Chrysler 426 Parts

[Mako440]

What the surveyor did was simply invert the number sequence of the standard firing order but if you actually tried to time the engine that way, using number 2 as the base, it wouldn't run.

It's the first time in my life I've ever heard anyone refer to ignition timing starting from other than 1. Makes me wonder what else the surveyor doesn't know...

That is why I was asking David for the block casting numbers. I think his surveyor just assumed that both motors are 426s, when, one or both may not be.

Also David, this site: w**.moparts.com/Tech/Archive/motor/36.html

will tell you exactly where to look, with pictures.

 

[david_lavigne2540]

I'm the one who stated the firing order not the surveyor. They stated the engines were seen but not run. I'm the one who investigated the firing order and verified that it was the 2-7-5-6-3-4-8-1. I'm the one who put the plugs wires on the distributor.

And I've seen it listed as 2-7-5-6-3-4-8-1 on other sites.

Also, according to my mechanic it doesn't matter where you start numbering as long as it's top dead center on the engine and pointing at that spot on the distributor. And it does run as long as everything matches. Heck, it even runs when it's wrong, but not well, and has an awful time starting.

 

[MikeP]

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding what I read in your post, if so, I apologize in advance but the way I read what you wrote, I disagree completely.

You cannot time an engine starting at number 2. It's impossible. The engine's timing mark/tab are set up to reflect what cyl #1 is doing. If you attach a timing light to #2 cyl and check the timing, you'll be lucky to even see the timing mark. If you DO find the timing mark and rotate the distributer to move the timing mark to the "proper" advance, the engine will stop running LONG before the timing mark moves to that position.

As I said, I am NOT disagreeing that you can wire the dist starting with any cyl as long as the firing order is correct but you CAN'T time an engine using anything other than the #1 cylinder. If this is not what you meant, again, I apologize.

As far as starting the firing order with other than "1" ... since engines (normal or reverse) are timed from #1 the convention is that the firing order is listed as starting from number 1. If someone wants to start the firing order sequence from some other cyl for whatever reason - like simply reversing the normal order sequence - it doesn't really matter functionally, it's just not the accepted methodology. As I said earlier, if you want, you can start the firing order on any number as long as the sequence is correct.

But for the proper designation of the firing order, just look at the service manual for the engine in question. Absent that, it can also be found here:

http://www.basicpower.com/firingorder.htm

Again, if I am misreading, I apologize. I do not in any mean to start an argument. I just want to ensure there is no confusion to other folks on the site. Then again, perhaps I'm just adding to it!

 

[Mako440]

I fully agree with Mike on this. The reason that you start on number one is so that if Mark, Eric or Dave go to work on the engine, we should all be starting on the same page as it were, and not have to "decode" what the previous mechanic did.

If you really wanted to, you could re-number the cylinders and use a Ford firing order and the motor would run. You won't find that in any Chrysler manual, but it can be done.

 

[david_lavigne2540]

Ya'll are still two steps ahead of me. You are talking Timing, and I'm talking manually determining firing order. I haven't timed my engines yet. Was going to get both engines up and going (Rough) and get a mechanic on board to do the fine tuning.

If you don't know the firing order, a timing light does no good. At the point, I started, I couldn't be certain what type engine I had, or the firing order. Since the firing order that was on the Distributor wasn't ANY firing order that I could find anywhere. Not ford, not GM, not nothing. And the other engine didn't have any wires connected. I had to manually check the engine to see if they really did put in a very strange cam shaft. They didn't, the distributor order was jumbled is the best word for it. It ran but extremely rough and extremely tough to get started. Once, I did the manual firing order check, and it matched the GM standard firing order. I was rocking and rolling.

If you "know" your firing order, then doing it the method that was mentioned above works well for finding TDC on #1. If you don't. Then you guess, or figure it out manually.

Now, if you want to know how I saw the slight movement of the rocker arms while turning the engine manually, I'll let you know that too. (laughs)

 

[Boatsb]

Look at the last post I did on firing issues with 426 chryslers. It explains an easy way to find TDC.

 

[Mako440]

David,
The firing order is just that, the order in which each plug is fired. There is no guessing about it. It is what it is. As stated in previous posts, you can start anywhere you want, but the order will be the same.

This is where a manual comes in handy.
All standard rotation Chrysler V-8s since the early sixties have the same firing order 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. It doesn't matter if it is a big block or small block, if it is a V-8, that is the proper firing order. That is the order that the plugs are fired via the rotation of the rotor. It always starts at one and at top dead center, if done properly. Most Chevrolet's share this same pattern. There are some newer Chevy's that have the 4 and 7 swapped for racing applications, but, in general, it is the same as a Chrysler.

The reason it is done this way s so that after everything is hooked up, you can turn the distributor in order to set the proper timing. If you were to "Willy nilly" pick a spot and call it the number one, then put your wires on, when you go to set the timing, you may find out that the distributor will only move a few degrees before either the retaining clip or the vacuum advance housing makes contact with something, usually the cylinder head.

If you follow the sequence on the firing thread, all will be fine.

I don't know the history of your vessel and from what I can gather, neither do you. You also stated that you weren't very familiar with the engines. That is fine. Everyone has to start somewhere!

The first thing you need to do is find out what motors you have. From the pictures, you have some type of big block Chrysler. Eventually, you will find the casting numbers and know exactly what size. You now also know the firing order, distributor rotation and a majority of the ignition system. That is the hardest part. As for timing the motor, you want to make sure everything else is correct. The motor should start right up. If it is hard starting, there may be other problems, poor coil output, improperly adjusted points, etc.

It is not wise to try and make a poor running motor run good without fixing the underlying problems first. As it says in the manual "Serious engine damage may result".

And for the truly wild and bizarre, the Ford firing orders:
w**.moddedmustangs.com/reference/firing-orders.php