MG Car Repair: starting problem, firing order, plug hole

Question
Hi Howard,
my husband changed the dizzy cap and rotor on my mgb and now the car won't start, I know the firing order is 1342 ccw but where do you put wire #1 and if this isn't the problem, what else could it be?

Answer
Hi Ann,
You are correct about the firing order. The placement for #1 is dependent on where it was placed when the engine was assembled but it is not too difficult to determine.
Remove all the plugs and place the car in 4th gear and brake off (on level ground) Place your thumb over #1 plug hole while someone slowly roles the car forward. You will soon feel compression on your thumb. Then stop and look at the timing notch in the front pulley as it approaches the long pointer while some one very slowly roles the car forward. When the notch gets to about two short pointers before the long pointer, remove the cap and look at the rotor. If you did exactly what I have said you should be able to feel the top of #1 piston with a screwdriver or such and the rotor will be pointed to #1 pin in the cap. Then arrange the wires in the firing order in a counter clockwise rotation.
Let me know if you have a problem.
Howard