need help with firing order question...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,722
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From: Big D Tx
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: need help with firing order question... (88L98)
wait a minute, wouldnt that mean 6 is on its firing stroke? ive got a problem then, i have taken my distributor out, and i turned the engine with a wrench to find TDC of the firing stroke on number 1, but the only way the distributor will fully seat is with the rotor pointing either directly at the passenger side or directly at the drivers side.
[Modified by 88L98, 7:26 PM 10/25/2001]
[Modified by 88L98, 7:26 PM 10/25/2001]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 0
From: Warrick County IN
CI 3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
Re: need help with firing order question... (88L98)
You might have to turn the oil pump shaft in order to get the distributor to seat. Is the rotor pointing towards number one plug wire on the cap when you are on the compression stroke for NR 1? If it is and the gears are meshed then you just need to piddle with the oil pump drive to get the distributor to drop in all the way.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,722
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From: Big D Tx
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: need help with firing order question... (96GrandSport)
yeah i believe im on the compression stroke, if not im on the exaust, but there was air comming out of the spark plug hole. i was hoping i was on the exaust stroke or something, but the rotor is not pointing at the number 6 plug at all. so this means im gonna have to drop the pan, or can i turn the engine over so the rotor is pointing to number one, then remove the distributor, and turning the engine over until cylinder one is on its compression stroke at TDC and replacing the distributor work? basically, does the oil pump shaft turn without the distributor in, im thinking it doesnt but im not 100% sure. ive never encountered something like this before
[Modified by 88L98, 7:40 PM 10/25/2001]
[Modified by 88L98, 7:40 PM 10/25/2001]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 994
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From: Jamison PA
Re: need help with firing order question... (88L98)
Do not drop the pan! You can access the oil pump shaft where the end of the distrib. mates to it. You will need a long screw driver to turn the pump shaft. If you look down the hole where the distrib. goes you will see a slotted shaft. This is the shaft you must turn to align with the distrib. shaft. Hold the distrib with the rotor on in the position it will go in. Rotate the rotor to the #1 firing position on the distributor. Make note of how the bottom of the shaft is oriented. Line up the oil pump shaft by sticking your screwdriver in the oil pump shaft slot and rotate that till it is in the same position. When you drop your distribtor in you will have to rotate the rotor counter clockwise about half the distance to the #2 plug firing position before you engage the gear. As you drop the distrib in the rotor will rotate to the #1 plug position. The distrib. should drop in and seat. Do not force it. You may have to remove the distrib. and rotate the oil pump shaft around a bit to get the distributor to seat in the #1 firing position. Hope this helps.
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Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Re: need help with firing order question... (88L98)
#6 and #1 are at TDC of their stroke when the timing indicator shows TDC. One is firing and the other is letting the exhaust out. The only sure way to tell is to pull the valve cover and wait until the valves don't move for #1. When they don't you're at the firing position for #1. Otherwise, it's kind of a trial and error. You should feel more air out of the cylinder which is on it's firing stroke because none of the valves are opened, but you're still going to feel something even if it's on the exhaust stroke. Try bumping it over a couple of times to sense the difference. Remember too, if your starting at the firing position the timing mark has to go around twice before you get back to it. Once you got it at #1, drop the distributor in. The manual for my '89 says you should end up with rotor pointing midway between #1 and #8, but that's never worked on my car - I've always needed it to be closer to #1. If you can't get it to line up, use a long screwdriver to align the oil pump shaft; it's a pain getting it right, but eventually you'll get there.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Big D Tx
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: need help with firing order question... (SunCr)
well, it turns out i found out my brother turned my engine over while the distributor was out of the motor. why, i dont know, but he did. i fixed it just like i described before, i put the distributor back in and rotated the crankshaft with a ratchet to where it was pointing at number 1 (yet number 1 cylinder was NOWHERE near TDC of the firing stroke). i then took out the distributor and rotated the crank until cylinder 1 was at TDC of the compression stroke (took valve cover off to verify) and then put distributor back in, with rotor pointing directly at number 1. this time it fully seated. the engine fired up like normal and i got it timed. all is well. i thank you all that helped me through this mess. oh yeah, this was a full 18 pack of bud light job :cheers:
