Here is the latest in the saga, I pulled the oil pump and lined it up correctly, the #1 cam lobes at 10 and 2, the timing mark at 0, and set the dizzy with #1 at the proper position, firing per the FSM. Tried to start it and no joy, 1 really loud afterfire (scared the hell out of my wife she thought something had exploded), turns over but no start, checked the fuel pressure while trying to start and got 38-40+ psi, lots of gas smell.

Edited May 2, 201212 yr by mjr45

Next chapter, I just swapped the plug wires 180 degree's and it started, ran really bad, so I must have put the oil pump and dizzy back 180 degree's off, I'll fix that tomorrow.

I have a ZX dizzy on my 77, runs just fine. Are you sure you have the firing order correct? perhaps a picture could help.

Edit: I posted 1 second to late.

I recall another member that had his dizzy put in 180 off about a year ago.

Edited May 2, 201212 yr by grantf

I have ZX dizzy as well and used the firing order in the FSM, but I've seen 2 different firing orders on the site, 1,4,2,6,3,5 and 1,5,3,6,2,4. I used the 1st one from the 75 FSM, but the dizzy is from a 79. It ran like crap (expected @ 180 out), had a stumble and died without giving it fuel.

The correct firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4.

my car is 1,4,2,6,3,5.

A little conflict here, I'll try both and see which one works best the 75 FSM says 1,4,2,6,3,5.

No conflict. Grant is reading the firing order backwards.

^^ Pete has it right. In the direction the dizzy rotates, 153624

To remember it...

15 is too young.

36 is too old.

24 is just right.

If you're older like me, you can think of the 180 deg version...

62 is too old.

41 is too young.

53 is just right.

FAIW, most of our cars like just a bit more advance than spec. Mine is running at 13 deg advance, not the 10 deg spec.

Edited May 3, 201212 yr by FastWoman

Fastwoman, you can't be THAT old, now me I was the medic on Noah's Ark.. For now I think I'm going to use the 180 version, don't feel like pulling the oil pump again, since I have to take off the stabilizer bar to get to it.

Edited May 3, 201212 yr by mjr45

The proper firing order for ANY straight-six engine is 1-5-3-6-2-4. Otherwise, you will get strong harmonic imbalances. The proper orientation of plug wires on the distributor is counter-clockwise (direction of rotation).

I feel like a moron, the sequence is the same, whether its CW or CCW. All is good, timing is pretty close to right on and the fuel mix is right, revs strongly in all gears up to about 6K. Thanks to everyone for all the help, this site has some amazing folks who are willing to help, special kudos to Fastwoman and Zed head.