3.0 Mercruiser WOT troubles

[First time for everything]

Hello All:

Just bought our first boat (1987 - 19 Open Bow Glass Sport with a 3.0 and Alpha one) and have been addicted to these forums now because of the issues with the boat not running right from day one.

We take her out and she started right up, idled fine after warming up and took off. We got WOT and topped out about 32mph. As soon as I let off the throttle it was all over. Backfiring through the flame arrester and very low rpm's with WOT. This is what I have done so far based on others experiences within these forums.

1) Drained gas and put new gas in with Seafoam gas treatment
2) Tune up kit with new Dist cap, points, condenser, wires and plugs
3) Cleaned carb and put new fuel line on from fuel pump to carb
4) replaced fuel filter in Carb.


One of my concerns is Timing and Dwell, as well as Alternator not charging.
Another one is the firing order of the cylinders.

1-3-4-2 is what the manual recommends.

Mine was wired 1-2-3-4. Starting with the top left position on the dist cap. WHEN WIRED like the manual suggests, NOTHING, she will not start, but as soon as I put back to 1-2-3-4 she fires right up and runs but extremely rough.

Is it possible to have a distributor installed backwards or rotated 180 degrees?

HELP, I AM LOST.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: 3.0 Mercruiser WOT troubles

Welcome.

If I'm reading you correctly you were trying to change the order on the distributor cap?

If that's the case I think you're on the wrong track.

The distributor fires in sequence 1 2 3 4 etc.

You change the firing order on the block.

 

[First time for everything]

Re: 3.0 Mercruiser WOT troubles

Marc

Thank you, I am trying to do it this way as the manual suggest.

Engine block - Distributor

harmonic bal
1 1 3
2 O
3 2 4
4
Fly wheel

If I do it this way, where Cylinder 1 to 1 position on dist cap, 2 cylinder to 2 on dist cap, etc.

Nothing happens she will not fire up,

but if it is wired this way:

1 2
o
4 3

She fires up and runs, but will not "open up" at WOT, she will backfire and sputter and bog down.


Any suggestions?

Thank you for your help.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: 3.0 Mercruiser WOT troubles

What manual do you have?