TPI firing order
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
TPI firing order
Is this firing order same on 88 TPI?
I removed the distributor, distributor cap, spark plug wires and now I but them back together according to this picture and when I crank it nothing happens.
Distributor rotor can be assembled only two ways because there is a pin inside the bottom drive gear? If the firing order is same on 88 TPI can it just be timing? Can a slightest turn of the distributor mess up ignition?
Please help!
I removed the distributor, distributor cap, spark plug wires and now I but them back together according to this picture and when I crank it nothing happens.
Distributor rotor can be assembled only two ways because there is a pin inside the bottom drive gear? If the firing order is same on 88 TPI can it just be timing? Can a slightest turn of the distributor mess up ignition?
Please help!
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,939
Likes: 1
From: Vero Beach Florida
Find TDC #1 compression stroke position the rotor pointing at #1 cylinder or one tooth on the dizzy before . Should get you close enough to fire it up. You can also check your timing mark on the harmonic balancer should line up around zero on the tab. If you have pulled the dizzy you need to be sure that the rod it fits into look in the hole lines up with the bottom of dizzy, that drives the dizzy.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
timing
The rod on the bottom of the dist. turns the oil pump. if you have any oil pressure at all while cranking and the dist. is sitting on the manifold, your problem is base timing.
1. the #1 cyl. rockers have to be loose, engine on #1 tdc
2. the rotor in the dist. points to #1
3. the timing mark on the harmonic dampener is at the pointer.
4. THE DISTRIBUTOR IS PLUGGED IN......HELLO!
If any of the above is off, your timing chain could have jumped a tooth.
1. the #1 cyl. rockers have to be loose, engine on #1 tdc
2. the rotor in the dist. points to #1
3. the timing mark on the harmonic dampener is at the pointer.
4. THE DISTRIBUTOR IS PLUGGED IN......HELLO!
If any of the above is off, your timing chain could have jumped a tooth.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Is this firing order same on 88 TPI?
I removed the distributor, distributor cap, spark plug wires and now I but them back together according to this picture and when I crank it nothing happens.
Distributor rotor can be assembled only two ways because there is a pin inside the bottom drive gear? If the firing order is same on 88 TPI can it just be timing? Can a slightest turn of the distributor mess up ignition?
Please help!
I removed the distributor, distributor cap, spark plug wires and now I but them back together according to this picture and when I crank it nothing happens.
Distributor rotor can be assembled only two ways because there is a pin inside the bottom drive gear? If the firing order is same on 88 TPI can it just be timing? Can a slightest turn of the distributor mess up ignition?
Please help!
As mentioned, bring #1 piston to TDC and pull the distributor. To find TDC, remove the #1 plug and cover the hole with your thumb. Spin the engine until you feel compression and you see the timing mark on the crank damper align with the 0 degree mark on the metal tab. You will probably need to clean the tab and use some paint or chalk to mark the line on the damper.
When you feel that, drop the distributor in so the contact on the rotor points to the #1 teminal on the cap and bolt the distributor down. Install the cap, #1 plug and the wire. Disconnect the tan/black wire leading to the distributor and start the engine. Set the timing with a timing light to 6 degrees BTDC or whatever timing value it says on the Emission Control Information Label. Then reconnect the tan/black wire.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,939
Likes: 1
From: Vero Beach Florida
When I replaced the gear bottom of dizzy I noticed the harmoinc blancer had slipped, so you have to do both look at tab & TDC #1. Easy way to fine TDC is if you have a compression gague. TDC compression is absoult though no matter what is showing on timing tab.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
If the outer ring of the balancer slips, it will be difficult to set timing with a timing light. Electronic timing control won't allow for too much of a variance beyond the initial setting of 6 degrees.
Even if you do get TDC from compression or watching the rocker arms on #1 cylinder, the timing mark on the balancer ring is still going to have to at the mark on the tab to get it right.
Even if you do get TDC from compression or watching the rocker arms on #1 cylinder, the timing mark on the balancer ring is still going to have to at the mark on the tab to get it right.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
Is this firing order same on 88 TPI?
I removed the distributor, distributor cap, spark plug wires and now I but them back together according to this picture and when I crank it nothing happens.
Distributor rotor can be assembled only two ways because there is a pin inside the bottom drive gear? If the firing order is same on 88 TPI can it just be timing? Can a slightest turn of the distributor mess up ignition?
Please help!
I removed the distributor, distributor cap, spark plug wires and now I but them back together according to this picture and when I crank it nothing happens.
Distributor rotor can be assembled only two ways because there is a pin inside the bottom drive gear? If the firing order is same on 88 TPI can it just be timing? Can a slightest turn of the distributor mess up ignition?
Please help!
Then time it with a light(est wire disconnected) to 6BTDC.
Oh yeah....burn that diagram when you are done
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
I managed to fire it up today. Idle was a bit rough, but I think I should wait until engine warms up and then set timing with timing light. I will do that day after tomorrow because my car is jacked up right now for lowering...
Anyway, thanks guys!!!
Anyway, thanks guys!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,700
Likes: 3,469
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Pro
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 706
Likes: 265
From: Jyväskylä, FINLAND
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
