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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 90 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 90 | Hey all, I know this sounds kind of dumb, but i'm about to adjust my valves, and don't know what the cylinder numbers are on my truck. I have a 1951 chevy 4400 with a 235. Is the No.1 cylinder toward the front, or the rear?
Thanks
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | Cylinder #1 is the one at the front of the engine.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 253 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 253 | Not at all dumb, I ask dumber ones here. Yes #1 is in the front.
1945 Chevrolet G 506 1.5 Ton Military 4X4
1967 Jeep Cj5 with 283 SBC
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 90 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 90 | Thanks sleevey and bill does it just go back back in order to 6 at the back?
Last edited by lunchbox; 04/17/2012 3:19 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 187 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 187 | Yes. 1 in front and sequencially numbered to the back of the engine. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,795 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,795 | The next thing you'll need to know is the firing order, which determines when each cylinder fires the spark plug. Unfortunately, it's not a straight 1-2-3-4-5-6 sequence. The cylinders fire in a sequence of 1-5-3-6-2-4, which, if you'll notice, alternates from front to rear. It takes two turns of the crankshaft to fire all 6 cylinders. The simple way to do the valve adjustment is to watch the distributor rotor, and adjust the valves on each cylinder as the rotor points toward the spark plug wire going to that cylinder. Good luck!
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 253 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 253 | I was taught the little ditty of remembering the firing order of a six cylinder by the eligibility of women.
15-too young 36- too old. 24-just right
Man these day 36 is looking pretty young and attractive to me! LOL.
Last edited by sleeve; 04/17/2012 1:22 PM.
1945 Chevrolet G 506 1.5 Ton Military 4X4
1967 Jeep Cj5 with 283 SBC
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 640 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 640 | Heck, 36 is robbing the cradle for me! | | | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 4,263 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 4,263 | | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
Back when I was working on these trucks in VA, that age "ditty" would not have worked. It would have had to start with 13.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 | Well 36 is way too young in my book, as I have 48 y/o daughters but I like the ditty. | | |
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