Questions about the starter and the engine

First, overhaul your starter. While it's out, shine a light on the flywheel and look for dead spots as you turn it. If the flywheel looks good & the o-hauled starter still does not work, you probably need a new solenoid. I've used old Bronco starter parts for emergency repairs. The main difference is the solenoid gear throw length due to a slightly different snub nose. I've even shimmed Bronco snubs to work w/my "74.

gj

 

re: The firing order should be cast into the intake manifold. According to Hayes the firing order of all AMC inline 6 engines is 1 5 3 6 2 4. The cylinders are numbered from the front to the back 1-6.

Not all 258s have the same firing order, I just bought a 74 with a fresh rebuild and replaced all the ignition parts and had a simlair experience where it would turn over then just sit there and the started would wine. I looked in my Haynes and in 75 the order is the same but the plug wires are rotated one tower on the distributor clockwise. All I did was move each wire over one to the left and it fired right up. I guess that it was rebuilt to later post 75 specs. Maybe you're having the same problem....

 

Then you had a timing issue not a firing order issue.