1971 wrong firing order

[Antarctica32]

I purchased my first LC about 4 months ago, 1971 FJ40, original everything, not the best condition.

I went to change my spark plugs, ignition wires, and distributor cap and rotor the other day and I noticed that the firing order is different from the firing order mentioned in my Haynes manual.

Haynes manual (and everything else I read) says: 1,5,3,6,2,4 (1 being the closest to the radiator)

I forget what the firing order currently is, I'll be able to check letter. I did notice that the current firing order is completely different from the correct order, it isn't just in reverse or something simple like that.

The engine has been running since I purchased it, perfectly fine for a 1971 as far as I can tell. I did end up changing the cap, wires, and plugs, but I simply put them back in the incorrect order, as they were. I needed the vehicle to run, so I couldn't mess with a system that I know works. The engine fired up. I would say it started with no problems, but the very bad cold where I'm at has caused the fj40 to struggle to start for the past month and a half.

I'm a little confused. I thought that changing the firing order (at least in most combinations) will prevent the engine from running smoothly, as in it would seriously mess stuff up. It doesn't feel like anything is messed up, as far as I can tell, it seems to run well.

I will post the current firing order as soon as possible. Please, any help is greatly appreciated. I'm sort of freaking out right now knowing that I'm running a vehicle with the improper order like this.

 

[Alstruck]

If the wires are incorrect it won't run or it will back fire . Are you sure you are finding cylinder 1 on the dizzy cap? Are you going from cylinder 1 on the dizzy cap and going in clockwise?

 

[3_puppies]

if you have the same firing order but are 180 degrees off stock, most likely someone installed the distributor on the wrong stroke.

 

[Antarctica32]

I am very sure that I did not read this wrong.

The numbers on the cap read 1,5,3,6,2,4 (clockwise). The wires from these numbers do not go to their respective cylinders. instead:

on cap--------cylinder (1 being closest to radiator)
1-----------------4
5-----------------1
3-----------------5
6-----------------3
2-----------------6
4-----------------2

I noticed today, when writing down the firing order, that this current order is actually the same as the correct order but starts at 4. I'm not very experienced with mechanical ignition systems, but I did know about the whole 180 degrees thing. I guess this is a lot more interesting at least . Up until now, I would have thought shifting the firing order by 1 would have completely screwed stuff up.

If you see anything out of place, let me know.

 

[Alstruck]

It looks like the PO when they installed the distributor turned it one cylinder off. In other words, with number 1 firing TDC they turned the distributor to the wrong distributor cap location. Easy to fix but you will have to time the engine again.

 

[Antarctica32]

Is it possible that the whole distributor has been shifted over by one?

 

[Antarctica32]

Ok, well that doesn't seem that difficult. Thank you so much for your help. So my current order and setup isn't really a problem, right? Obviously it isn't the right order, and I'll get around to fixing it, but should this be a priority?

 

[76technician]

The fix is just to pull the wires, rotate the whole distributor 60 degrees clockwise, replace the wires on the "correct" numbers. This is a common thing to do if the distributor has clearance issues when timing (can't rotate to the right spot) so the person doing the tune up just puts the wires in the right order, but offset from the labels on the cap.

 

[76technician]

To be clear(er), your distributor is firing in the right order, since its rotating through the plugs in the right sequence - it just doesn't match the numbers on the top of the cap. If it runs well for now, no worries.

 

[76technician]

By the way, the way you know that things are reasonably correct is that the wire that goes to cylinder #1 (regardless of what it says on the cap) is approximately in line between the center of the cap and cylinder #4 in the block. If all is well, when the TDC mark on the flywheel is at the window then the rotor of the distributor should also be pointing at this spot on the block - that's how you know you are really at TDC and not 180 degrees off.

76t