making sure #1 is #1 

NOTE: This procedure will help set the correct firing order and index the distributer.
You pull all the plugs and manually turn the engine to find TDC on cylinder #1.  Then
connect the cables as shown below... JC provided detail steps below.


Thu Jan 25 15:32:02 2001
From: JC Jones (http://wagoneer.net) 

AMC 360 in 85 Grand Wagoneer timing instructions:

During this procedure, if you notice any worn or burnt parts you should replace them before continuing.

Reference Items:

Firing Order AMC 360cid : 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

Distributor Rotation    : Clockwise

Drivers Side cylinder numbering (front to back) : 1 3 5 7
Passenger Side cylinders numbering (front to back) : 2 4 6 8

I hope the following diagram stays intact:

     Pass          Driver
       8             7

       6             5

       4             3

       2             1

              ->  Rotation of distributor

             5   7
          6   O O   2
            O     O
            O     O
          3   O O   1
             4   8

              <-  Rotation of distributor


Note: on the above diagram, #1 may not be in the same position as on your vehicle - I don't remember 
exactly which direction #1 is so the above diagram is for example purposes only.


1)  Disconnect the battery.

2)  Remove all 8 spark plugs to make the engine easier to
    turn over by hand.

3)  Put your thumb over the #1 spark plug hole and rotate
    the engine in the direction of normal running rotation
    with a socket wrench on the center crank pulley.  There
    are other methods of rotating the engine manually, but
    I will not mention them here since they are not very
    safe.
    (you can check the rotation direction by watching the
    engine from the front while someone "bumps" the key
    to cause the engine to rotate slightly with the
    starter before you disconnect the battery).

4)  You will feel air pressure on your thumb when you have
    rotated the engine to the compression stroke on
    cylinder #1.  Continue rotating the engine until
    the #1 piston is at the very top (Top Dead Center or
    TDC) on the compression stroke.  Once you know you
    are compressing on cylinder #1, you can use a long
    screwdriver as a feeler for the piston to know when
    it is at the very top, but be careful not to get
    the screwdriver jammed between the piston and the
    spark plug hole.  Also, be very careful of the
    threads in the spark plug hole to not damage them.

5)  Now, re-install the spark plugs, and reconnect the
    spark plug wires making sure that they all reach
    the distributor with plenty of slack. Make sure
    you do not turn the engine at all or you will have
    to repeat step #4.

6)  Disconnect all the spark plug wires from the
    distributor cap and remove the cap.  Note the 
    direction that the distributor rotor is pointing,
    and determine which plug wire hole on the cap
    the rotor points to.  This is where the plug wire
    for cylinder #1 goes.  Once you determine this
    you can put the distributor cap back on.  If your
    distributor cap has a 1 molded into it, that should
    be the hole that you identified (if not you need
    to check more thoroughly to see what the problem
    is, because that indicates that you might have a
    mechanical timing problem).  If your distributor
    cap does not have this molded marking on it then
    you should mark your distributor cap for future
    reference.

7)  Now, you can re-install the plug wires on the
    distributor cap by following the firing order
    above in a clockwise rotation from the #1
    position you have identified.

8)  Reconnect the battery, make sure you removed
    the socket wrench from the crank pulley and have
    retrieved any tools you had under the hood.

9)  You should be able to start the truck and it
    should run fine now.  Use a timing light to
    adjust your timing to within specs for your
    altitude.


*============================================*
*  JC Jones                                  *
*  76 Wagoneer (Road Warrior)                *
*  84 Grand Wagoneer (Eeyore)                *
*  http://www.wagoneer.net                   *
*============================================* 

  FSJ's are Jeep Cherokees and Jeep Wagoneers made from 1962 to 1992.  
They include Grand Wagoneers, Gladiators, J10's through J4000's and any other J-series trucks.