332-428 Ford FE Engine Forum-FE firing order question (2024)

Anyone ever wonder what changing the firing order on an FE to the current 302HO/351W firing order might do?
Good, Bad, nothing at all????

Not sure what a custom camshaft to do this would cost, but I just wondered if I was the only one that's wondered about this.

R

Go to my site:

http://home.bellsouth.net/p/pwp-bobfe

and read the Firing Order tech article and then tell me what you think.

it would appear that the only difference is that #4 relieves #7 as the last cylinder to fire before #8 and thus MIGHT take a "Double Whammy" off of these two cylinders side by side and the last two in the cycle. It just moves that to #4 which is on the other bank.

Seems like this would be a good question for a Physics Major. LOL!

But in short, no I can't point blank see any advantage of one over the other since looking at those diagrams.

I looked at it this way. #1, #8, and #2 & #6 fire in the same place between the two. #5 & #4 go from the front to the back, and #3 & #7 go from the back to the front. So, it looks like a game of musical chairs except for the fact that now the two cylinders firing side by side and on the same bank are #5 & #6 on the new 302HO/351W firing order where #7 & #8 are the case with the FE's.

So with this in mind, why then did Ford originate the odd ball 351W firing order (in 69', correct?) and then expanded on it again with the 302HO in the 80's?? I must be missing something.

R

it would appear that the only difference is that #4 relieves #7 as the last cylinder to fire before #8 and thus MIGHT take a "Double Whammy" off of these two cylinders side by side and the last two in the cycle. It just moves that to #4 which is on the other bank.

Seems like this would be a good question for a Physics Major. LOL!

But in short, no I can't point blank see any advantage of one over the other since looking at those diagrams.

I looked at it this way. #1, #8, and #2 & #6 fire in the same place between the two. #5 & #4 go from the front to the back, and #3 & #7 go from the back to the front. So, it looks like a game of musical chairs except for the fact that now the two cylinders firing side by side and on the same bank are #5 & #6 on the new 302HO/351W firing order where #7 & #8 are the case with the FE's.

So with this in mind, why then did Ford originate the odd ball 351W firing order (in 69', correct?) and then expanded on it again with the 302HO in the 80's?? I must be missing something.

R

gotten an answer that made sense.

I would hope that Ford had a good reason for the change but I have not heard it.

Anyone ever wonder what changing the firing order on an FE to the current 302HO/351W firing order might do?
Good, Bad, nothing at all????

Not sure what a custom camshaft to do this would cost, but I just wondered if I was the only one that's wondered about this.

R

was the reason Ford changed the firing order of the 302 to the 351(302HO)firing order. It was a "recall" that never exsisted unless you knew about it. When the ignition systems got more "powerful" there was a problem with #7 and #8 crossfiring since they fired "next to each other" and when the spark-plug wires were "neatly" routed together/near each other. Seems that #8 would fire when it wasn't 'spose to (un-noticed) and run majorly lean, hence the #8 piston could feasably burn, believe me it's true, I have a piston to prove it !!!!!! That's why around 1996, I believe, is when Ford changed the firing order of the "standard 302" to the 351/302HO firing order. SO, it may not be a bad idea to watch how we route the plug wires on the ol' FE's also.

it would appear that the only difference is that #4 relieves #7 as the last cylinder to fire before #8 and thus MIGHT take a "Double Whammy" off of these two cylinders side by side and the last two in the cycle. It just moves that to #4 which is on the other bank.

Seems like this would be a good question for a Physics Major. LOL!

But in short, no I can't point blank see any advantage of one over the other since looking at those diagrams.

I looked at it this way. #1, #8, and #2 & #6 fire in the same place between the two. #5 & #4 go from the front to the back, and #3 & #7 go from the back to the front. So, it looks like a game of musical chairs except for the fact that now the two cylinders firing side by side and on the same bank are #5 & #6 on the new 302HO/351W firing order where #7 & #8 are the case with the FE's.

So with this in mind, why then did Ford originate the odd ball 351W firing order (in 69', correct?) and then expanded on it again with the 302HO in the 80's?? I must be missing something.

R

Lernt long ago that running plug wires alongside each other will produce "Inductive crossfire" in which the first plug to fire will induce (right hand rule) voltage in the wire next to it. Sometimes it's enough to fire the second plug. If you route the wires so they cross each other at someplace it will cancel the crossfire. As to the firing order switch, I was told, at a FORD SEMA briefing many years ago that they did it to take the strain off the front of the crank (1-5) and move it to the rear (4-8) to lessen twist in the crank.

it is possible. Especially with high energy ignitions. It doesn't really matter what brand engine (ie chebby, dodge, etc), the wires should be routed so that they aren't laying next to a wire that fires next.

#8 piston is burnt. It's a 95 5.0L from a pickup. Crossfiring sounds logical to me.