Are my wires crossed?

[jmk909er]

Hi friends, I have on ol beater 1987 ranger 2.3L with a million miles on it that I bought from a guy at work a few months back. The timing belt broke this morning on the way to work.

I got it home and am working on it and I have a pretty good Clymer manual so I am trying to line up the crank, the cam, and make sure the rotor is pointing to the number 1 front cylinder.

The problem I have is that the #1 front cylinder plug wire goes to the distributor cap where the #2 is supposed to go according to the manual!

Is it even possible for it to run with the plug wires being in the wrong place?

So to elaborate
#1 cylinder wire is going to 2 on the cap (according to the manual)
#2 cylinder wire is going to 4 on the cap
#3 cylinder wire is going to 1 on the cap
#4 cylinder wire is going to 3 on the cap

The truck has been running like a champ this way??

As I am setting this all up to receive the new timing belt should I reconfigure it to match the manual or leave it like it is?

 

[jmk909er]

Here's a little info graphic to show better

 

[black_demon69]

Here's a little info graphic to show better

ill bet that dist. was pulled at 1 point and reinstalled 180 out so to run firing order was reversed. just pull dist and set to cyl 1 after you line up timing marks on cam and crank with cyl 1 at TDC on compression stroke. then re time with timing light.., should be good to go then

 

[jmk909er]

Thanks, I'll try that

 

[Big Jim M]

What?

Thanks, I'll try that

Easiest way is to simply unplug the wires and move them all back one hole. Your firing order is correct just advanced too much, The cap doesn't care which wire is in which hole it will fire which ever plug is in the hole.
Big Jim

 

[black_demon69]

been awhile since i had my hands on a 2.3 but just occured to me that dist. is run off of the aux shaft that is if memory serves... if that is the case then you will have to line up the aux shaft as well along with cam and crank..

 

[adsm08]

As long as the order is right and the timing is right it doesn't make a lot of different which wire is where.

If your order and timing are correct the biggest thing that not putting #1 on the correct terminal of the cap does is make the wires the wrong length.