1975 cj-5 spark plugs and wires

i got problem, i changed my spark plugs and wires the other day but stupid me forgot to mark where the wires go back into the distributor and i don't know where to start plugging the wires back in, so a little help please, thanks

 

15 36 24

as in 1-5-3-6-2-4 for the firing order, with #1 cylinder being the closest to the radiator.
clockwise rotation on the distributor. done.

 

where do i start the first plug on the distributor? or does it matter?

 

Pop the cap off the distributor and rotate the engine to TDC on the COMPRESSION stroke and which ever terminal on the cap the rotor points at is #1. A good way to find TDC on the compression stroke is to place your finger over the spark plug hole and when air escapes past your finger your on the compression stroke.

 

if all you did is replace plugs and wires, without moving the distributor, it really doesn't matter where you put the #1 wire, just make sure to follow the pattern. generally, #1 gets put on the dizzy at about the "4-o'clock" position.

 

:? No! If I understand what you are writing, that's not correct! The cam timing must match the firing order - #1 fires at #1 compression stroke, etc. The rotation of the distributor can change though - there's no guarantee the the distributor placement for #1 is at 4 o'clock.

There is only one position of the rotor that matches TDC (top dead center) for the #1 cylinder. You have to put the #1 plug wire on the location on the cap that the #1 rotor position points to.

At #1 TDC, the timing marks will point to the timing pointer. Note that the engine rotates twice for one rotation of the distributor (it's a 4-cycle engine), so make sure you are on the compression stroke for #1. With the engine at #1 TDC, the rotor will be pointing at the location for the #1 wire. Start there, and install the wires in the order given above.

If you put the wires on 180 degrees out (ie on the exhaust stroke for #1), the engine won't run.

Note this whole process is kind of a pain, so next time replace the wires one at a time!

 

Look at the bright side.. you learned a lesson all of us have learned at some point and you will never have to deal with this again, cause you WILL remember to change plugs one at a time in the future

 

you are correct, mr. reese.

i had a brain cramp. i was forgetting that the op didn't know where the #1 had been on the dizzy, so it would matter, as he needed to determine which it was. if set up correctly, it doesn't matter where one puts #1, so long as the conditions are as you described.