Mercruiser 4.3L 175 2bbl 262 CID Distributor Confusion

Alpha One / ThunderBolt Ignition
4.3L 175 2bbl (MerCarb) 262 CID
1988 Winner Escape 1750
Delco-Remmy Distributor

I have recently purchased a 88 Winner Escape 1750 and have been working through diagnostics to resolve starting issues. I am new to the inboard stern drive engines, but felt more at ease with my background in automotive work.

Upon resolving my fuel delivery system issues, I am now turned to spark troubleshooting leading me to remove the distributor cap to find myself confused. The distributor is an old Delco-Remy with the coil pack built into the cap. I was working my way to the condenser as the issue to find something I am not familiar with. The best way to describe it is to provide pictures.

This distributor is not what I am finding I should have. Also I have not been able to locate the serial number tag anywhere on the engine. I do have the block number and the engine specific tags but absolutely can not find the engine serial. Based on the boat year and engine descriptions that I have found and matching to the serial ranges found here on Iboats.com my serial should be in this range : [175] 4.3 (262cid) 2bbl V[6] 1985-1993 6919656-0F000877(13).
Based on this link HERE I can see were there would have been a tag, but its not there ( I can see the block #)


Below are pictures with what information that i have thus far to identify the engine, one is a picture of what I found in place of the condenser and points that I am clueless to and the other is a picture of the cap with built in coil pack, and from what I can tell is only compatible with 80 - 81 several engines. Did i get an "upgrade Special" and just need to replace the distributor with what my engine should have with external coil pack, or is this something anyone else has seen on these types of engines?

Any idea's, points, or tips would be appreciated.

Thanks for taking time to hear me out.

Jason

Re: Mercruiser 4.3L 175 2bbl 262 CID Distributor Confusion

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... I'm guessin' somebody swapped that distribtuer in sometime over the years...
Probably ditto that on the motor,... hence, no serial number tag...

Does it have a vacuum dashpot of the housing,..??

I'm also guessin' it's an automotive, 'n Not a marine unit....

The little module is probably a pertronic's conversion..

Re: Mercruiser 4.3L 175 2bbl 262 CID Distributor Confusion

Looks like a late '70's GM Automotive Electronic Ignition...........

Re: Mercruiser 4.3L 175 2bbl 262 CID Distributor Confusion

A few things jump out at me...

1. 4.3s NEVER had points. The earlier ones had Thunderbolt IV, later (from about 1996ish) they went to Thunderbolt V.
2. That thing you have parts resting on to take photos looks horribly like a seloc.... THROW IT IN THE TRASH MAN!!!!
Download and save this -> https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1TAvwZ3TjhfNWFyczBmVUE4Wlk
3. I have never seen a coil/dissy cap setup like that one, it's definitely NOT marine. I suggest it should follow the seloc into the trash (before it blows you and your family to Kingdom Come)... See if you can find an old Thunderbolt IV dissy and ignition amplifier and set the engine up the way it was designed....

Chris....

Re: Mercruiser 4.3L 175 2bbl 262 CID Distributor Confusion

Yup, I had a 75 Cutlass with a cap mounted coil like that. And it's true that it should be removed from your boat. Reason is because it is not electrically spark proofed as a marine unit would be.
Boats engine bays are not open to the air as cars are. As a result fumes can collect in there and if the wrong things all come together at once you can have an explosion.
As Bond-O said I'll bet someone transplanted the distributor or a whole car motor, hence the missing tag.
It doesn't mean you can't use it, just rig it right.
Look up the module in mid late 70's era GM V6's. Since you have it out you might be able to get a part # off of it and drop that into a browser search. Look up the distributor too, If you post a pic we might be able to ID it for you visually. Look it up as GM, Chevy, Olds etc, and search in Pertronix too.
Pertronix has aftermarket marine ignition stuff. If it's their module maybe get their distributor system. If it isn't, compare theirs with what you can acquire for Mercruiser OE stuff. The Merc stuff works well and it's known here on the forum so we can help you if something doesn't turn out to plan.
If it's a car distributor you'll need to remove that too. Maybe you can dump any wrong stuff on e-bay or craigslist.
When you get a minute take off the flame arrestor (goes where an air cleaner would be) and shoot some pics of the carb, fuel pump and distributor. Carburetors and fuel pumps are marine too, they use a closed system to control fuel vapor.
Hope this helps, there are lots of folks on here to point the way.

