1972 Oldsmobile 455 engine/distributer wiring diagrahm and rotor rotation.

All Olds motors to at least 1964 are counterclockwise (260, 307, 330, 350, 400, 425, 455).

I would bump the starter and see which way it turns.

Try this: (from net search ) http://www.autozone.com/repairguides/Repair-Pontiac-Mid-size-1974-1983-Repair-Guide/Engine-Mechanical/Timing-Chain/_/P-0900c152800849ff

timing is way to slow. are points gap set properly. I think they are set at .016 for used points.
Fireing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4
with timing mark set at top dead center .i think it is a ball on back of engine. distributer rotor should be at #! .

1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon 3.8 liter V-6



Hope this helps.

The cause may be from worn valve seals on that bank of the engine, and oil enters the combustion chamber fouling the spark plug(s). A Compression test will be needed to verify if it is the seals or piston rings not sealing.

A 2-letter code on the oil filler tube identified the engine. If its a 455 there will be Oldsmobile W-455, on the intake manifold, if not it is most likely the 350. Sounds like you might have a bad timing chain. To check for excessive play in the timing chain, remove the distributor cap, take a socket that fits the crankshaft bolt, on a rachet, and rotate the crankshaft pulley and watch how long it takes for the distributor rotor to turn, if you can turn the crankshaft alot before the rotor turns, you have a streched timing chain, or may have jumped time. Alot of old GMs had nylon gear teeth on the cam gear, often these teeth would break apart and come off, allowing the chain to slip around the cam gear, throwing the motor out of time.

Fig. 5: 1975 and later;Oldsmobile built engines 260, 307, 403, 455. Firing Order: 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. Distributor rotation: Clockwise

Hope helps.

For several engines....



Fig. 1: Buick-built 231, 252 V6 Engine firing order: 1-6-5-4-3-2 Distributor rotation: Clockwise




Fig. 2: Olds-built 260, 307, 350, 400, 403, 455 Pontiac-built 265, 301, 350, 400, 455 V8 Engine Firing Order: 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 Distributor rotation: Counter-clockwise




Fig. 3: Buick-built 350 V8 Firing order: 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 Distributor rotation: Clockwise




Fig. 4: Chevrolet-built 267, 305, 350 Firing Order: 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 Distributor rotation: clockwise




Fig. 5: Chevrolet-built 262 Firing order: 1-6-5-4-3-2 Distributor rotation: clockwise


Hope helped with this (remember rated this help) Good luck.

firing order is usually shown on the intake

Set your engine to TDC. Now your rotor arm should be pointing to the No1 cylinder. Your firing order should be 1-3-4-2. Get someone to spin the engine for you so you can see which way the rotor arm moves and put the leads on in the order of rotation. Starting at the rotor set at TDC, put that lead on the plug in No1 cylinder. The next one should go on No3 plug then 4 then 2.