2.9l know where to start

[greenhead1822]

I bought an 87 ranger recently that didn't run I got it for a good price and I know what I got. I started with draining the tank and lines and put clean fuel in. I put in new spark plugs, lines and a new cap and rotor and I still got nothing I tested compression and that was good. I noticed that the spark plug wires weren't wired correctly when I got it so I'm wondering if my lengths are off. Currently I am putting it on tdc #1 and checking that to make sure my timing is good. Is there anything I am missing.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Spray fuel in the intake and try starting. If there is any signs of it trying to start then its a fuel problem.

How do you find tdc?

 

[RonD]

+1 ^^^

Add fuel manually and try to start engine
If it starts and dies, then injectors are not working or fuel pumps, there are two pumps in an 1987
If it doesn't start/fire then no spark or spark at the wrong time

The crank pulley shows TDC when aligned with the mark, but doesn't show if its TDC for #1 or #5, so you can have distributor 180deg off

 

[greenhead1822]

I've tried adding fuel to the intake so no dice I think I'm 180 off so I've pulled the valve cover on 1,2,3 and will check the timing on that tomorrow. Someone has notched the dampner so it's a bit of a crap shoot as to where the timing is

 

[greenhead1822]

If it is 180 off how do I change that

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Make sure its at TDC. Pull distributor and drop it in so the rotor is pointing at #1 cylinder. Adjust so the #1 cap post is facing the rotor. Pull spout and adjust timing.

 

[RonD]

Pull off the distributor cap so you can see the rotor

Manually turn the engine until 0deg line and mark line up on the crank, don't use the "hole/sight" thats for a tool not timing

See where rotor is pointed
Should either be pointed at #1 or #5 cap wire, if not then you are way off
If its pointed at #1 then pull up distributor turn rotor so it now points at #5 and lower it back in, distributor gear is angled, so turn rotor a little less or more so it ends up pointed at #5

If wires on cap were not in the right place to start with, then maybe the distributor was timed "as is" before you got it

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Hmmm, that's different than the v8's I worked on. Is this #5 for all distributed v6's?
@RonD

It doesn't make sense to me to have the rotor pointed at #5 when #1 cylinder is TDC.

 

[RonD]

Yes, pretty much all Ford V6s are balanced with the match pairs of 1/5, 2/6, 3/4
So 1 and 5 are both at TDC at the same time, one on compression stroke one on exhaust stroke
So if crank is on TDC mark and rotor was pointed at #1 but #5 was on compression stroke then its 180deg off, if you lift the distributor and spin it 180deg(to #5) then reinstall you would have correct timing back
So without checking valves or compression you have a 50/50 chance of installing distributor correctly, or if "the glass is half empty", a 50/50 chance of installing it wrong, lol.

2.9l firing order is 1 4 2 5 3 6

You can get the match sets for any engine from the firing order, just split it in half and put one half above the other
1 4 2
5 3 6

So the match sets are 1/5 4/3 2/6

So each pair is at TDC at the same time, 60deg apart in a V6, this balances the rotational mass

For a 302 V8 firing order is 1 5 4 2 6 3 7 8
1 5 4 2
6 3 7 8

So 1/6, 5/3, 4/7, 2/8 are the matched pairs that balance the engine, so each pair is at TDC at the same time

Firing order on the 302 HO is 1 3 7 2 6 5 4 8 so different but........
1 3 7 2
6 5 4 8

Same matched pairs as the regular 302 but uses a different cam so firing order is changed but not the match pairs
So 1 and 6 on either V8 would be 180deg apart on the distributor, one on compression stroke one on exhaust stroke
And each pair is 45deg apart on a V8

Same thing works with chevy, dodge, ect................... engines, also I4, I6, V10, V12 engines


It's also why the waste spark coil packs are wired on the V6 the way they are
[3 4]
[2 6]
[1 5]
front

The matched pairs
Because 1 and 5 are both at TDC at the same time both spark plugs fire at the same time, one spark is "wasted" on the exhaust stroke
Same for 2/6 and 3/4