AMC 258 running on 5 cyl

The firing order you have in your pic 1-5-3-6-2-4 is correct. So at TDC compression on number 1, you look at where rotor is pointing and that is where you put nr1 plug wire and then you install them to follow the firing order clockwise.

 

Walt is correct. Forgot to add using the firing order. Sorry for my mistake.

 

while not ideal, they should not be the cause of the engine miss.

 

Re-read all the posts, I didn't see where you checked timing. May have missed it. Where is it set? How did the module look? Check wires to the dist. from the module. Your timing should be set at around 6 deg. b.t.d.c.

 

Hey Guys.
The distributor wires are really wasted, they have different foots, and at some of them, metal is showing. Rotor is broken as you noticed. It will not be much more expensive to buy a HEI instead of rotor, seal, wires etc. So that is what i will do, from ebay usa.

I did not check the module yet, will do so and reply!

Timing, im not sure how to check it, but does it matter if i put a HEI dist in it ?

 

Okay good! Then it must be ifgnition related.

Does anyone have a good source for online buy of HEI distributor, except ebay ?

 

Here is the one that 4WD sells
You should be able to find one cheaper.

http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?jeep-sid=11&plID=614&partID=6348

 

Know that the HEI system uses a different plug wire set than standard. You will also increase the spark plug gap as well.

 

just did a pertronix unit in my 74 easier to do waaaay better

 

sterclan: what is the name of the pentronix? Is it better than hei??

Can anyone tell me where my ignition module is located, and what it looks like?? Thanks
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ignitor i believe, got it at summit racing .the pertronix website has a catalog and purchase option...

 

This is what your module looks like IF the car you have is the same as the USA models:



On the passenger side fender, near the alternator.

You do not want to spend a lot of money on this ignition system ...

 

Have been hashing this problem over and over in my brain. How can I trouble shoot the dist verses all else? Here is what I am thinking . This dist has what used to be called a magnetic pick-up and a reluctor (is this correct)? The part that has the 6 (double) fingers on it (I call reluctor) is magnetic. Is this correct? If so, then if the distributor was to be rotated one cap tower from original position and the wires moved around from there, the affected cylinder should change from #5 to #3 (assuming movement was clockwise) and if this happens then the problem would be in the distributor and no where else. Correct?

 

When I say rotate the dist, I do not mean to lift dist and rotate. Leave the rotor in it's original position and loosen the dist and turn it to the next cap tower only.

 

Just FYI this distributor (Prestolite) is a Hall Effect distributor. VR (variable reluctance) is more common and used by the GM HEI and Motorcraft Duraspark among others, and according to my reading, is the triggering method of choice today.

The Prestolite system was a dead end for Jeep (and Prestolite I suppose) and is not very reliable. If you suspect the ignition system is faulty, I suggest you do not put much money into fixing the Prestolite stuff. There are inexpensive aftermarket HEI distributors that will dispense with all the Prestolite junk, or you can make a junkyard upgrade to the Motorcraft Duraspark system used by Jeep from 1978 on, or slide back to the very reliable Delco points ignition used before 1975.

If you wanted to rotate the firing order on the cap, I believe the only way to do that is to remove the distributor and rotate it wrt the engine position. I kind of think it's unlikely that the distributor could be selecting one specific cylinder for misfire - ti's quite a symmetric system - and instead I would suspect something downstream from the distributor like the plug or plug wire of the misfiring cylinder.

 

Tim the reasoning behind my thoughts is not to keep the system but to identify where the problem lies so as not to be replacing a bunch of other stuff. Years ago I had a lot of bench time with different dist and found that prestolite's in particular were very touchy. When I ran them up on the dual strobe dist scope the clearance between the reluctor and pick-up had to be set with brass feeler gauge due to magnetics. If one of those fingers picked up a piece of metal it would kill that cylinder when passing thru the pick-up portion. That's why I was wondering if the cylinder problem would change.

 

I see... I wonder if there is enough room to rotate the distributor body by 45 degrees (one tower, 360/8). This is what you are suggesting, yes? Then move all the wires over by one tower to keep the same firing order.

Yes, since this is a six-cylinder, you should be able to do it, either forward or backward.

 

Thats correct. I know we have a lot of readers on here and earlycj5 dot com is the best place for schooling. Just thinking that this Q&A will help some out there make a proper diag and repair. Understanding how the system works is a must. With this vast library that Sparky has provided us with, we are very luck to have all these knowledgeable people at our finger tips.

 

Ok thanks, i will look for it.

I have ordered a HEI dist and new plug wires from ebay (hotrodusa store) they will be arriving hopefully soon.

Standing next to my jeep, i can smell gasoline.. is that common/normal? Or should i expect something to be wrong?