I just did a tune-up on my 89 2.8 bird..

Msd coil, Rapidfires, new cap/rotor & plug wires.

When I fired it up it, it was just not right :-(...

I need some help to make sure I did not mess up the firing order or some thing..see below


correct me if I am wrong, but if you are standing in front of the car looking at it..the cyls are as follows:

5 6
3 4
1 2

Firing order in my Haynes book is : 1-2-3-4-5-6 in a clockwise rotation..is this right???

the new cap as a " 1 " inside of it at about the 3:00 postion after it is mounted...

I am just trying to get the firing order right so that I know the problem is not related to that..

HELP!!...Any ideas??

Thanks :-)

Bob..

 

There is no way to tell where the #1 spark plug wire should be placed on a distributor cap. You can't say "Oh, it's the terminal that's nearest the #1 cylinder." Nope, won't work. I defy anyone to argue this otherwise.

I defy anyone because I already proved it in another message. Click here- https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/...ML/000866.html You'll see my message at the end, explaining why.

As to finding the position itself? Look in the middle of that message above, I explain how to do it. It's not hard. (It links you to another old message of mine.)

One good thing: You do have the correct numbers for the engine's cylinders.

Good luck! Oh, And next time, make a diagram of the spark plug wires as they go to the engine and the distributor cap. It takes 5 minutes, and proves invaluable.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Thanks Tom,
I understand the 0 at tdc, one problen is that I seem to have ( 3) marks on my pulley..Hahaha

Guess it will be trail & error the rest of the day..hahaha

Bob..

 

If it's a stock damper, only one mark on it should be engraved.. that should be the real one.

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'86 Camaro SC, black /w silver racing stripes
2.8l MPFI/700r4 /w special 2nd gear delete option
In search of new v8 engine & transmission, now contemplating t5 swap to get me out of this mess.
MSD coil, Accel 8mm wires, SplitFire plugs, Gabriel hijackers

 

Well there is one way to tell, stick you finger in the spark plug hole of the #1 cyl.
Have someone bump it over unti you feel the compression stroke. Look to where your rotor is and the is you #1 cyl. terminal. If you are putting a distributo in you have to do the same thing to make sure you have it line up properly. so it will work in this situation also.
Tom P if you mentioned this in your reply on the other message sorry, I didn't go and read it.

 

Your #1 Cylinder is passenger side, front.
You will see more than on mark on the balancer.
It sucks, I had that discovery on my 1985 2.8 balancer.
When you get #1 at TDC, you'll see which mark to mark. Do it in yellow or use white out.
Your rotor may be pointing at (looking at it) close to a 7 o'clock, position.
I doubt your plug wires are off. These things tend not to run if plug wiring off (atleast that's what I found out). Look for vacuum leaks from the broken emissions hoses.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Stick your own finger in the hole. I'll stick mine over it, thank you.

You need to remember that the crank goes around twice for every rotation of the cam. Just because the marks are near the pointer doesn't mean that your on the compression stroke. Your going to have to place your finger over the plug hole. When the piston comes up on the compression stroke it will blow your finger off the hole and then check the position of the rotor and it will be close to the #1 terminal. Mark the position and replace the cap. The mark will line up close to the correct terminal.

Next time, One wire at a time, with the old and new caps side by side.

 

Sorry I meant over it. HEHEHEHE. THough it works and you finger will not get blown off in the exhaust stroke because the pressure will go the way of least resistance. Exhaust valve.

 

Thanks to everyone for the info :-)..I did manage to get it to start.....it will not stay running :-(

I was kind of having this problem before the tune up...it would surge from between like 2,500 rpm down to near stalling & then surge back & forth till the engine would warm up & then it would just smooth out to normal

The new engine has less than 100 miles on it..

One thing I did notice is there seems to be a broken sensor of some type on the back of the engine on the passenger side close towards the top of the head...anyone know what that sensor is??..

Think the sensor has anything to do with it??

Thanks again to everyone for the info & advice, I now have a diagram of my firing order stashed away ;-)

 

ON MY 1985 2.8, that turned out to be a sensor for the electric fan, cylinder head temp.
Go to a GM dealer and see if he can help ya.
I would check many vacuum hoses. There are alot. I spent a whole day, just making the hose connections solid and leak free.
I'm pulling very close to 20 inches of vacuum on my 3.4 swap, at idle, 15.5 - 17 in gear.
I think you have vacuum leaks.

------------------
Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Yeah, that's the temp sensor. I think it has a green/white wire coming from it?

On my '86 with three balancer marks, the widest one seems to be the correct one for #1 TDC. And yeah, the linked message I gave told how to find #1 TDC...


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Well, Found the problem..

The hose to the pcv was off, looked like it was attached from where is was sitting..Hahaha

Sneaky little devil ;-)

Fired up & seemed to run right smooth, going to run it by the dealer to have the sensor taken care & a few other small things, then back to driving it full time..

New motor
New paint
Fresh tune-up parts
Will be nice to FINALLY have it back :-)

Thanks again to all for the info & advice..

Bob..

 

One lousy smog hose connection will ruin your ride.
When I did my swap, I spent a whole day making sure all hoses were tight. Even used black electric tape to make sure a hose was secure.
Check all the emission hoses fittings & connections, that's always in your favor.

------------------
Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA