77 V6 odd or even fire?

[Guest]

I just recently purchased a 1977 Cutlass S with the 3.8 V6 and have been told that it could either be even or odd fire. I beleive Buick changed design somewhere in mid year? Can anybody help me with identifying which one I have? Thanx<P> sweetgrrl

[DENNISWEBER47]

LOOK AT THE DISTRIBUTER CAP, MY OLD V-6 ODD FIRE HAD A CAP WITH 8 PLUG WIRE CONTACTS ON TOP. 2 ARE BLOCKED OFF, AND AN INGENIUS SET OF ROTOR CONTACTS INSIDE. I ASSUME ALL THE ODD FIRE CAPS ARE THAT WAY.

[Guest]

it looks to be an 8 cyl cap with only 6 plugs and 6 wires....it's got 4 wires in a row...an empty hole...then 2 wires...and another empty hole. is that what you mean by blocked off?<P> sweetgrrl

[Guest]

It is odd, remember it is a V8 with the front two cylinders "cut off". The Crank has only three throws, where the even fire has six. <P>I was going to say "If it runs rough it is an odd and if it runs smooth it is an even" but that would be a smart a**.

[Guest]

Thank you so very much. And yes, it definately runs ruff, and very doggy at the moment.~smiles~. thanx again,<BR> sweetgrrl

[Guest]

<B>You need a new/correct cap. You have a V8 cap on there right now. That's why you have 2 extra holes, instead of plugs. You need a odd-fire V6 cap, which will have 8 towers with 6 holes and 2 plugs.</B> An even-fire V6 cap will only have 6 towers.<P><BR>The V8 cap does not have the "INGENIUS SET OF ROTOR CONTACTS INSIDE" (well put) and that's why you engine is running poorly.<P>It might still be possible that you have an even-fire V6 with a V8 cap. Look at the timing indicactor mark on the front cover. If it is a plastic, bolt-on peice, it's even-fire. If is cast into the cover, it's odd.<P>The right odd-fire cap may be tricky to find. Good Luck. <P>PS - I think you can also tell odd vs even by the VIN. Check the fifth digit. C = odd, A = even.<P>[ 08-30-2001: Message edited by: b4black ]<p>[ 08-30-2001: Message edited by: b4black ]