Hello everyone. I am 23 and have a 67 firebird, 4 spd with a 400. I have had it about four years now since I was 19, Its in ok condition, needs a lot of work but its something I want to learn.

Any ways spent a lot of time working on it past few weeks since I was looking to drag race it for the first time but it got rained out. Yesterday I had brought it down to get dynoed and before we started the guy said he wanted to check the plugs on it. Had one bad plug so we had gotten more but I believe he screwed up my firing order on it. The car just doesnt have the power it had and isnt idling like it was that morning. It stalled three times today while trying to put it on the trailer. It is a 400 engine, believed to be a 70 or a 71. Granted the engine has very very low compression in 6 out of 8 cylinders (one being 185 other being 190 and the rest are 158-160). If someone can please send me a chart or if they know the firing order on it. After yesterday I have a hard time trusting someone on it. I know my engine is going and looking to replace it but want to use it for the rest of the summer

fire order is 1 8 4 3 6 5 7 2

I wouldn't go to crazy, 20% difference between the high and low is not all that bad.

No I know, but internally needs new piston rings... plus I found oil on one of my plugs when changing it. Highest Dyno I got was 232 hp and 309 torque to the wheels. I want a bigger engine for the car as it is going to be part drag car

I don't know anything about working on cars. The only one who would be worse is a dyno tech.

It's a huge mistake to take your car by a dyno shop because these guys are kings of phuck up.

I doubt that they crossed wires. My guess is the godlike expert on the dyno jacked with your timing. Keep in mind that a guy on a dyno isn't smart enough to understand how timing affects engine performance. After all, if they knew anyting about engine timing, they wouldn't need a dyno to figure things out!

(Actually he does! See how has set you up to buy another engine?)

Im bringing it to a friend of mine who collects and builds cars, hes going to look at it as a favor for me. I wanted to by another engine any ways but not this soon... Wanted to focus on a rear end first

he probably retarded the timing, that would cause loss of power and crappy idle.

<he probably retarded the timing,>

No probabaly to it. I would be willing to bet that the 'expert' pulled stock timing specks and set the engine to that. (For no other iditiotic excuse than to say you need to start with a base number.) Stay away from dyno guys; all they'll do is take your money and give nothing in return. Also the money you piss away could be spent on whatever repairs/improvments/upgrades on your car.

I won't make a blanket statement, but there are some general themes. For instance, Pontiacs are known for valve stem seals drying out and failing fairly fast. Some of the quickest failures are on engines that have new stem seals, fired a couple of times, then allowed to sit for a year or so. Happens every time.

Sorry, still getting coffee in me. The comment applies to the reason for the fouled plug.

I only went to get it dynoed to shut up a friend who got his stupid import dynoed and was at 400 at the wheels. He had it done on a dyno jet which makes it seem higher than it is. Also for what ever reason he doesnt believe my car smoked a brand new Camaro SS when I had my friend who owns it and my father who witnessed it tell him.

I only had him change out the plugs because of the mis fires. Then he screwed up my timing which caused the car to lose power and idle lie crap. I never instructed him to do that... Well Im bringing the car to my friends dad since hes free right now(my other friend who builds and collects them isnt free today) My friends father knows my engine as he used to have one so I feel comfortable with him doing it, plus hes giving me a holley carb

Welcome aboard. Being on a budget sucks, but working with what you've got and making changes one at time will teach you alot.

Thanks man. Yes a budget isn't too fun but doing a little at a time does teach you. I haven't done a whole lot but everything I have I learnt how to do.

Well everyone brought it to my friends dad. He heard it idling and even said something is wrong. We checked the firing order and it was fine. We check the plugs and I had FOUR LOOSE. Not happy about that. Timing was messed up. He adjusted my carb and the car seemed to idle better and respond better like it was before the dyno.

I also got a new Holley 600 and a big chrome air filter today for helping him completely strip his friends 55 Chevy. His friend gave it to me as a payment for helping(they used my truck and trailer to get rid of the junk body)