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Hot Rods Ford merc v-8 flathead firing order question

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Wheels700, Dec 1, 2014.

  1. Wheels700
    Joined: Nov 30, 2014
    Posts: 3

    Wheels700

    A friend of mine bought a 34' Ford coupe dirt track car. The car looks like it just came off the track in 1955. The guy he bought it from said he bought it in Columbus, Ohio over 20 yrs ago and it's been sitting in his barn till he bought it.
    The car has a Ford/Merc V-8 flathead with two deuces and a GM HEI dist. To fire the spark. The car runs great, starts right up, no miss or backfire.
    The stock firing order for a flathead is1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2
    This car's firing order is 1-2-5-4-8-6-3-7
    Why was the firing order changed ? For what purpose ?
    Appreciate any and all replies
     
  2. JohnEvans
    Joined: Apr 13, 2008
    Posts: 4,883

    JohnEvans
    Member
    from Phoenix AZ

    You do know Ford left bank is numbered 1-2-3-4 Right 5-6-7-8.
     
  3. flatheadtommy
    Joined: Oct 21, 2013
    Posts: 1,012

    flatheadtommy
    Member

    that really doesn;t make sense . did you try it with the original order ? it might seem to run ok with the 12548637 order but you might find out it runs much better with the stock order. the other way to check is bring #1 up on compression then in the right rotation see what cly. comes up next on compression that will answer your question wether its #2 OR #5.
     
  4. Slopok
    Joined: Jan 30, 2012
    Posts: 2,951

    Slopok
    Member

    No, Right bank is 1-2-3-4 Passenger side.
     
  5. flatheadtommy
    Joined: Oct 21, 2013
    Posts: 1,012

    flatheadtommy
    Member

    no thats wrong the rt. bank is 1234 and the left bank is 5678 being the right bank is the passenger side.
     
  6. flatheadtommy
    Joined: Oct 21, 2013
    Posts: 1,012

    flatheadtommy
    Member

    and i am talking about john evans being wrong not slopok
     
  7. Slopok
    Joined: Jan 30, 2012
    Posts: 2,951

    Slopok
    Member

    I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken;).
     
  8. choppedtudor
    Joined: Nov 28, 2009
    Posts: 724

    choppedtudor
    Member

    have you checked to make sure your not looking at a GM HEI corrected cap....very confusing if you don't know what's happening....
     
  9. JohnEvans
    Joined: Apr 13, 2008
    Posts: 4,883

    JohnEvans
    Member
    from Phoenix AZ

    Gee that's my old timer's acting up!! First time today too !
     
  10. Jimmy2car
    Joined: Nov 26, 2003
    Posts: 1,707

    Jimmy2car
    Member
    from No. Cal

    Driver's side is 5678
    Passenger side is 1234
    Starting from front of vehicle or engine
     
  11. Andy
    Joined: Nov 17, 2002
    Posts: 5,332

    Andy
    Member

    The flathead and the chevy fire in the same order. Just get number 5 flathead on firing and wire like a chevy with 1 starting at the Ford 5.
     
  12. Jack E/NJ
    Joined: Mar 5, 2011
    Posts: 951

    Jack E/NJ
    Member
    from NJ

    I number my flathead cylinders the way they should be according to the crank order front to back. Just like my 265 & 413. Except the firing order is 1-8-7-3-6-5-4-2 instead of 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. Why do I do this?, you might ask. Because I can. And I remember it better for some reason. I guess some later model GM v-8's have the ford firing order. Why did they do this? Who knows?

    Jack E/NJ
     
  13. Heres the firing order straight off one of my '37 21 stud heads. I'm sure all flatheads would be the same? At least the 21 - 24 studs.

    [​IMG]
     
  14. seb fontana
    Joined: Sep 1, 2005
    Posts: 9,078

    seb fontana
    Member
    from ct

    Well that nails it!!!!
     
  15. seb fontana
    Joined: Sep 1, 2005
    Posts: 9,078

    seb fontana
    Member
    from ct

    The firing order is built by where you put the wires in the cap, dosen't matter where the dist is from or its past history firing order..Doubt if its got a flat crank..
     
  16. Slopok
    Joined: Jan 30, 2012
    Posts: 2,951

    Slopok
    Member

    Flatheads & Y Blocks share the same firing order.
     
  17. choppedtudor
    Joined: Nov 28, 2009
    Posts: 724

    choppedtudor
    Member

    you guys missed the clue at the start of this thread....GM HEI. the corrected cap has wires exiting in a different way. At first glance the firing order may not be right, but if you understand that the corrected cap is NOT FIRING IN A VISUAL CIRCLE due to the internal cross connections in the cap, you can see where the confusion starts...
     
  18. Wheels700
    Joined: Nov 30, 2014
    Posts: 3

    Wheels700

    I appreciate the quick replies. We have tried the original or factory firing order
    The engine wouldn't start, backfired etc.
    Just seemed strange and it didn't make sense the firing order is what it is.
    I think to leave well enough alone and enjoy the hech out of it
     
  19. choppedtudor
    Joined: Nov 28, 2009
    Posts: 724

    choppedtudor
    Member

    wheels...what # cap do you have ...?
     
  20. King ford
    Joined: Mar 18, 2013
    Posts: 1,477

    King ford
    Member
    from 08302

    The reason gm has gone to the ford firing order is because of the intake stroke timing and ergo the "signal" generated in the intake manifold......makes more power in some big block applications, probably same thing on the street.....more hp. For less fuel
    ....as for the flatly the only way the actual firing order is altered is if the cam were ground with that in mind...and it would need to be a new casting or forging with totally different lobe timing.......not likely.....this problem stems from the rodent engine parts infestation!

    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2014
  21. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,380

    sunbeam
    Member

    A V8 fires every quarter turn of the crank. on a flat head you can't get 1,2,and 5 to be at tdc by turning a quarter turn each time
     
  22. Wheels700
    Joined: Nov 30, 2014
    Posts: 3

    Wheels700

    Hey, I got a number off the HEI cap
    9595G18 .. Only number I found on it.
    What a " corrected cap " mean ?
    Thanks again for all the help
     
  23. choppedtudor
    Joined: Nov 28, 2009
    Posts: 724

    choppedtudor
    Member

    google is your friend
     
  24. jkeesey
    Joined: Oct 12, 2011
    Posts: 652

    jkeesey
    Member

    If it ran great why change it?
     

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