electrical igniton idea?

It's a 4 stroke engine. The crankshaft makes 2 complete revolutions each time the the cylinder fires. Therefor you have TDC for the intake revolution and TDC for the exhaust revolution. I do believe you have to make sure the # 1 cylinder is at TDC on the intake cycle.

0 degree's(TDC)-180 degree's ---> intake stroke
180 degree's - 360 degree's(TDC) ---> compression stroke
The crankshaft has now done one complete revolution
360 degree's(TDC) - 540 degree's ---> combustion stroke
540 degree's - 720 degree's(TDC) ---> exhaust stroke
The crankshaft has now done two complete revolutions but only sparked once at the beginning of the combustion stroke.



When I get home tonight I'll post what I can find in my manual. Do you have the 3sge engine?

Your wires should definetely follow the numbers on the cap.

 

Yep, from the sounds of it you put the motor together on the exhaust stroke at cylinder 1 TDC, which means that your engine will be timed for cylinder 4 TDC I think. Too tired to think it out now, but you need to sort this problem out before going any further with your diagnosis.

 

Okay heres how to install the distributor when the engine has been disturbed.



Do this procedure properly and your engine should start. Don't forget to return the distributor wires to their proper plugs.

 

Here's the procedure for installing the distributor once the engine has been set to TDC on the compression stroke for # 1 cylinder.