changing spark plug wires

[lunchbox]

Hey guys,

I changed the wires and distributor cap on my 73 280sel with the 4.5, but now the car refuses to start. Can someone please reassure everyone here on the board without an official manual: are the cylinders as follows

1 8
2 7
3 6
4 5

The order for the distributor cap is on the valve cover, so I don't think I screwed that up. Can anyone shed some light on this? My car will only start for a second or two then dies.

[t walgamuth]

according to my book you have the banks reversed. passanger side toward radiator is one, two directly behind and so forth toward the firewall, then over to the drivers side and toward the front til 8 which is up by the rad.

this is in a left drive us car.

it seems backward to me but that is what my book says.

tom w

[lunchbox]

so are you saying that cylinders 1 and 8 are up at the radiator?????

....cuz that would most definately solve my problem...

and yes, my car is a US LHD car

[Tomguy]

This will help.

RADIATOR
---DST---
- 5 - - 1 -
- 6 - - 2 -
- 7 - - 3 -
- 8 - - 4 -

Where DST = distributor. Top down view. On a US car, 1 is pass side in front, 5 is driver's side in front.

[lunchbox]

Thank you very much, you're living up to your title.