Club Cobra - Help: Spark plug wire routing

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Help: Spark plug wire routing

I know the yellow mark on the distributor indicates cylinder #1. Going clockwise from #1, what is the order that the wires go on. I've heard two different answers about this and want to be sure before we start cutting the wires. Engine is a 302 stroked to 331. MSD Pro-Billet Distributor.

Thanks,
Glenn Davis

http://cobra.terraworld.net/photopos...istributor.jpg

IAW "How to rebuild small-block Ford engines" by Tom Monroe (a CC member, I understand) your firing order is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8.
Bill Stradtner

thanks bill

Is that going clockwise from the yellow mark on the distributor?

Glenn

Also remember Fords and Chevs number the cylinders differently.

This is Ford

4 8
3 7
2 6
1 5
O FRONT

Al

ASnake,

We've got the wires connected to the correct cylinders (exactly as you listed). I've just heard several different answers as to where they go on the distributor.

Thanks,
Glenn

Counter clockwise from #1

You should also make sure #1 piston is at top dead center with rotor pointing at #1 on the cap.

With plugs out, hand rotate engine. Put a finger over #1 spark plug hole. You'll feel pressure when the piston is coming up. Keep going until no more air blows past your finger. Also, you should have a valve cover off to be able to check the rockers at the same time. When both rockers are loose (or the push rods will twist with your fingers with hyd.) and the air has quit, you're close enough. Next, with the dist. cap off, turn the dist. until the rotor points at where #1 will be with the cap on. Now the engine will start. The timing will be "late", but with your light, you'll be able to get it set right.

If you're firing the engine for the first time since rebuilt or new, don't crank and crank if it won't start with the first turn of the key. go back and check fuel, spark etc. and try again. when it does fire, bring it up to 2,500rpm and keep it there. DON'T let it idle for at least a half hour of running.

You should also have verified oiling before starting. Prime the system with a drill (distributor out) and make sure you have proper pressure before firing.

Al

The engine has already been run on the dyno. It is completely tuned and ready to go. We are just making a set of custom length spark plug wires and are not sure which plug goes where on the distributor.

Thanks
Glenn

Sorry to waste your time with the "start-up" details.

Sounds like you're good to go. BTW a good thing to do later on if you decide to change wires again is to pull the cap and wires together and use them for a model on the new cap.

Have fun and Merry Christmas!

Al

Pre '85 289's and 302's used a different firing order than post '85 302's an all 351W's. What determines your firing order is your camshaft.

Find out from your cam Mfg. which firing order it uses, early, or late 302.

If that doesn't work, remove the valve covers, rotate the engine by hand and find out what the firing sequence is by the valve openings and closings.

It'll be either 13726548 or 15426378 depends on your cam