Welcome to PLANETNAUTIQUE! We're glad you're here. In order to participate in our discussions, you must register for a free account. With over 25,000 registered members already, we would love to have you as a member too! Click here to access our Registration Page. Registration is quick and easy, and we keep any information you give us completely confidential. Once registered, you may sign in using the drop-down Login or Sign Up window at the upper right corner of the site.
If the firing order was wrong, I would suspect you would be getting popping/backfires through the carb which can damage the rubber check vavle in the accelerator pump (I think I have that right).
Finally, sputtering and no power could also indicate a bad coil pack (one of the two). PCM will make you switch to conventional ignition system rather than sell a coil pack to you. PCM will only sell the coil packs to TBI engine owners.
The wrong firing order will not always cause a backfire or pop. A backfire will sometimes damage the power valve, but I believe Holleys have had built in protection for the last 20 years or so.
Im still a little confused- I was sure that the last year for the Protec was 1994. 1997 should have a standard distributor if its a base carby motor.