Sorry to bother everyone again, but I am stumped and need to ask once again for advice.

Quick background:
Bought an 84 Montero with a seized block, rebuilt the bottom half but left the top end alone. Had it idling (barely) with the stock carburetor, but could not touch the gas or it would stall.

Decided to replace the carburetor with a new Weber to delete all vacuum hoses, replaced mechanical fuel pump with electrical while I was at it.

Alright, here is the problem. I made sure all the sprockets were correct when I installed the timing chain, I followed the manual and lined up the dimple on the distributor with the timing mark and installed it when cylinder 1 (closest to the radiator) was at top dead center.

The rotor points to the "1" on the cap, and everything looks correct. I started it and it chugged for about 5 seconds and stalled (same as the old stock carburetor).

If you hold the throttle all the way open it backfires badly out the carburetor, I advanced the rotor one tooth and would not even get a chug and the backfires were worse. I retarded the timing one tooth and it backfires (out the carb only) just as bad as advancing too far, there doesn't seem to be any difference when adjusting just by rotating the distributor for normal adjustment.

I have spark for sure (pulled the plugs and grounded them), have fuel (backfired so bad it light the gas in the carburetor), everything points to timing being way off.

Excuse my ignorance (first time engine rebuild) is it possible to have the camshaft 180 off? Or possible the distributor? Would it run even for 5 - 15 seconds if either were 180 degrees off?

Or is this more of an ignition electrical problem? Just remembered I had it hooked up to a battery charger and heard a loud pop near the firewall when I turned it to "jump start", could that have been a fuseable link blowing? And if so would that cause it to have these symptoms?

Thank you very much for your time,
Ryan

Pull #1 plug and hand-crank the engine. Make sure that cylinder isn't just at TDC, but is also on the compression stroke by holding your finger in the spark plug hole to feel for pressure.

Check the distributor rotor position now. Still pointing at #1?

Fusible links are usually located where you can get to them fairly easily. Hopefully a blown one would look like it was blown.

Yes, you could be one revolution out, in theory. Also, get a timing light handy. I advance a 2.6 a bit more than the factory sticker says to, maybe two degrees more.

Hope that helps.

John B.

Forgot to say that the cap and rotor are new, and the wires look newish.

Also, just to verify, the firing order is 1, 2, 3, 4 clockwise from 1 on the cap correct? If not that may be my problem... I think I read that in the 20,000 page manual, but I can't find it to verify now. ;-)

NO! It's wrong in the Chilton's manual and the Haynes manual both, I'm told.

Now what is it again...(I'm out of town or I'd look). 1342.

John B.

Oh, well that is probably the problem. Wish I wouldn't have asked that a week ago! Doh!

Thanks for your help, I did make sure it was on the compression stroke, but I will re-time it and switch the wires around and let you know what happens.

Ryan

Firing order being set at 1234 was the reason I was able to help my neighbor get the (now mine) 86 for $400. Heck, it started right up after I set it right. The previous owner had replaced the head gasket and had apparently done an otherwise decent job of it...except the firing order. I didn't catch it until after we trailered it home.

John B.

It isn't just probably the problem.

I forgot all about that or I would have made sure to mention it earlier.

Mine had the exact same symptoms. And so simple, but it caused one guy to give up and sell his truck for a loss after owning it just a few months.

John B.

I have the truck up at work or else I would up and fix it now. I can't wait though, thanks again - I love this forum. Either someone has fixed the exact same problem you are having or they know someone who has.

I just wish I would have read the FSM a little closer instead of trusting a random internet post for firing order.

Thanks again!
Ryan

I believe the firing order is cast on the intake manifold, just about 5 inches from the dizzy.

Really? I haven't paid that much attention, but I've not noticed it.

John B.