Here's a good one.

My father, in his infinite wisdom, forgot to mark the plug wires on the distributor cap when he pulled them off his 79 454. I think he is too used to his darn Fords that have the numbers of the cylinder on the cap. He knows the firing order and location of each cylinder, but does not know which wire goes where on the cap. He doesn't have anyone to help otherwise he would just crank and check each one individually. Does someone know the plug wiring order for the cap?

 

remove the number one spark plug , which is the front cylinder on the driver side , turn the engine over with a breaker bar and put your finger in the spark plug hole to plug , when the compression blows your finger out , that is when you remove the cap and check where your rotor is pointing to , start number one there and follow the firing order there in the direction the rotor turns.
1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 LOL havent used that firing order in years. so use to 1-5-3-6-2-4

 

Thanks John!

I just talked to my dad and he had already done so. He just didn't want to do the extra work.

 

There is a possibility that trick could also indicate the exhaust stroke. Although there isn't the same amount of compression, an untrained finger might not be able to tell the difference. Another way to tell you are on TDC of the #1 cyl is to remove the valve cover and watch the valves open/close as you rotate the crank. The 2nd valve from the radiator on the driver's side is the intake valve for the #1 cylinder.

 

On all V8 Chevys, Number 1 cyl is to the left of the distributer window. Remove the cap, and, while monitoring the damper for the TDC line, turn the engine (or tap starter) until the timing marks line up, and the rotor lines up close to the window previously mentioned (If you err,you could be on cyl6). Re-install wires 18436572 in counter clockwise fashion on the cap. Should be good to go! If not, move all wires one at a time four (4) holes and then you are set

 

Uuuuh, I could be wrong but I think the rotor spins CLOCKWISE under the cap.