What is the firing order of a Chevy Small Block 350?
The firing order for the Chevy Small Block 350 is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.
On a traditional Chevy small-block V8 (the classic 350), the sequence dictates which cylinder fires in each ignition event. Cylinder numbering runs from 1 to 8 with 1 at the front of the engine on the driver’s side (left bank) and 2 at the front on the passenger side, continuing back in pairs. This ordering is used by distributor-driven 350 engines found in most Chevrolets produced from the 1960s through the 2000s. It matters for timing, tuning, and diagnosing misfires during engine work or rebuilds.
Firing order in detail
Below is the firing sequence as it typically applies to a Chevy small-block 350 under normal distributor ignition systems. Front of engine is at the timing cover; cylinders are numbered left bank 1-3-5-7 and right bank 2-4-6-8 from front to back.
- Cylinder 1 – front left bank (driver’s side)
- Cylinder 8 – rear right bank (passenger side)
- Cylinder 4 – second from front on the right bank
- Cylinder 3 – second from front on the left bank
- Cylinder 6 – third from front on the right bank
- Cylinder 5 – third from front on the left bank
- Cylinder 7 – rear left bank
- Cylinder 2 – front right bank
Note: This ordering is standard for the traditional distributor-equipped small-block 350. Some engines or revisions might adjust the cylinder location or use a different numbering convention, but the sequence 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 remains the canonical reference for most SBC 350 builds.
Related notes
LS engines and other variants
Do not confuse the classic small-block 350 firing order with the Gen III/IV LS family. The LS-series engines use a different firing order: 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. When rebuilding or swapping ignition components, ensure you’re matching the correct engine family to avoid timing errors.
Summary
The Chevy Small Block 350 typically fires in the order 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2, with the cylinder numbering running 1-8 from front to back and left-to-right as described. This order guides distributor timing and spark plug firing, and it differs from the firing order used by modern LS engines.
