Marinette Boat Forum

I can't seem to find the timing marks..

I read it was in the bell housing but I see nothing. Checking timing is a pretty routine thing right? (not that I ever have done or thought about it before)
I read this thread about what but I don't see where (Jeff's posting)
http://www.marineengine.com/boat-forum/ ... 8-Chrysler

The flywheel will be marked on the chamfered edge, right near your damper plate visible in your picture. It will be marked top dead, and I think around 15 degrees each direction (so that the same flywheel will work with either rotation). It is small and hard to see. You will most likely have to rotate your engine by hand and wipe the edge of the flywheel with brake cleaner on a rag to find it.

Unfortunately, it looks like the pointer on the bellhousing is broken or somebody removed it. See if you can find the timing marks on the flywheel first.

Which direction does this engine turn?

ug - its a ccw engine

So how would I find the center if there is no tab? Do I go medieval and feel out the piston stroke with a screwdriver?

Should I tune it by ear?

You need to use a TDC finder. Take a junk spark plug, gut it, and thread it, then stick a bolt inside with a lock nut--that's your stop.

Next, pull the rest of the plugs--MUCH easier that way--and slowly turn the motor over until the stop hits piston # 1. (You have to experiment with the amount the bolt protrudes and hits the piston--about an inch).

When you're at this point, mark the flywheel (and/ or timing pulley) and rotate the engine the other way until the piston hits the stop again. Mark it here as well. TDC will be between these two marks.

Note" You want the two mark about an inch or two apart for accuracy. Adjust the stop as needed.

Jeff

Jeff rocked the party today

See video:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/IAkfwpkhRHo

Per his advice, I opened the distributor to check the springs and it was so rusty, I had to scoop it out. Lubed it and took it for a run. Gained a few knots but still think the distributor needs to be replaced.

I'll do the timing job tomorrow (at least finding the index!)

Thanks again, I got her up to 15 knots at 3100rpm. Its about as good as I've ever gotten it.

There's still MORE hiding in there!

Jeff

The next day it didn't perform as well. LOL - I'm biting the bullet and getting a new distributor before doing the whole timing routine.

I'll start a new thread on tuning this 318 for future generations of lost mechanics

If you like information on the Pertronix Dist. I have two I have been field testing for Pertronix this will be the fourth season. They have been flawless so far and I picked up 500 RPMs at WOT.

Safe Harbors,
dave

Trust Me...stick with the stock engines and if your smart and dont mind traveling to south east michigan for rebuilds, Take your engines, exhaust manifolds and risers to Greg at http://www.gregsheadsandengines.com/.
I have been going to Greg for 25 years and He did both my 440's. He will send your cams in to Lunati for regrinding at a 454" lift for both intake and exhaust at 112 degree centers. Add in a complete MSD distributor and 6A box and have him put the SRP Pistons in it. All that's left to do is rebuild your stock carb and make dam sure that your risers are NOT tightly packed with rust scale and your in the butter zone. it would also be wise to have Greg take the Normal rotation engine into the dyno for carb rejetting and follow suit for the counter rotating engine. its an extra 600.00 but it is so well worth it

I heard of this guy! Too bad I'm in Miami and shipping will cost too much. I also don't trust anyone to work on it either. Too many bad experiences. If I can't get this one to work right, I'll buy a remanufactured one and start over. I'll be sure to kill this one first

I am ordering the Pertronix distributor and know I'll have to machine the spacer off of it. I did the conversion of my orig distributor with the Pertronix kit because I didn't want to mess with the machining part.

I'll get that in and go for the correct timing. The engine supposedly only has 110 hours on it since it's last rebuild (That Greg guy may have done it)

Going to check compression and find the index while I wait for the distributor. Better now than next month