1966 Bonneville Distributor Cap

[GrandpaDave]

This question probably seems pretty dumb but can anyone tell me where the #1 spark plug wire plugs into the distributor cap, I think I screwed up the firing order when I changed the cap. I know the firing order but need this info to get to the right start on the cap.

[duncan2plus2]

There is a small photo (Fig. 6E-40) on page 6E-29 of the factory service manual that shows it. Basically the rotor is pointing at the driver seat.
This was the starting point on the engines I built for our cars, and the timing/tuning process refined it from there.

On my'66 421, the final #1 wire position on the Mallory dual point distributor cap is at about the 12:00 point (looking at the firewall) and is at the approximate 1:00 point on the stock distributor on the '66 389 engine in my wife's GTO.
In both cases, I followed the service manual procedure, i.e. the distributor rotor and cap were set by placing the #1 piston at TDC, checking the timing mark, and carefully sliding the distributor drive gear into place on the cam gear.
After the #1 wire is set, all the others as you know follow the firing order counterclockwise around the cap.

Be sure to check the TDC position on #1 when you start.

I hope this helps.

[Larry]

Check the photo below from the 1966 Pontiac Service Manual. It shows the position of the rotor in the distributor pointing in the #1 position, when installed correctly. Hope this helps.

By the way.... please, everyone help spread the word about PontiacRegistry.com! That way the On-Line Pontiac Service Manual Reference Library that we have been granted special license from GM for will happen even quicker.

Presently we are setting up the web site to handle this new addition-- EVERY Pontiac Service Manual from 1926 through 1980 On-Line for our Members Only acess.

We have two manuals scanned and ready to post: the 1935-'36 Pontiac Service Manual and the 1949-'54 Pontiac Service Manual. This photo below is from the 1966 Pontiac Service Manual that I have decided to do next-- it is about 1-1/2 inches thich-- hundreds of pages.

This is a huge project that will take thousands of dollars and thousands of hours to build. It may be a never-ending project. Considering it takes me, on the average, 5 minutes per page to scan and prep, it brings to mind the old song from the '50s "What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life?"

Each page is being scanned, cleaned up, photos descreened, adjusted seperately from the text, all reassembled, and saved. These On-Line Manulas wil be high quality work-- not like those reprints you buy where the photos are solid black and impossible to see.

So.... please help us build PontiacRegistry.com into the premier Pontiac Club information, service, and entertainment site in the world. I know we can do it if we work together.

[GrandpaDave]

Thanks for the advice. I had purchased a laminated wiring diagram for this car and it showed the #1 wire on the cap at the 5 o'clock position. I rotated the wires 180 degrees and the car started right away. Can you tell me where I can purchase a shop manual for the 1966 bonneville 389?
Thanks once again.
Dave

[Larry]

Great News!

You can advertise free that you wish to but a manual, or watch swap meets. However, we will be getting a complete manual for the '66 up on line for our members soon.

[GrandpaDave]

Thanks Larry - I will be the first one in line to buy one. This website is wonderful, keep up the good work.

[engineer]

paper manuals are available from book stores, ebay, pontiac vendors and now Cds are also available.

[Larry]

PontiacRegistry.com isn't going to go into the printing manual business.

We are preparing manuals for on-line use by our members. We have some up already and are working on more. This will be a long term project-- for which we need everyone's support through their membership.

You will be able to go on-line and access (one day) ALL Pontiac Service Manuals from 1926 through 1980. There is not, and probably never will be, anything like this anywhere else.

In regard to the CDs available. I have purchased some and they are a nightmare to use (not all, but some). Also, the quality is usually like 10th generation photocopies. Check out our manuals. We spend a lot of time making them super clean and nice. Also, we correct and adjust all photos so they are crystal clear. This is not a high-speed copy job. Each page takes an average of 5-minutes to prepare-- nothing is too good for our PontiacRegistry.com members!!