Rather than just asking this forum about flathead cylinder numbering and firing order, I tried using the FTE search feature. Although I am certain that this information is included somewhere within FTE, I did not find it. (I am just trying to see if the engine will run in a newly acquired truck. It is really messed up after a very long time in storage and from a myriad of people messing with it that clearly did not know what they were doning.)

A google search took me to a site that I thought was excellent for Ford Flathead V8 tune up information. Perhaps most visitors here would know it already. It is maintained by the 'Vanpelt Parts and Service' firm. (I have no connection or vested interest in this firm. I just discovered the web site.)

Here is the URL:

Flathead Tuneup Specifications for 1949-53 V8 (239 & 255)

 

That whole site is a good one for flatheads!

Also, if you back track to their home page, they offer lots of other really good info as well. Thanks for the post!

 

A couple of things.... First, Champion plugs aren't very consistent, AutoLite 216's are a good bet. The timing marks on the crank pulley are not TDC, they are the advance setting at idle with vac hose disconnected (2 deg BTDC).

Finally, the VanPelt site shows the plug wires in the cap 180 deg from what the factory manual does. It doesn't matter which way you do it, but obviously the distributor has to be pulled and rotated to switch from one to the other, so just stay with whatever your engine is using now.

 

I agree with Ross on the points above. One other detractor from accuracy on Mac's site is his mis-information about 48 pickup serial numbers.

Despite copies of Ford factory specs in the operator's manual that I've mailed to him, Mac continues to show the 48's using the same serial number formulation as for 49/50's.

You see some of the same mis-info on the page Julie linked where Mac shows the 8RT/8BA as beginning in 1949.

Most of the site is otherwise awesome.