There’s little as frustrating as finishing up a build and not remembering the firing order so you can install the plug wires and fire it up.
Of course, most of us know the firing order for our own ride and others we’re familiar with, but that doesn’t help much when you’re a Ford guy and you’re helping a buddy finish up and fire-off his Cadillac.
This table shows Firing Order, Distributor Rotation Direction, and Cylinder Banks.
| ENGINE | Distributor Rotation |
Firing Order | Cylinder Banks Front-to-Back Left = Driver’s Side Right = Passenger Side |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC V8 (all) |
Clockwise | 18436572 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Buick V8 Most V8s except HEI |
Clockwise | 18436572 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Cadillac up to ’67 |
Clockwise | 18726543 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Cadillac ’68-74 |
Clockwise | 15634278 | Left: 2-4-6-8, Right: 1-3-5-7 |
| Chevrolet V8 (all) |
Clockwise | 18436572 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Chevrolet V8 Gen V, VI |
No Distributor | 18436572 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| GM LS V8 | No Distributor | 18726543 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Chrysler V8 (small blocks) |
Clockwise | 18436572 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Chrysler V8 (big blocks & Hemi) |
Counter- Clockwise |
18436572 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Chrysler 5.7L Hemi V8 |
No Distributor | 18436572 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Desoto V8 | Counter- Clockwise |
18436572 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Early Ford V8 272,292,312 |
Counter- Clockwise |
15486372 | Left: 5-6-7-8, Right: 1-2-3-4 |
| Most Ford V8 | Counter- Clockwise |
15426378 | Left: 5-6-7-8, Right: 1-2-3-4 |
| Ford 5.0L HO, 351W, 351M, 351C, 400 |
Counter- Clockwise |
13726548 | Left: 1-2-3-4, Right: 5-6-7-8 |
| Most Ford Modular V8 4.6/5.4L | No Distributor | 13726548 | Left: 1-2-3-4, Right 5-6-7-8 |
| Ford 5.0L Coyote |
No Distributor | 15486372 | Left: 1-2-3-4, Right: 5-6-7-8 |
| Ford Flathead V8 1932-53 |
Clockwise | 15486372 | Left: 5-6-7-8, Right: 1-2-3-4 |
| Hudson V8 1955-57 |
Clockwise | 184436572 | Left: 1-2-3-4, Right: 5-6-7-8 |
| Lincoln V8 1949-51 |
Clockwise | 15486372 | Left: 5-6-7-8, Right: 1-2-3-4 |
| Lincoln V8 1952-76 |
Counter- Clockwise |
15486372 | Left: 5-6-7-8, Right: 1-2-3-4 |
| Oldsmobile V8 1949-64 |
Counter- Clockwise |
18736542 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Oldsmobile V8 1961-64 F85 |
Counter- Clockwise |
18436572 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Oldsmobile V8 1965-76 |
Counter- Clockwise |
18436572 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Pontiac V8* 1955-81 |
Counter- Clockwise |
18436572 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Pontiac 307 (Chevrolet engine) |
Clockwise | 18436572 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Packard V8 (all) |
Clockwise | 18436572 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
| Studebaker V8 (all) |
Counter- Clockwise |
18436572 | Left: 1-3-5-7, Right: 2-4-6-8 |
Technical Note: All American V8s have offset cylinder banks to accommodate side-by-side rod pairing on the crank throws. In the absence of published information, the number one cylinder will almost always be the one that is farthest forward regardless of which bank it is on.
The exception to this rule is the Pontiac V8 where the forward most cylinder is on the passenger side. The number one cylinder is still on the front left side, but it is not the most forward cylinder on the block.
Common V8 Firing Order Chart from MSD
MSD Ignition created this helpful chart that displays many common V8 firing orders and distributor direction…
