Firing order, placing of sparkplugwires

Discussion in ''Da Nailhead' started by arcticjoel, Mar 31, 2005.

  1. arcticjoel

    arcticjoel Member

    Ok i got spark now, but i ran into another problem. When i tried to start up the car it felt and sounded like the sparkplugwires where misplaced. I know the firing order is 12784563, but i dont know where on the distributor cap that is. Wich terminal on the distributor is no 1? wich cylinder is no 1?
    Please help a newbie buickowner out.

    Joel
     
  2. Bad Boattail

    Bad Boattail Guest

    Better tell this is about a 401 Nailhead..... :Smarty:

    The #1 cylinder is the passenger side front cylinder.

    Front
    2 1
    4 3
    6 5
    8 7

    You can use any terminal for #1 spark plug wire, because you can turn the distributor to any place (taking that you have enough wire lenght and a flexible vacuum hose.

    But as a rule of thumb you can use the terminal BEFORE (clockwise) the vacuum unit as #1.

    The timing mark on your harmonic balancer set at 0 degrees, both intake and exhaust valves on cylinder #1 closed (or rotate harmonic balancer 360 degrees) now the rotor will point in the direction where the #1 plug wire should go.
     
  3. mygs462

    mygs462 Well-Known Member

    Firing order is 18436572 startin on the drivers side front plug...
     
  4. arcticjoel

    arcticjoel Member

    Thank you so much for helping me out. I really appreciate it and i cant wait to go try it out tomorrow. Maby she will fire right up!! Wohooo!!

    One little question tho... You said i can use any terminal on the distributor as #1? Is the harmonic balancer the thing with springs that the rotor sits on?

    The guy i bought this car from had them all messed up so I hope this works. Ill be cartwheeling if i get as much as a sputter hahaha.
    Again.. Thanks!
     
  5. doc

    doc Well-Known Member

    firing

    as you sit in the car no 1 is at the right front. in fact on any american v8 look at the engine and the cyl that is placed the furtherest forward is always no 1. :pp
    pull the spark plug and rotate the eng untill you feel the compression against your finger that you have stuck in the hole and then bring the engine to top dead center on the pointer at the harmonic balancer. stop. next take the cap off the dist. and see where the rotor points. then put no 1 spark plug wire in the tower over the rotor or as close as possible. then just follow the firing order around the dist cap. :Brow: should start and run. disconnect the vac advance and set the basic timing. reconnect the vac advance. :laugh:
     
  6. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Joel,
    If the engine runs, even if it runs badly, the firing order must be close. On a nailhead, the passenger side front cylinder is #1. Follow that plug wire back to the distributor. That is #1. Then follow around clockwise on the distributor, and check the firing order. It should be 1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3. If it is correct, check the timing with a light. Maybe all you need is a tune up. Replace the plugs, wires, cap, and rotor, points, and filters.

    The harmonic balancer is attached to the crankshaft, behind the lowest pulley on the motor.
     
  7. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Shawn,
    This is a nailhead, not a 350-400-430-455. The firing order is different, and the #1 is on the opposite side.
     
  8. Bad Boattail

    Bad Boattail Guest

    Shawn,

    First you believe I'm wrong, but for some reason you decided to edit your answer and just state I'm dead wrong, why's that ?

    Maybe you should take the effort to do a board search to find out what the engine of the original poster is, before you answer his question. I even typed in my answer it's a Naihead.

    And why do you think he posted his question in a section with the name "da Nailhead".........? :Dou:

    But look at the bright side: after this you will never forget that on a Nailhead the #1 cylinder is the front one at the passenger side :beer :TU: :laugh:
     
  9. mygs462

    mygs462 Well-Known Member

    Actually i decided to Remove my post because i did nt realize we were talking about a nail head, so i removed my post shoulda read a lil better. relax with the tude man i was just tryin to help when i realized i was wrong i tried to remove my incorrect reply, last thing i wanna do is give advice on something i know nothing about, which seems to happern quite often here in the future i read a lil closer sorry to whomever the original poster is.
     
  10. mygs462

    mygs462 Well-Known Member

    Actually i decided to Remove my post because i did nt realize we were talking about a nail head, so i removed my post shoulda read a lil better. relax with the tude man i was just tryin to help when i realized i was wrong i tried to remove my incorrect reply, last thing i wanna do is give advice on something i know nothing about, which seems to happern quite often here in the future i read a lil closer, SORRY arcticjoell i didnt notice that is was a nailhead.

    p.s. i didnt see the words dead wrong in my post anywhere. maybe u should read better too.
     
  11. Bad Boattail

    Bad Boattail Guest

    If you change your own words from: "Ummm i believe you're incorrect" to:
    "Firing order is 18436572 startin on the drivers side front plug",
    I read that as: The answer above is dead wrong.. :blast:

    But still, you've learned something about naiheads in general, and that's what this board all about :TU:
     
  12. arcticjoel

    arcticjoel Member

    Thanks guys. Im the original poster and i think i learnt the most of all in here hahaha :) Now all i have to do is get my plugwires right and hopefully my dear old 401 will wake up.
    I really appreciate your help

    Joel
     
  13. R Bear

    R Bear Well-Known Member

    Joel, if the wiring was all messed up, you should check the voltage at the coil with the ign. switch in the run & start positions. Should be, 12v-start, 6-9v in run. Two seperate circuits. The points can't handle full voltage all the time, they will pit & burn.
     

Share This Page