Ok, this makes no sense. I redid the points on the dist today in the counterclock order of 1,5,4,3,6,2. Obviously, this is wrong as the normal firing order is 1,5,3,6,2,4. But the real kicker is this- the engine still ran with the messed up firing order (my guess would be it was only running on 2 cylinders, or 3 at best). But not only did it run, it ran great, minus the hesitation under acceleration. It started up like a dream and ran beautifully. It didn't backfire on idle (like it always does), and ran rather nicely. It's very odd. Tomorrow I will go redo the points like they should be and see what happens. Maybe I have a messed up a 260? The rotor can't be flipped 180 degrees because points 1 and 5 match, so I don't know. Any ideas??

Dave

Depending on your configuration your firing order doesn't have to be the same as stock. My Z has about 36 degree's of advance and does not use standard timing configuration. It is very possible someone did something similar with your Z I would stick with the firing order that was working if I was you.

You could also be reading the order in the wrong direction.

Search for Firing order, this will solve the problem......

Depending on your configuration your firing order doesn't have to be the same as stock.

I don't see how the actually firing order could changed as it's directly tied to the crankshaft compression stroke for a given cylinder. It's quite possible for the engine to run on half the cylinders - usually because of a problems with one of the carbs - but it's not really drivable at that point.

In the example given it seems like perhaps 3 6 and 2 are firing at the right time, 1 and 5 are firing 30 degrees too late and 4 is way off. In the first section below I'm attempting to show the proper Intake, Compression, Detonation, Exhaust firing order. Below that is the wrong order. You can see that only 4 is completely wrong.

1-I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E

5--I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E

3---I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E

6----I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E

2-----I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E

4------I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E

1-I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E

5--I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E

4------I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E

3---I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E

6----I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E

2-----I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E-I-C-D-E

Depending on your configuration your firing order doesn't have to be the same as stock. My Z has about 36 degree's of advance and does not use standard timing configuration. It is very possible someone did something similar with your Z I would stick with the firing order that was working if I was you.

Gav240z read #4 . I cannot see how you can make that statement . Like Mike says there are no variables here the crank and the cam MUST work in unison and the fireing order must be in the proper order or the cylinders will fire either early or late on the compression stroke. Sure the engine can run . However performance will be way off and damage will be done to the engine if not corrected . engines will run easily at about 34 degrees total advance , this is accomplished through the centrifugal advance in the Dist. when you set it a 10 d BTDC at idle . This does not change the fireing order at all just the advance . You get the timing off enough and the engine can run backwards . I know a member that did it. Gary

I'm pretty sure I just checked and mine is running using 6-3-5-1-4-2 configuration.

How long you had the V6 in there Gav?

Sorry mate! I couldn't resist :classic: ...It can only be 1-5-3-6-2-4 in the Nissan L6. The cam demands it, as does the crank. People can do funny things with dizzie caps and leads, that can confuse and befuddle. Multiply this by the power of having the dizzie drive gear out a tooth or two...(can't do that to a Nissan?) divide by reading the rotation backwards....well you see the capacity for confusion. There are other ways to get the timing way out of kilter, but only once you've had the engine apart.

Start afresh! I'll bet you just read it a bit cockeyed.

Jim.

probably i only took a quick look. I'll take a proper look soon but im fairly ertain its possible to run a different firing order.

I think your firing order is right Gav, you're just looking at it the opposite way 'round the dizzy! 6-3-5-1-4-2 is just 1-5-3-6-2-4 in reverse starting from 6

Yeah, I saw that but wasn't going to comment. This thread is odd because you can't change your firing order by simply changing the wires around. Period! Not and have the engine run correctly. The old windsor block Ford V8s had a problem in high performace applications because the first two cylinders to fire are 1-5. If you know Fords that would be the first two cylinders on either bank. At high rpm that would really beat on the crank. Ford had a kit which included the crankshaft, camshaft and I don't remember what else but the kit was designed to even out the firing order.

thanks for the suggestions, guys. I know the previous owner didn't do anything to alter the car (although like you others pointed out I don't think u can alter the firing order without a new crank/cam/dist) but I thought it was odd the car was running fine with only 3 cylinders working properly. It started right up (which it never does) and ran fine without backfiring. The only problem was a massive hesitation under acceleration of any kind, no power at all. I would guess 3 cyl would be enough to move the little Z, but I can't say for certain.

But, this is a mute point now because this afternoon I will re-do the points in the proper firing order and see what happens (fingers crossed). Hopefully she'll run as good as she did.

Dave

I just can't get past the statememt 'running fine with only three cylinders working properly.'