Confused about where to hookup spark plug wires on 144

[Pete W]

Hi,

I'm trying to hook up the spark plug wires on my 61 Comet and can't figure out where the wires go from the engine to distibuter and visa versa. I have a 61 manual and looking and the diagram it shows the, looking at the dizzy from the drivers side straight on, number one at the top followed by 5,3,6,2,and 4 in a clockwise direction. I hooked it up to the engine that way going from the front of the car; 1,4,2,6,3, and 5 and nothing happens except some bad burps. I won't start. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks

Pete

 

[Anonymous]

your dizzy could be 180 degress out...

thats my guess, but wait for other to chime in

 

[fordconvert]

What else did you do, change, or have apart when you changed the wires? Just changing the wires is a pretty straight forward thing especially on a inline 6. Did you change them 1 by 1 or have them all off at the same time? The #1 position on the cap can easily be changed so if you didnt look before you pulled the wires you may have to take some things apart to figure out where its supposed to be.

 

[Pete W]

I changed all of the wires, plugs, cap, rotor button, and points, I had everything off at once.

 

[Bort62]

From that Vantage point #1 should be more around 7 oclock. The cap likely has a mark for the #1 plug on it. #1 can really be arbitrairily anywhere, but the normal place is around 6-9 oclock.

The cylinders go in order 1-6 from front to back.

The firing order goes clockwise around the cap from #1 and is cast into the intake log.

 

[fordconvert]

To find out which one is #1 you need to pull #1 spark plug and turn engine over slowly by hand or bumping the starter with ignition disconnected. You can tell when #1 should be close by looking for the timing mark to be near the timing indicator. THe marks will be lined up twice, one time for the exhaust stroke and one time for the compression stroke (the one you want). To tell the differnce you need to put your finger over the spark plug hole, the exhaust stroke will have no pressure as the engine turns and the compression stroke will have pressure. Once you figure out which one is which leave the engine on the compression stroke with the timing mark lined up and figure out which terminal on the cap the rotor is closest to, this will be #1. Its possible that someone had the dizzy out and didnt get it back in exactally right so when they tried to set the timing they were not able to get it right because the vac advance modulator hit something so the easy way to fix that is to move all the wires ahead 1 (or more) terminals on the cap. I have to admit I have done this because I dont seem to have much luck droping onto the oil pump shaft so when I get it to drop in I dont want to do it again unless I have to.

 

[61Futura]

I hope you are talking about counter clockwise wiring with the 1,4,2,6,3,5 firing order you say you used instead of the clockwise firing order of 1,5,3,6,2,4 that you first mentioned. The firing order doesn't change by moving from the side of the engine to the front.

Or maybe I've completely misunderstood what the first post is describing.

 

[Mercury Mike]

I'll draw you a diagram!

 

[Bort62]

lol! you draw gud.

 

[Mercury Mike]

PAINT FTW!!!

 

[Anonymous]

turn engine over slowly .... you need to put your finger over the spark plug hole, the exhaust stroke will have no pressure as the engine turns and the compression stroke will have pressure.

BE CAREFUL!!
That 18mm hole is just big enough to suck a finger into!! I know a guy who's friend got his index finger stuck in the 18mm plug hole of a '71 302...They had to pull the head off and take him to the emergency room with his finger still in it!

lol! you draw gud.

My "paint" drawings look exactly like that, LOL!

 

[fordconvert]

I guess an anternative would be to try it with the plug only in a thread or two, with the plug that loose if you turn it by hand you should hear it hiss.

 

[Griny]

There is another way, get a strong flash light and shine down the plug hole and you can see if the 1st piston is at tdc.
Good luck

 

[Anonymous]

I guess an anternative would be to try it with the plug only in a thread or two, with the plug that loose if you turn it by hand you should hear it hiss.

The finger works fine as long as you don't JAM it into the hole like that one guy did. Just close enough of the hole off to where you can feel the air rushing past. If the engine is turned over slow it isn't any issue.

There is another way, get a strong flash light and shine down the plug hole and you can see if the 1st piston is at tdc.

That would work if you could tell which one of the two times it is at the top is the RIGHT time. If the valve cover was already off you would be able to tell because the rockers aren't moving on the compression stroke

 

[fordconvert]

If your oil fill cap is over #1 you could look down there and see the rockers, seems like on mine I can see at least one rocker... dont remember if it was 1 or 2's tho.

 

[Pete W]

Thanks guys!

I appreciate your help

Pete

 

[61Futura]

Hi,

I hooked it up to the engine that way going from the front of the car; 1,4,2,6,3, and 5 and nothing happens except some bad burps. I won't start. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks

Pete

According to that, the cap has been wired backwards and will cause a few backfires, but not start.

 

[Anonymous]

If your oil fill cap is over #1 you could look down there and see the rockers, seems like on mine I can see at least one rocker... dont remember if it was 1 or 2's tho.

Lots of us have the oil cap in the back, tho...