Re: Despertly Seeking Help With A 1986 85hp 3clydr Crys Outbrd
I think it was in late 1978 or early 1979 that Chrysler stopped producing distributor ignition and went to Prestolite distributorless. That was when they first made the one piece lower unit, but the initial engines still had distributors. If you have a 2 piece lower unit with a pin drive prop, then for sure the engine is not an 80s engine.
Regardless of what the model number says, if it has a distributor, the firing order is 1,2,3, just as on any 3 cylinder Chrysler or Force. The top cylinder is number 1. The wire closest to the block rearward (on the distributor cap) is #1. The distributor rotates clockwise, same as the flywheel, so the wire closest to the front is #2 and the wire closest to the hood is #3. The cap has a hole in the rim into which fits a boss on the dist. body so the cap can only go on one way. The dist. pulley has a circular groove with a straight line centered in it. With the #1 piston at top dead center, the straight line should point to the flywheel and the groove should match the curve of the flywheel. This sets the rotor at top dead center on #1 cylinder. Just look at where the rotor is pointing and you will now know #1.
You really don't know what you have: Since the manufacturers left the distributor mounting bosses and the CD box mounting bosses on ALL castings until Mercury discontinued the Force engine line, you may have an older block replacing a blown one OR you could even have a newer block retrofit to distributor ignition. It only takes tapping two 3/8 inch holes to retrofit. Even the old timing linkage tower will fit with no modifications.
People do strange things to these engines. I do know several people who think the distributor ignition is preferable to the Prestolite distributorless ignition.
So, old block, new block, retrofit because the Prestolite failed, or retrofit because the owner just wanted it. Could be anything or any reason.
(couldnt figure out how to delete this post)
