I am trying to get my 1951 F1 running and one of the things I'm doing is installing new plug wires. I found a couple of places that list the firing order for a 1951 flathead V8 as 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2. I started puting new plug wires on my truck (a '51 flathead) and discovered the plug wires on my engine are "backwards". FO1 goes to plug 6, FO5 goes to plug 3, FO4 goes to plug 7 and FO8 goes to plug 2. With #1 cylinder at TDC the rotary button points to FO1 (wired to plug 6). This is a truck I drove home and it ran decent.

What is going on here?

 

that firing order is right.if i remember right #1 is on pass, side and is set back farther than other side.

 

You've got the order right. Sounds like the cap was set up 180 deg off. There's been a bit of disagreement where #1 on the dist should be - some guys mark it 11 O'clock and others mark it at 5 O'clock. It'll run both ways - and it seems ford manuals added to the confusion.

As 312 said, front to back US Passenger side 1234 Driver's side 5678

 

Maybe this will help. It should be the same on the '51


Gil

 

Thanks for the feedback. A local guy agrees with you mtflat that it will run either way. Gdgerland, I think the "49-53 have a little different firing arrangement than the 46-48. Thanks to all.

 

Sorry, had a senior moment there...... try this one......

 

Hey gdgerland, I've had one or two of those myself. I'm going to use your second diagram to wire my flathead. -Thomas