There should be a mark or a ``1`` on the cap to tell you.
very front of motor
The firing order on a 2.5 Pontiac motor is 1-3-4-2, 1 being in front. The chilton book shows the firing order and the wire placement on the dist cap. #1 is at 10 oclock.
wire that as number one or pull dist. and fix.
Follow the wire from the #1 cylinder to the cap. see link
The firing order on all small block chevys is 18436572. It should be imorinted on the intake. Trace the number one plug wire back to the dist. It's the one on the left (drivers) side of the engine at the front of the motor. The dist rotates clockwise.
Selection of enameled wire for motor
If the motor is operated from a three phase three wire distribution system the motor will not need a neutral wire.
If #1 piston is up on compression (hold finger over plug hole to feel air while bumping starter) put something in and rotate motor so you can tell when piston is at top of stroke. With cap off distributer rotor should point to #1 plug wire. rotate dist. with coil wire off turn over engine and move dist to get it to turn over the fastest. plug in coil wire start and time it.
It will be a tan wire with a black stripe that breaks out of the wireing harness on the fire wall but close to the dist.
standing on the passengers side of the car and looking at the dist. it is the bottom right. From there you wire the the cap clockwise
Life on the Wire was created in 1982.
The Wire - magazine - was created in 1982.