Ignition/Spark Firing Sequence needed?

Tiny
PAULF150
  • MEMBER
  • 1991 FORD F-150
  • 5.8L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 130,000 MILES
Sorry, my truck is actually automatic. It says manual in my profile info. I was going to change my spark plugs, wires and distributor cap on my truck and was confused about the current configuration (I'm the third owner, my first time doing this). I made a diagram of my current wiring configuration, and it looks like it has been setup for a 5.0l engine this entire time! I double checked my work, and here is the current firing order on my truck:1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8.

According to my Haynes manual, it says "255, 1993 and earlier 302 (5.0L) and 460 cu in (7.5L) V8 Engines = 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8". Which is exactly how my wiring is set up. This does not match my engine type.

And for 5.8L Haynes says "351W (5.8L), 351M, 400 and 1994 and later 5.0L V8 engines = 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8". My truck is a 5.8L so shouldn't the above order be correct? So, sanity check, sounds like the previous owner or their mechanic used the wrong diagram? Or am I reading the Haynes manual incorrectly? Seems like a no-brainer here but wanted to get a second opinion. And, perhaps unwisely, I reconfigured my wires to the 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 order just to see what would happen and the results were not pretty. The truck shook pretty badly, and the rpms were very low, 4 or 500. I turned it off very quickly. Very confused. I'll also say that my truck is running fairly well, the reason I wanted to change my plugs is because my acceleration at higher speeds is not great and gas mileage is pretty bad, maybe 8 or 10 MPG. I should note that I'm sure the engine hasn't been swapped by the previous owner. I added an image of motor top where it says 5.8 9n the top of the engine. It should be around 13. Thanks for any help!
Tuesday, August 8th, 2023 AT 8:12 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
Hi,

I attached what I have from my manual. 1 3 7 2 6 5 4 8 is what it shows. Maybe you had the wires on the distributor backward. The rotor turns counterclockwise. Is that how you routed them? See pic below.

Let me know. Also, see if you can find a production date under the hood or in the driver's door frame. Maybe we have a very early or very late production and they changed something.

Joe

See pics below.
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Tuesday, August 8th, 2023 AT 10:57 PM
Tiny
PAULF150
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Thanks so much for the reply! Yep, the graphic you sent is the exact configuration I tried. The rotor spinning counterclockwise. It did not end well :-) I searched my VIN and this all of the information I received back:

1991 Ford F150 1/2 ton P/U 4WD 8 Cylinders H 5.8L MFI OHV 351 CID

My door sticker probably fell off long ago and I can't find any other information on the driver's side door. I did attach a picture of a sticker that's under the hood of the car, but I'm not sure if that's helpful. After some more searching, I did see a reference to 351w H.O engines and non-H.O engines and there's a difference in firing order, but I'm not sure if this applies to my situation. My Haynes manual doesn't say anything about H.O/non H.O engines. If my configuration is wrong, it's very odd to me how my truck is operating at all. Is it possible some timing was altered to make it work?

I found a few interesting paragraphs from this site (https://vehiclefreak.com/ford-351-windsor-firing-order-the-correct-firing-order/) that vaguely mention that not all 351w engines may use the same firing sequence, and even suggests trying the 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 order.

Could my truck just be some odd ball anomaly that Ford made in 91?

Update: I read that it's not entirely uncommon to change cam shafts to the 302 engine type. Which, in turn changes the firing order to 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8. I guess there was even a period of time where the 351 cams were hard to come by so people started using the 302 type. Starting to suspect that this is the case. Do you know if there's a way to determine cam type or if there would be any clues left behind by a previous owner if this was done?
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Wednesday, August 9th, 2023 AT 12:16 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
Hi,

I checked 1990 and 1992 and they are the same. The firing order I sent is what everything shows. Nothing is shown for an HO engine in the truck.

So, that leaves a thought in my mind. Could the engine have been changed and someone used a 5.0L in place of the 5.8L? I ask because the firing order that the truck had originally is for the 5.0L.

Let me know.

Joe
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Wednesday, August 9th, 2023 AT 8:51 PM
Tiny
PAULF150
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Hi,

Thanks for the thoughts! The engine is a 5.8L for sure, it has "Ford 5.8L EFI" on top of the engine. Attached an image. But, I think what may have happened is a crankshaft from a 5.0L 302 was installed into my 351 at some point, therefore changing the firing order. After some googling, I have found quite a few people online that have run into this as well, and that they are completely interchangeable. What do you think? Can't think of anything else. Thanks for your time, it's much appreciated.
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Wednesday, August 9th, 2023 AT 9:00 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
Hi,

Anything is possible. Nothing else makes sense. When you reinstalled the wires the way they originally were, did it run properly? If so, then what you mentioned makes sense.

Regardless, if you find out a definitive cause, let me know. I'm really interested in knowing what was done to change things.

Take care,

Joe
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Wednesday, August 9th, 2023 AT 10:25 PM
Tiny
PAULF150
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Hi Joe,

Yep, when I put the wires back in the 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 order the truck worked fine again. It's the only thing that makes sense to me too. I actually tried to chat with Ford about this. They couldn't answer my question, but they did tell me I have a recall on my car for some ignition circuitry fault. So, I'm taking it on 8/21 and they'll fix it for free. I'm going to ask them about the firing order while I'm there and hopefully get some answers. I'll let you know if I learn anything. Thanks so much!
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Wednesday, August 9th, 2023 AT 10:36 PM

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