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I also have an 85 I6 and the firing order is stamped on the intake manifold, right in the front, opposite the # 1 spark plug. I dont think you need to remove the air cleaner housing to see it.
Good luck, DEAN
Thanks I will take a look. I would think that all I6 engines would have the same firing order, but I did find that the order posted in this forum (153624) does not work on my truck?? I will see if there is a different order stamped on the manifold... thanks again for the info...
You're not setting it up on the exhaust stroke, are you? It would be 360* off on the crank - turn the crank one full revolution and try the 153624 again.
Interesting thought, but I am not sure how it would have gotten that way to begin with... I didn't change anything other than replace the wires, cap, rotor and plugs so that would mean that it has been 360* off this whole time... It has not run "well" since I've gotten it, but it has run much better than it is now... Would I have to lift the distributer off the cam when I turn the engine the full revolution?
"Would I have to lift the distributer off the cam when I turn the engine the full revolution?"
No - only if you determine that it was installed wrong.
With the wires disconnected, pull the no 1 plug and hold your finger over the hole while you turn it over. When it gets to tdc on the compression stroke the air pressure will blow your finger off the hole.
Before you move anything, use white-out or something similar to mark where the dist body is in relation to the block, where the hold-down is located on the body, where the rotor is pointing on the dist body. (If you need to move back to the original location, you're all set.) Then move the dist as necessary so the rotor is pointing just in front of the no 1 wire (approx 3 o'clock) That will get you in the ballpark. Rotor turns clockwise.
One other possibility is that your harmonic balancer has deteriorated and slipped. If so you won't be able to time according to the pointer and marks on the HB.
Also, cheap plug wires will cause all kinds of cross-shorting. Plug wires are one thing I never scrimp on.
Great! I will give this a shot... I have also had bad experiences with cheap wires and that may be what I am dealing with because these were the only ones that AutoZone had and they were the cheapest ones they carry... Thanks for your help!