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Dodge 7.2L (440 cu in) firing order — diagram & guide

The Dodge 7.2L firing order is a blend of performance and precision.

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Filip Gromovic October 2, 2023 |

Among all the big block engines that Dodge has used over the years, the 7.2-liter V8 is one of the most iconic engines that powered the famous Dodge Magnum. However, it’s a bit outdated these days, which doesn’t mean it’s a bad engine.

It still requires some repair tips and a Dodge 7.2L (440 cu in) firing order to properly keep it running, so that’s what we are here for. Our team dedicated its expertise and knowledge and has put it in your hands to give you all the details on the firing sequence of this big block V8, as well as the cylinder arrangement within the block.

Dodge 7.2L firing order

Unlike many Dodge engines of that time, the 7.2-liter one was only produced in a single variant. Well, it had a high-output version used in the Magnum Charger, but that one was just a slightly more powerful variant.

That being said, the Dodge 7.2L firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 for all engines, but that won’t help you too much on its own. The distributor connections in this engine are pretty confusing, and we’ll discuss the cylinder layout as well to help you connect the two terms and sort out any issues on your big block 440 engine.

Dodge 7.2L cylinder diagram

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The order of the Dodge 7.2-liter engine cylinder is pretty specific, to say the least. The good news is – it’s not that much different from other big block V8s made by Chrysler and Dodge back in the day. So, you can raise the engine cover to find two cylinder banks.

Looking from the front end of the engine towards its rear, you’ll spot cylinders 1, 3, 5, and 7 on the right side (driver’s side from the cockpit), and cylinders 2, 4, 6, and 8 on the left side (passenger’s side from the cockpit).

The distributor goes in a counter-clockwise direction, and that’s what actually determines the order in which the cylinders are firing. Of course, distributor cables aren’t plugged in the order from 1 to 8 or in any other sort of order based on the cylinder positions. So, you’ll have to track each wire and use the firing order to sort out misfires.

Dodge 7.2L vehicle applications

Even though it’s one of the most famous engines ever made by Dodge, the 440 engine wasn’t used in too many vehicle models. Besides the Magnum Charger, these are the vehicle models that have been using this engine:

The engine was also used by Plymouth and Chrysler vehicles like the 300 series, Newport, Town and Country, GTX, Road Runner, and Barracuda.

Our take

Well, now you have the exact firing order to follow for the 7.2-liter big block V8 and we hope this guide finally settles your issues with this engine. Besides some minor head leaks and cracks, this engine has proved to be pretty reliable, and knowing the exact firing pattern can help you keep it running smoothly.

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