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318 Timing?
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 12:13 pm
by GregM
I have managed to get my first marine engine swap under my belt. Thanks to several question answered here. I have the engine running and I rotated the distributor until I got the engine starting easy and sounds good (also got rid of the white smoke from exhaust). However I was wondering what should the timing be set too officially if I put a timing light on it? I have heard 6 degrees before and I have heard some retard the timing. Can you guys provide some clarification?
Thanks in advance!
Re: 318 Timing?
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 1:28 pm
by jralbert
Don't ask why I keep an engine manual for a boat I have not owned for years - I guess it's for moments like this - but it's listed at 5 degrees BTC in the manual
Re: 318 Timing?
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 1:31 pm
by GregM
Thank you Joel!
Re: 318 Timing?
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 5:30 am
by Tuggle
5 degrees is correct, just had mine recheck and adjusted. Port engine kept stalling at idle, set at 5 degrees then a slight twist to fine tune.
Re: 318 Timing?
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 9:48 pm
by Rlfa83
I'd do it by vacuum gauge. With the age of these engines, I'm sure the damper has started to slip.
Warm the engine up and set it to 16" of vacuum. You'll then know for sure it's in time.
Re: 318 Timing?
Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 6:17 am
by Fastjeff
Quite possible. The flywheel does "slip", however, so that's where I always time them. (There's a little rubber cover over a hole in the bell housing where you aim the timing light.)
If you've never done it that way, the fixed pointer is an arrow that's (cleverly) used for both rotations: The 5 degrees advance is the side of the arrow in either direction. Told you it was clever!
Jeff