distributor?

Brian

[skokie]

Ok from what I can see I have no pcv in there. There is no plug in the valve cover that goes anywhere. As far as timing goes I cant really tell because of the very small mark on the balancer. Need to paint that neon green or something. With vacumn advance plugged inn carb backfires. Should I try turning the dist all the way to the left (if facing truck) and then plug in the hose. Also I have not touched anything but the distributor.

Thanks a bunch..

Like I said newbie here. Just hope I can learn something without jacking something up ..

[bpmcgee]

Yeah, you have to get the timing set without the vacuum advance. If you have to turn the distributor more to get it to run without the advance, then do it.

You might try using a steel wool pad to rub a shiny spot around your timing mark. That should make it easier to read.

Unfortunately, without being able to use your timing gun, I don't know a good way of getting it set. Someone was talking once about setting your timing based on manifold vacuum, but I don't know enough about that method to give you any tips.

Brian

[skokie]

Well it runs great without the vac advance on it. What do I need that for anyway? everytime I put that thing on there is just spits up. Am I doing something wrong?

[bpmcgee]

The vacuum advance helps with fuel economy. It gives you better gas mileage at high speeds.

I would NOT recommend running it anywhere until you can get a timing light on it. When first got my engine running just by turning the distributor, I checked and I had it set at more than 20 degrees advanced. If I'd actually driven it, I'd have destroyed the engine through detonation.

Brian

[skokie]

Yep that was the plan. No drive until this is fixed. Just put that motor in I dont want to cook it. And I just happened to find my timing light and I put it on there. I cannot tell what its at. I cant even take a guess..

[bpmcgee]

Okay, glad you got it running! Let us know how the timing works out.

Brian

[skokie]

Ok for the life of me I cannot tell what my timing is on this thing. The line on the balancer is black, the timing marks are silver and the block is orange. Man where is some neon green paint when you need it. Ok serious time. I cant tell what it is. I have never timed a vehicle. I am assumming that I shine the timing light on the parks and watch for the timing mark on the balancer to go by and see where the light hits the mark. Unless I am too tired to get it right.

Thanks again !! Btw on a personal note this site kicks A$$ I love the help that I am getting here.

Thanks

[bpmcgee]

Skokie,

You have it right. Remember that the inductive pickup from the timing gun goes on #1 spark plug wire.

There's a good chance that your timing mark isn't anywhere close. As I said, clean around the mark on the harmonic damper with steel wool or fine sandpaper, and try it again. If you're more than about 20 degrees advanced, the mark will be covered by the water pump and other accessories so watch the light as someone slowly turns the distributor and watch for the mark to creep around to the gauge.

Brian

[Classic Heartbeat]

Something else that has not even been concidered here is the vacuum advance line needs to be hooked up to "metered" vacuum, or else you will have too much advance. Try changing where you have the vacuum line hooked up to. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[skokie]

Update time. As of now when I start to get tired I will stop put away my tools and walk away until properly rested. LOL
Heres what happened. Advanced yeah.. try like 28 degrees. I was trying to get the timing done with the wire hooked up to #2. Yes I said that #2. DOOOOOHHHHHHHH!!! All is well now. I hooked it up to #1 and set the timing to 6 degrees advanced. It is running pretty good now. Now I need to lock down the distributor.

Thanks again