tim30

You hit it right on the head I have them clockwise... thanks I will fix tomorrow and try it again with a update ... I'll do the timing and everything all over to make sure it's right

oldcutlass

Yes, I agree, all he had to do was raise the distributor and reset the rotor position correctly. Which I assumed is what he did. Note, the distributor does not care which position is number one as long as the firing order is correct.

redoldsman

Thank Eric. I understand that about the wiring on the distributor. Your could actually put the #1 on the back side which would be goofy. That is what I was trying to keep from happening. When I was in high school, my buddy and I both had 40 Fords. I put a SBC in mine and his had a 48 Merc flathead. He decided to replace his plug wires. On the flathead the distributor was on the front of the engine and if I remember correctly, it was number for the plug wires. So we go in and rip all the plug wires off and then wire it up just like a SBC with the #1 on the left front and then all the odd cylinders on the left and all the even ones on the right. Then it would not run. It coughed and backfired. We checked all the wire and they were correct or so we thought. You know where this is going. The flathead cylinders are number 1 through 4 on the left bank and 5 through 8 on the right bank. We never figured it out. My biddies next door neighbor told him what we had done. That was over 50 years ago but I still remember it. Does Ford still use that numbering system?

oldcutlass

Ford has had some different firing orders over the years besides the way they number the cylinders.

tim30

I'm beyond proud to report back to let everybody know the car is running and purring even better then it did before I did the work! Thanks to all of your contributions and knowledge. You all taught me more then you'll ever know and I appreciate it so much! Special thanks to Oldscutlass redoldsman 76olds and Cherokeepeople for sticking it out with me even in your frustrations here and there. Again thanks good people I'm beyond excited

Bfg

We knew you had it in you, now you need to tear into the transmission!

oldcutlass

Make sure you get a tach/ dwell meter and a timing light, you'll be surprised how far you are off. Glad you stuck with it instead of throwing your hands up and going to a shop. A lot of us have pretty much been as frustrated in our beginnings as you.

CS-Bill

Well done Tim !!!!!

tim30

Thanks and yes that's very true ... so I'm the mean time I'll get those things. Next up once I get all the vacuum back together is the oil pan gasket

76olds

I didn't come into the thread until late but i will accept the thanks haha, I think Joe P and Oldcutlass set the pace here and the direction Tim needed to proceed in.
Cherokeepeople was a tremendous help, made sure it was good to go, ready to fire it up for the second time, noticing your plug wires were out of place.
Good eye Cherokeepeople !!
I was just happy to be a part of this thread and see you through it, we all knew you had the capabilities, just needed direction.
This thread will help out many other newbie's in the future, perhaps you Tim will be coaching them on at that time since you now have the hands on experience.
Cheers to all that participated and worked together, that is why Classic Olds is the best Oldsmobile site on the net!!
Put-r-ther!!
Eric

tim30

Very true thanks Joe P also!! I didn't realize I missed him ! Cheers to all!!

76olds

We will all be in your corner when you start on the Oil Pan Gasket, I think the Rear main seal will be where most of the oil leak is coming from.
Then the MAW'S come into play haha.
Happy to hear it's purrin' like a kitten again.

cherokeepeople

your welcome tim it was fun.and as for this pic,is it of the front of the oil pan?

tim30

Yes. Ive been in here thinking I may just take it somewhere to get it done since from what I been seeing from other threads its a challenge because of the space of being able to have enough space to do it

redoldsman

That might be a good idea Tim. I don't know but you may have to loosen the motor mounts and raise the engine to get the pan off. Working under a car and taking an oil pan off without a lift is a miserable job. It is very nasty and you are going to get trash in your eyes. Laying on your back on a creeper doing that is no fun. Congrats on getting your car going.

cherokeepeople

thats the front pan lip seal.looks like it has had a timing chain replaced and they didn't do it right.how many miles on it??

tim30

66***, thousand

cherokeepeople

you think 66 or 166k??if 166 it has definately had a timing chain.might not have to pull the pan just the waterpump and timing chain cover and replace that seal

Bfg

Let's see some pictures of your car!

cherokeepeople

exactly.this thread has been soooo long i forgot just what we you are working on here.pics would help me remember!!

garage goat2

lol

tim30

tru-blue 442

Pics of the rubber on the pedals would be a good start to guesstimate mileage.
I bet if we try we can get this thread up to 300 + posts.

Good luck with it Tim. Looks like you may have a nice cruiser in the drive
for chasing parts.

cherokeepeople

thats a nice looking car.makes the 263 posts worth it.

redoldsman

Very nice. I really like the color.

oldcutlass

Great looking car Tim.

Charlie Jones

Nice car!
If nobody has already mentioned it , do you have an Oldsmobile Chassis Service Manual ?
Original printed copies are best , E-bay is the best place to find one .

dennis_30281

This reminds me of when I was 17 and decided to change the plug wires on my 58' , what a disaster!!!
First get a book on the car your working on and study what job your going to be doing.
Second, get someone to help you that has done the job before!
Third, tag every wire and hose, take notes, draw diagrams, and today there's no reason not to take pics before the disaster occurs.
Good luck Dennis

CS-Bill

Beautiful ride Tim !!!!

tim30

Thanks everybody. One last thing....Ive finally got a chance to drive the car and for some reason its not changing out of 1st. Wasnt having any transmission issures before. Any Ideas>? Ive searched a couple forums and havent found anything

cherokeepeople

there is a vacuum line to the transmission modulator.is it hooked up??

tim30

Exactly what it was Thanks!!!!!

cherokeepeople

usually there is a steel line that comes up next to the dipstick tube

tim30

Yes that's exactly where it was and what it was

tim30

Got the new oil pan gasket replaced! Cost 300 but well worth not seeing those oil spots in the garage

tim30

It was a mess before!!!