Ford 351 Firing order diagram?

Jay Dutton · Posted: May 19, 2005 5:22 pm Post subject: Ford 351 Firing order diagram?

I replaced my plug wires recently and I screwed up (I think) on the firing order. Yes, I replaced one at a time.. It just doesn't seem like it's running right. I think I may have one crossed or something, maybe it's just nothing. I just want to make sure.

The firing order is on a tag on the engine but it means nothing to me. My distrubor cap has no numbers and I don't know which cylinder is which..

Is there a diagram anywhere that anybody has or would mind posting in pant or something?

Oh, the engine turns the wrong way like Nautiques if that makes a difference.

Thanks

bmh2208 · Posted: May 19, 2005 7:14 pm Post subject:

If it is a Ford....When looking from the top of the engine, the rotor rotates counter clockwise. Furthermore, the #1 cylinder at TDC should have the rotor point straight towards the back (aft). The cap could be slightly rotated clockwise to get the 6 or so degrees of advance timing.

So starting with #1(assuming the firing order starts with #1), plug in the #1 wire and then work your way around the cap counterclockwise according to the firing order.

Of course if it is a chevy, then the distributor rotor rotates clockwise.

bmh2208 · Posted: May 19, 2005 7:15 pm Post subject:

I guess I forgot the thread title "Ford"!!! So it rotates counterclockwise. Just check triple times to make sure you get it right. I faught a miswired cap tonight after having a brain fart while counting.

Jay Dutton · Posted: May 19, 2005 7:33 pm Post subject:

bmh2208, Here's my kickass paint skillz! Is this what you mean about the distributor? How do yo know when you're at TDC?

Could somebody put #s on those cylinders for me? Thanks alot!

Oh, the engine turns the wrong way like Nautiques if that makes a difference.

JAY

wesgardner · Posted: May 20, 2005 3:12 am Post subject:

Hey Jay,

One way to find TDC is to remove the #1 spark plug and BY HAND turn the motor slowly while you stick a probe into the cylinder - you'll feel the piston come up and then start down again, somewhere in there is TDC...

Please be careful - you'll NOT want your motor to accidently start while doing this, it WILL run on 7....

Sorry, my boat's Chevy based but I found this link...

Have a great weekend

http://www.carmemories.com/cgi-bin/viewzoom.cgi?image=2055

Wes

bmh2208 · Posted: May 20, 2005 5:02 am Post subject:

Heres the pic. Regardless of engine rotation (mine is RH also), the rotor rotates CCW on a ford and CW on a chevy.

To make sure that you have TDC, you can take #1 plug out, take disty cap off. Now stick your thumb over the plug hole in #1. Bump the ignition key a couple of times until it comes around with the rotor pointing backward. Right before it hits TDC, you will feel air pressure coming out of the cylinder with your thumb. If it's not TDC you will feel a vacuum. You can do this for a couple of revolutions and you will get a better idea and sensing of when the compression stroke of #1 is at TDC.

Cheers

-=LoneStar=- · Addict Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 751

Jay,

I think the intake manifold has cylinder numbers cast into it at the ends of the runners. The firing order is 1-8-4-5-6-2-7-3 so according to bmh2208's picture, you'd connect the #1 cylinder to the #1 distributor location, the #8 cylinder to the #2 distributor location, etc.

BTW, you can find PCM owner's and service manual PDFs on this page. Unfortunately, they weren't converted to text so you can't search but they're better than nothing.

http://www.correctcraftfan.com/reference/

Jay Dutton · Posted: May 20, 2005 8:46 am Post subject:

Thanks for the info! Everything checked out alright, just wanted to double check..

bmh2208 · Posted: May 20, 2005 11:33 am Post subject:

I didn't label, the correct distributor numbers according to the firing order since I wasn't sure what order you have. There are about 3 different firing orders for a 351 ford. The one that lonestar pointed out is the same as mine. Hope the pic didn't confuse you. I should have labeled the disty #'s as firing order number.