The Ford Barn

callbald · 05-21-2019, 10:04 PM

I bought the vehicle with minimal information on the engine. I was told the engine was rebuilt with a mild cam and a MSD ignition. I am not an engine guy and the engine runs fine. Compression is great at 100# on all cylinders.

The spark plug wires are installed in the correct sequence BUT 180 degrees off. The number 1 plug wire is in the 6 O'clock position. I talked with MSD and they said the wire firing order is key not the location. So taking them at their word I relocated the wires in the distributor in the correct Ford location with the #1 wire at the 1 O'clock position with the rest of the wires in the proper firing order. Did not run, so I put them back.

Should I leave sleeping dogs lie or get this thing sorted out.

Alaska Jim · 05-21-2019, 10:46 PM

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If you just changed the wires , without changing the location of the rotor, that is why it would not run. with the #1 cyl on top dead center on the compression stroke the dist. rotor will be pointing at #1 cyl. position on the dist. cap, or 180 degrees out of time. my guess is who ever original set your timing they were 180 degrees out of time, and rather than pull the dist. they just moved the wires. msd is correct. firing order is key, not the location of #1 on the cap . it will run just fine the way it is.

05-21-2019, 10:46 PM	#2
Alaska Jim Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 1,575	Re: 64 Galaxie 289 distributor setup wacky Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) If you just changed the wires , without changing the location of the rotor, that is why it would not run. with the #1 cyl on top dead center on the compression stroke the dist. rotor will be pointing at #1 cyl. position on the dist. cap, or 180 degrees out of time. my guess is who ever original set your timing they were 180 degrees out of time, and rather than pull the dist. they just moved the wires. msd is correct. firing order is key, not the location of #1 on the cap . it will run just fine the way it is.

05-21-2019, 10:04 PM	#1
callbald Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Leo, Indiana Posts: 235	64 Galaxie 289 distributor setup wacky I bought the vehicle with minimal information on the engine. I was told the engine was rebuilt with a mild cam and a MSD ignition. I am not an engine guy and the engine runs fine. Compression is great at 100# on all cylinders. The spark plug wires are installed in the correct sequence BUT 180 degrees off. The number 1 plug wire is in the 6 O'clock position. I talked with MSD and they said the wire firing order is key not the location. So taking them at their word I relocated the wires in the distributor in the correct Ford location with the #1 wire at the 1 O'clock position with the rest of the wires in the proper firing order. Did not run, so I put them back. Should I leave sleeping dogs lie or get this thing sorted out.