Mixed plug wires?

[Dave Rifkin]

What would be the symptoms of an engine with a few plug wires mixed up? I have a 1969 L46 Corvette that, in my opinion, has never run up to it's potential. I have taken it to multiple Corvette "specialists" and no one has been able to get it to run to my expectations.
My last mechanic performed a tune up and told me that a previous owner / mechanic had installed the distributor off a few teeth. Rather than remove the distributor this person made the adjustment by rearranging the plug wires. (None of this makes sense to me as I would think I would have noticed that car running rough or something).
The latest mechanic says he removed the distributor and reinstalled it correctly.
Ever since he did that the car runs rough when I step on the gas. He told me that the carb needed to be rebuilt so I sent it to Eric Jackson. Eric said that the carb was in need of work so I was hopeful that the car would come to life once it was reinstalled.
While the car does pull stronger it still runs rough when I step on it. I can't help but think that my new mechanic didn't do me any favors by messing with the distributor.
I think he created a new problem but, I need to know how a car would run if one or two wires were mixed up.

I am desperately trying to find someone who can get my car to run like I think it should. I am so disappointed, and frustrated, that I am considering selling the car since I no longer enjoy driving it.

Please help!!!

[Charley Lillard]

Check the wires yourself. 18436572 is the firing order # 1 is front drivers side. 1-3-5-7 front to back on drivers side. Pass is 2-4-6-8 front to back. Find the # 1 wire on the cap and check them to make sure they are in order.

[Dave Rifkin]

Would mixed wires cause the car to run rough when you step on the gas? It idles smooth but, gets rough when I give it any gas.

[GreenLS6]

Whats your initial timing at? and how much vacuum is it pulling?

[njsteve]

It is very easy to mix up #5 and #7 since they are next to each other in the firing order, and on the cap. The car will run slightly off from the resulting wrong order of firing.

When they talk of the distributor being a "few teeth off", it means it was installed in a position that the distributor base and the vacuum advance unit may not be in the ideal position to get the ignition timing set correctly. The advance unit may hit the firewall or the intake runner. By moving the entire set of plug wires over one terminal or two positions on the top of the distributor, you are doing the same thing as if you pulled the distributor and reset the position correctly.

It is kind of like setting your clocks back for daylight savings time. The clock is still telling you the right time, it is just moved back one position.

You probably need to have the distributor rebuilt and have the advance curve set properly. Sometimes the vacuum advance canister goes bad and either doesn't work anymore or creates a vacuum leak. If the mechanical weights are sticking, you won't get advance at all. I have a guy out west do mine and the difference is amazing when you have a properly operating distributor. Lazy advance curves will make a car run crappy and slow.

[Dave Rifkin]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: GreenLS6</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Whats your initial timing at? and how much vacuum is it pulling? </div></div>

I don't know as I, unfortunately, don't work on the car.

[Salvatore]

I am with Steve. Need to get the distributor done on a machine and set up correctly. You know that carb is right so eliminate the distributor problems and maybe even a cracked cap or bad rotor. Any small or half decent shop in your area should be able to do that. Thats a drag racing mecca around your area.

[MosportGreen66]

Dave, I sent you a PM... give me a ring sometime.

Dan

[Alss]

Dave..I'm in Somerset..if you bring it up I'll look at it.

[Norwood]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is very easy to mix up #5 and #7 since they are next to each other in the firing order, and on the cap.
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Steve, I think they are all next to each other on the cap and in the firing order since the wires are installed on the cap in the firing order......LOL so 1 is next to 8 wich is next to 4 which is next to 3....Maybe you ment on the plug.....