351 timing

[Cbower83]

Changed out thermostat in the boat yesterday, went inside for a drink, came back out and my son had the spark plug wires off the distributor cap. I put them back on to what I thought was right but when I got on the water today the boat was sputtering and stalling. I switched two wires and it will plane out and run now but there's a ton of vibration when the motor is idling .. At time when I put it in gear it wants to stall. When I gas it and get it really going it seems to smooth out. At times it will start right up but others it turns over a few times or I have to give it gas to start. I started to think maybe bad fuel it carb issues....

So I'm not sure I have the wires hooked back up right. Before it never ran like this. I need to figure out the wiring issue first and then set the timing. I've looked at pics with the firing order an wiring rotation but its not helping. Do you guys have a good procedure I could follow to get this right????? Thanks

[Jetlink]

Look on the harmonic balancer...I think... Is there a mark to denote TDC or top dead center? If not, let us know.

Sorry, just finished watching the Blackhawks and partook in some adult beverages...lol

[Cbower83]

Right but after top dead center and #1 cylinder is at the too then how do I know what terminal on the distributor cap us actually #1??? Usually the #1 terminal is pointing towards it the closest to the #1 cylinder right???

[Cbower83]

At the top **

[michael hunter]

Maybe this will help.

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn127/suprahunter/Picture028-2_zps82d91482.jpg (http://s303.photobucket.com/user/suprahunter/media/Picture028-2_zps82d91482.jpg.html)

[Cbower83]

Maybe this will help.

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn127/suprahunter/Picture028-2_zps82d91482.jpg (http://s303.photobucket.com/user/suprahunter/media/Picture028-2_zps82d91482.jpg.html)

Thanks man. According to PCM they made 2 diff LH rotation firing order sequence . http://www.planetnautique.com/CorrectCraftManuals/PCMEngineOwnersManual.pdf

12414

[michael hunter]

My diagram is for my 89 351 w . The correct firing order is 18456273 for the pic on the right and 13726548 for the pic on the left. The firing orders in your post are for the Ford 460 and 460s engines

[Cbower83]

My diagram is for my 89 351 w . The correct firing order is 18456273 for the pic on the right and 13726548 for the pic on the left. The firing orders in your post are for the Ford 460 and 460s engines

Yup your right. I'm on the computer and just noticed that myself. Fixing to go look at the cap and see what's going on.

[Cbower83]

Maybe this will help.

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn127/suprahunter/Picture028-2_zps82d91482.jpg (http://s303.photobucket.com/user/suprahunter/media/Picture028-2_zps82d91482.jpg.html)

Can you post the link to this pic please. It's not showing up real clear on my phone.

[Cbower83]

Here's how the wires are set up now. Normally, isn't the #1 wire closest to the #1 cylinder? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! 12415

[michael hunter]

It doesn't look right to me . Does it run that way? Call me and I will walk you through it 219-712-5060

[Cbower83]

It doesn't look right to me . Does it run that way? Call me and I will walk you through it 219-712-5060

Thank you for the offer! It would run like that but real rough. I did a lil more research. Got the motor to TDC, checked which terminal the rotor was at then checked the wires with the firing order . There was a couple wires in the wrong place. Motor purrs like new and is very smooth again!

[Supra_Comp]

Here's how the wires are set up now. Normally, isn't the #1 wire closest to the #1 cylinder? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! 12415

Judging by the photo:

#3 - Wrong. Change to where #8 is.
#8 - Wrong. Change to where #3 is.

Try it and see what happens. If not, then my suggestion is to determine TDC on #1 cyl and where the rotor sits inside of your distributor which gives you a reference point for #1 plug wire and for the rest of the wires. Sometimes putting the wires back exactly to the diagram does you no good if someone installed the distributor/rotor incorrectly, and the entire order could be rotated (same firing order but could be "rotated around the world").