Re: Mercruiser 4.3L 175 2bbl 262 CID Distributor Confusion

Thanks for the posts guys.

Well, now I am not sure how I am going to get the right distributor for the engine that is in my boat with out the serial #. From what I see, if they replaced the distributor in the engine, they would have had the engine out of the boat to do so. Which would imply the possibility of them replacing the whole engine, but taking the time to put the rocker arm covers, and original mercarb back on the engine.

I finally found the same distributor on ebay, NOS GM 70's Distrib which is a lot cheaper than the distributors that I am seeing should be on my engine. But back to the question what engine do I actually have. I have not ran across this type of issue before not being able to identify the engine.

So is there any way with to identify a possible serial # with the block #10105867 and the GM 6269732 stamp on the intake between the distributor and carb?

Thanks again for the posts.

Re: Mercruiser 4.3L 175 2bbl 262 CID Distributor Confusion

This might help you identify the engine, then we can give you a year range for the Mercruiser. Does the drive still have a serial number on it?

http://www.hotsixes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=12

Re: Mercruiser 4.3L 175 2bbl 262 CID Distributor Confusion

You've never heard of the "water pump boss" numbers? Starboard side of the motor, just behind the top circ pump bolt on the flat spot THAT may be rusty!
In the "stickys" you'll find "service bulletins" '88- 01. Around 84-86, there are a few bulletins on engine ID!

The distributor your showing was GM's original "HEI". Don't use it in a boat!

Re: Mercruiser 4.3L 175 2bbl 262 CID Distributor Confusion

Chris, thanks for that link, a definite keeper.


I double checked my block # (10105867) and I think I transposed it when I typed it in one of my earlier responses. But in the site you gave me he mentioned this block number only once for the 4.3 626

I remembered to get the water pump boss stamping this time "T1204EKL"
The drive serial number tag is worn off but I found this stamped on the starboard side of the lower unit 4189892.
The drive says its an Alpha One but this 4189892 that I found stamped in comparison with this site says it falls into the serial number range of drive type: 165 year: 1970 - 1977 serial Range : 2763442 - 4890459

I also found on http://www.perfprotech.com that if I email sales@perfprotech.com with the block number they can help identify the engine.

Thanks again guys, let me know if you can make heads or tails of what I have so far.

Jason

Re: Mercruiser 4.3L 175 2bbl 262 CID Distributor Confusion

Really all you need to know is if it has a balance shaft or not, and if it has, does it have Vortec heads. Once you have those items sorted most other stuff just falls into place. One 'give-away' is if the engine's sitting on fluid mounts. Merc used fluid mounts for the non-balance shafted engines to help reduce vibrations in the 1500-2000 range due to the unbalanced nature of a 90 degree V6....

Re: Mercruiser 4.3L 175 2bbl 262 CID Distributor Confusion

Here ya go...


http://www.michiganmotorz.com/delco-voyager-marine-electronic-distributor-p-121.html

Re: Mercruiser 4.3L 175 2bbl 262 CID Distributor Confusion

You can also try eBay......not sure if this is what you need but thay are out there.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercruiser-...041496&pt=Boat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&vxp=mtr

Just saw the link from joe........I'd go with new for those $$$....

Re: Mercruiser 4.3L 175 2bbl 262 CID Distributor Confusion

Yeah, thanks Joe, that is definitely a good price. So I am pretty sure I will have to remove the engine or at least disconnect it from the drive and slide forward to replace the distributor. Any good tips or fore-warnings on the process?

Thanks
Jason

Re: Mercruiser 4.3L 175 2bbl 262 CID Distributor Confusion

Jkdunn5 said:

Yeah, thanks Joe, that is definitely a good price. So I am pretty sure I will have to remove the engine or at least disconnect it from the drive and slide forward to replace the distributor. Any good tips or fore-warnings on the process?

Thanks
Jason

Click to expand...

Man that stinks.. I'm guessing a part of the fixed fiberglass portion of the boat overhangs the engine? Ive never owned one like that. I have seen folks butcher the fiberglass to keep from having to yank the engine though. A definite no no.

If that is the case, You will have to pull the drive and loosen the mounts at the very least to slide it forward, likely with a chain and lift of some sort hooked to it. Its pretty heavy with all of that exhaust hooked up.

Chris and Bond-o, who have posted above, are actual boat mechanic's hopefully they will chime in with details. There is quite a bit of maintenance items you could check along the way.... impeller, bellows, gimbal bearing, grease u joints, check alignment...

you came to the right place...

Good luck,