Rotator Cap

[bigfish]

Pardon the stupidity of this question as I cannot find it in my Corvette manual which makes me think it is stupider than even I think.

On the rotator cap, where is position 1 in the firing order. I can not recall where the corresponding places on the cap that matches the firing order.

Does it simply start anywhere and just go in order around the cap? Clockwise?

BigFish

 

[Robin7TFour]

BIGFIFISH

FOR THE HEI DISTRIBUTOR FIRING OREDER IS..

fwd
^
1 8
2 4
7 3
5 6

hope this helps. also look on page 2-9 in the chilton's manual.

robin

 

[Robin7TFour]

well that didn't work as i typed it. but the #1 is on the front of dist nearest the left bank of cylinders.

#8 will be front neaerest the right bank.

sorry the other picture looked so pretty when i set it up


robin

 

[bigfish]

I guess what I am getting at is where do I start around the cap? I know the positions on the block and the firing order. I just can not recall where the starting position is on the dist cap.

BF

 

[JonM]

The rotor should look as if it is pointing directly at the #1 piston

 

[Eric R.]

Talking about a small block chevy correct?

18436572

Where are you guys getting that odd firing order above?

 

[vettepilot]

Talking about a small block chevy correct?

18436572

Where are you guys getting that odd firing order above?

I must have missed something, or the post was already corrected. 1-8-4-3-5-6-7-2 was the firing order for Chevy V8 engines up until the Gen 3 LS series. Was something else posted?
Just wondering if I missed something in a post. Nothing better to do this morning.
vettepilot

 

[JonM]

How come Abbott & Costello's "Whos on First" routine is coming to mind all of a sudden?

 

[Eric R.]

Sorry for the problems guys... There is nothing worse than getting the plug wires wrong... It has been known to make a few guys go bald.

 

[vettepilot]

So THAT's what where all my problems started!!!!

vettepilot

 

[bigfish]

OK back to where I started.

I know the firing order. How do I find the first position on the Distributor cap?

In words the firing orders starts with 1 8 and so on. Where on the distributor cap do I plug the #1 plug to?

A

 

[vettepilot]

Check the top of the distributer cap. Many have the cylinder numbers molded into the cap.
If not on the OEM, then go look at one in your local parts store... Auto Zone or Advance Auto for example. They may even have a diagram to show you.

vettepilot

 

[Eric R.]

Everyone is on the right track but let me try my hand at this...

The only proper way to figure this out is to remove the drivers side valve cover. Locate the first two rocker arms looking from left to right. Note that one rocker arm will be in line with your intake manifold runner and the other will line up with your exhaust manifold. Pull the power wire from your HEI ignition then crank the motor over a few times to get a feel of how these two rocker arms interact with one another. You will notice that the intake rocker arm will open followed by the exhaust on the next stroke. As you bump the starter watch for the intake rocker to open the valve. As soon as it closes turn off the ignition switch. Move to the front of the engine and locate the lower pulley. Find your timing tab then use a socket on the large bolt inside the front of the pulley to crank the motor over in its normal running direction until the line on the balancer/dampner lines up with the zero mark on the timing tab. With the cap removed from the distributor note the position of the contact on the edge of the rotor. using a magic marker, draw a line on the distributor base directly below the rotor contact edge. Install the cap and follow the line to the top of the cap and this will be your number one terminal. The rest of the sequence will follow in a clockwise direction.

I do not disagree with the finger over the spark plug hole method but at times people will feel a little pressure from the exhaust stroke and mistake it as the compression cycle leading to a 180 deg off condition that can be worse than the wrong firing order.

 

[Eric R.]

BTW, Since you are having troubles finding #1, make sure you have your cylinder order correct also. 1-3-5-7 are on the drivers side from front to back and 2-4-6-8 are on the passengers side.

It is interesting to note that 5 and 7 fire one after another on the same side of the block while every other cylinder fires on opposing sides. While I am sure there was good reason for this, it just never seemed right.

 

[Jack]

Clockwise? BigFish

YES ... when viewed from above ... the rotor turns clockwise.

It is interesting to note that 5 and 7 fire one after another on the same side of the block while every other cylinder fires on opposing sides.

Especially important to ensure there is no crossfire between 5 & 7.
JACK:gap