13crazyhorse
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2010
- Messages
- 147
Let me start by saying I purchased an 86 boat with a 5.7 mercruiser that was not running. After going over it there was no spark. I tested the old Thunderbolt ignition system and after determining that the box was bad I didn't want to put alot of money in the old system so I bought a new Delco Voyager ignition system. I took the old distributor out and put the new one in with the rotor pointing at the same point on the engine as the old dist was. The motor won't start and I don't know if I have the timing close enough. My problem is even though the rotor points at the same plug you could make it point at any plug by turning the dist and cap and then the timing would be way off. If I put the motor at TDC on the #1 cylinder and then align the rotor up with the #1 plug that should work but you can still spin the dist and cap around and make it point at any plug. I guess my question is how do you know when the dist bottom is where it's supposed to be? I know I'll have to adjust the timing once I get it running but I want to get it in the ballpark. Thanks for any advice.