I acquired a 1973 302 with no plug wires and the distributor was sitting loose in the hole.
Thus, I'm looking for advise on my motors firing order…. and I would also like to get recommendations for the correct coil requirements and what separates one coil from another.

Thanks, Bill

 

Welcome to the forum! The firing order for a 73 302 is 15426378. It looks like this...


If you have the original points-type distributor still, just get a stock replacement coil from your local parts store. Same for wires. High performance coils have a higher voltage discharge that works better in high compression applications, but for a stock engine, it's not necessary.

You'll want to make sure the distributor is installed correctly so your timing is where it should be. It's a little trickier than I can explain quickly in a forum post. You might find a youtube video if you're totally lost.

 

An easy way to get the number piston up close to top dead center is to take out the spark plug on number one cylinder. Put your thumb on the hole and have a friend handy to turn the engine clock wise facing with a socket on the front crank pulley. You will feel the piston push air against your thumb. You can generally tell when the piston reaches or get close to TDC. Try it a couple times to get the feel. Make sure the rotor in the cap is pointing at no. 1 (after) when you drop the distributor into the hole. When the engine fires turn the distributor slowly both directions by hand until it starts wanting to run. You will want to have number one piston just slightly a little bit before top dead center. Should fire up, Follow Wayne's advice above. Hope this helps.

 

(That's clockwise as if you're standing in in front of the vehicle looking at it).

 

No, it is counter -clockwise, (look at Wayne's diagram) it don't matter where you are, counter-clockwise is counter-clockwise

 

Not to confuse you, but the firing order mentioned is correct for a 302 with stock cam of that era. There are some 302s that use a different firing order (302HO for one)and many of the aftermarket cams including the edelbrock performer use the other firing order. it is 13726548.

 

And the distributor always turns counter-clockwise.

 

And FYI: All engines are standard SAE left-hand (counter-clockwise) rotation, looking at the flywheel, unless they are changed to right-hand rotation for marine applications. Right-hand (clockwise) rotation is standard for all single phase electric motors.

 

Sorry. I was just trying to justify Mervy49's post.

 

Not to further confuse the issue, but one person was talking about the distributor turning counter clockwise, while another was talking about engine rotation, which is clockwise looking at the front of the engine. So everyone is right. Gold stars all around.

 

As mentioned, there are two firing orders for the small block Ford.
1-5-4-3-6-2-7-8 was standard on all 221/260/289/302 until 1982 or so...

The 351W and 302HO use the other firing order: 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8

However, either cam may be used in either engine so long as the firing order is swapped to reflect which camshaft it has. The rumor is that Ford changed the firing order on the 351 and later 302 due to the consecutive firing impulses on the first rod journal (1 & 5).

If your engine is stock, or appears stock, the odds are it is the 1-5-4... firing order. But it's easy to figure out - pull the valve covers and rotate the engine.

 

That's why I said 'facing", heh heh, I guess I could have been clearer with my explanation.

 

THANKS everyone