Marks in distributor cap on 5.7 litre vortec position when set on #1 position

well that firing order is wrong!
an Opel Kadett 200ie, 1996
no country told and 15 engines used world wide this car.
last one in UK is 1995
so I guess it is not UK?
sold under 11 names world wide.
IN UK it is really a Vauxhall Astra Mk II. badged as Opel. now that is confusing.
not diesel, but petrol AND ALL ARE INLINE 4 BANGER'S.
every car made ,every manual for for them in print tells you 2 answers ( distributors)
1: lost all distrib setting
2: or not lost SETTINGS, Crank not turned.

so read that book it tells you to do this.

SPIN ENGINE TO SEE DISTRIB ROTOR ROTATION CCW OR CW/? (HOLD THAT THOUGHT)
by hand
set crank pulley TO TDC ,-0 DEGREE'S AND BOTH VALVES CLOSED #1 CYLINDER. (CALLED FIRING)#1
CAP OFF. MARK ROTOR #1 TO DISTRIB BODY
THEN CAP ON AND MARK #1 ON CAP.
PUT #1 WIRE TO #1 CAP
AND 1,3,4,2, IN CW OR CCW DIRECTION SEEn ABOVE. at FIRST STEP.

DONE car runs.
if distributor was pulled there are 15 engine answers.

next time on all cars made on earth with HV spark wires
do them 1 at a time. and win.
distribs or any car with HV spark wires seen (sets)

Hi Elikapeka . which engine is in your Thunderbird? Also Why do you want to know? is it not running?
the V6 3.8 litre firing order is:
V-6 Firing Order: 1-4-2-5-3-6
if you are having running problems and you have the big carburetor rather than injection. a good tuner guy is your expert and these guys do it by ear if they know what they are doing.

1-6-5-4-3-2 , 2-4-6 pass. side of eng. , 1-3-5 driver side eng. , #1 on the cap is at the very front w/clockwise rotation. If it is the newer flat cap style, numbers are on the cap, front to back pass. side 2-4-6, 3-1-5 drivers side.

1-5-3-6-2-4 is the spark plug firing order for the 4.9 L ( 300 cubic inch ) straight 6

The distributor rotor turns CLOCKWISE

The marked # 1 position on the distributor cap is installed facing away from the engine

Hope this helps

when you install the distributor the rotor button should point at the # 1 plug wire on the distributor cap make sure you are on the compression stroke of the motor when doing this you can verify that you are on the compression stroke by removing the #1 spark plug and turning the engine over while holding your fingure over the spark plug hole it will push your finger off the hole you need to spin the engine .spin the engine over slow while doing this so you don,t pass the timing mark on the harmonic balancer.

1-6-5-4-3-2
number 1 is the front Cyl on drivers side.
then it is #3 #5
Passenger side is #2 #4 #6
#1 on distributor cap is the front side of cap next
to the hold down screw clockwise side of the screw.
Firing order goes clockwise looking down on the distribuater.

The ignition timing is not adjusted with a timing light or with the engine running, and to set the ignition timing follow these proceedures.

There is a mark or notch on the distributor housing that the rotor should be pointing to when the engine is on top dead center. This "static" timing is all that matters and the computer will be able to control the timing as long as the ignition rotor is in that position when the engine is at top dead center.

1. Place the engine at top dead center.

2. Look under the distributor cap and find where the number one terminal runs under the distributor cap, and where that position on the distributor cap corresponds with the distributor housing, and it should match up to a mark or a notch on the distributor housing indicating the number one position.

3. With the engine on top dead center the ignition rotor should be pointing to the number one mark or notch that is on the distributor housing, if it is not then loosen up the distributor and turn the distributor until the ignition rotor is pointing to the mark or notch on the distributor housing and then tighten down the distributor, the engine should now be static timed.

If the distributor can not be turned enough to align the ignition rotor with the number one mark on the distributor housing, or the distributor does not set properly and will not allow the installation of the spark plug wires then the distributor is not installed correctly and is most likely a tooth off and it will need to be re-installed correctly. (The distributor should set like it is shown in the firing order diagram when it is properly installed)

Here is a firing order diagram to also help assist you.

Remove the valve cover on the driver's side and turn the engine over by hand until you see the intake open on #1 cylinder. and then close followed by the exhaust valve starting to open. #1 is front driver's side.Back up a little and set the crank timimg mark on 0 on the degree marker. That should be TDC. Put the rotor button on the distributor and set it roughly at the 3 o'clock position and put it in. As it meshes with the cam gear it will turn and once fully seated should be at 5 o'clock. that is the position of #1 plug wire. If it's not at 5 o'clock pull it out and turn the rotor button slightly to catch a new tooth and reinsert. DO NOT force the distributor into position. Wiggle and push,turn the rotor slightly and it will go into place. Patience is the key here and make sure it is fully seated on the intake. Once it is in place the firing order is1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 and the distributor runs clockwise. Odd cylinder's are on the driver's side and even on the passenger's.
You may have to adjust the distributor a little one way or the other to get the engine to fire. That's normal. Once you get it running you can set the timing with your light. If you have no light then advance the distributor until it start's to sputter and do the same in ******. Then set your timing in the middle of that space, that will get you close. Hope this helps.

make sure the number one piston is on top dead center on the compression stroke, and the timing marks are aligned on the balancer, drop in the distributor with the rotor facing th # 1 terminal on the cap.

On the distrubutor cap looking from front no 1 is around the 1 o'clock postion(usually marked on the cap with no. 1) the firing order is 13726548 counter clockwise.
cylinders are passenger side front to rear 1234 and drivers side 5678