The purpose of an engine's distributor is to deliver an electric charge from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. The igniting voltage to the spark plugs is delivered in a specific sequence. Without this spark created by the distributor, a vehicle will not start. It is vital to know distributor rotation direction when replacing a distributor. The specifications of cylinder numbering, firing order and direction of rotation in the distributor are not the same in all Ford vehicles.
Firing order changes from model to model. Following are firing orders by distributor. The firing order in 260-, 289- and 302-cubic-inch displacement Ford engines is 1 - 5 - 4 - 2 - 6 - 3 - 7 - 8. Distributors in 351W- and 400-cubic-inch engines have a firing order of 1 - 3 - 7 - 2 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 8. The firing order is 1 - 3 - 7 - 2 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 8 in 351C- and 351M-cubic-inch engines. For distributors in 352-, 360-, 390-, 406-, 427- and 428-cubic-inch Ford engines, the firing order is 1 - 5 - 4 - 2 - 6 - 3 - 7 - 8. Engines with 429, 460 and 514 cubic inches also have a firing order of 1 - 5 - 4 - 2 - 6 - 3 - 7 - 8.
Numbering is started looking at the front of the block. In Ford engines with 260, 289 and 302 cubic inches, the cylinder numbering order is, left side 1 - 2 - 3 - 4, and right side 5 - 6 - 7 - 8. Vehicles with 351W-, 351C-, 351M- and 400-cubic-inch motors have a cylinder numbering order of left side 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 and right side 5 - 6 - 7 - 8. Ford engines with 352, 360, 390, 406, 427, 428, 429, 460 and 514 cubic inches also have a cylinder numbering order of left side 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 and right side 5 - 6 - 7 - 8.
The distributor rotation direction in Ford engines with 260, 289 and 302 cubic inches is counterclockwise. 351W-, 351C-, 351M- and 400-cubic-inch engines have a distributor rotation direction of counterclockwise. Ford engines with 352-, 360-, 390-, 406-, 427-, 428-, 429-, 460- and 514-cubic-inch displacement also have a distributor rotation direction of counterclockwise.
