Ok I got new wires, plugs, cap, and rotor for the Buick. Started pulling off wires, and realized...it's not set up the way the book is showing at all. It's not even matching the way it shows for a Chevy. Or a Pontiac. Or Olds. So I yanked all the wires and set it up the way the book shows. But then it wouldn't start, and backfires when trying to start. So something is not right. I think the reason I'm having a problem is the book shows the distributor with the 6-5 wires parallel in the front, wheras mine seems to be turned some, with only 6 in front. Which spot on the cap is the #1? 8, 1, or 2 in my picture?? Or do I have it all wrong, and need a new book? Is my distributor turned a lot, putting my numbers off? After I get the wires in the right order, I can replace the plugs, and then the cap, but I don't want to start replacing everything at once, and not know where to check if there's a problem. Here's how my wires are set up, with numbers corresponding to which cylinder they go to: 8-----7 6-----5 4-----3 2-----1
I believe the #1 wire is supposed to go to the post just to the left of the points adjustment window....either that, or one more to the right.
Man,I hope that the numbers you have posted on each wire don't go to the corresponding plug.Firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. In that pic where #7 is should be where you put #1 plug wire and then go around the cap in the right firing order.
If memory serves me correct number 1 is the first tower after the point door. (left) Order should be 18436572. Just change locations on dist cap and you should be ok. Made this mistake myself once and car ran like well???????? Bill
Well no wonder. Here's what I'm looking at: Look at where the book is showing #1! :af: Looking at that, I just set them up in order. The wrong order! :error: I'm more of a :Comp: than a :3gears:, so I'm still learning :Smarty:
As soon as I find something more suitable I will. Haynes manuals haven't proven to be worth the paper they're printed on in the past, and I was in a hurry, so I got one anyhow. I can't find a good resource online other than this board's members. When I wanted info on my other cars, I have usually found it online. Unfortunately it's not as easy for the Buick. This board is awesome, when people are online. Just not as busy of a message board as I'm used to.
Jealousy exudes from my pores. Fixed the wires, Fired right up. But still isn't running right. Gotta change the plugs tomorrow, and the cap and rotor. I wrote on the wires which cylinder they go to, I'll write on the cap the firing order so I don't make the same mistake again. I'm sure I'll be troubleshooting this problem for a while, or until I decide the only solution is to take it to someone for a carb rebuild/tune. I'll be providing automotive entertainment for the board for as long as I own my Buick, I imagine.
The firing order should be cast into the top of the intake manifold towards the front drivers side. Good to hear it's running again:TU:
Doug, First you have to located the #1 terminal on this engine. This can be at any given place, depending on how you placed the distributor in the engine. Put the engine in TDC, with the mark on the harmonic balancer at 0 degrees. Make sure both valves on cylinder #1 are closed. (If not, turn the engine over until the mark is at 0 degrees again) Where the rotor is pointing at, that's the #1 terminal. You now can move the #1 terminal to any position by turning the distributor, after the #1 you continue clock wise with #8 plug wire and so on.
I went back out last night and finished the wires. Today I replaced the distributor cap, rotor, plugs, and the fuel filter. I used a white-out pen to mark on the cap which # wire to plug where. The hardest part of it all was getting the plugs back in without tracking grime in with them. I'm gonna go run the car again, and if it's still doing it, I'll have to look deeper.
