Intake manifold problem?

[tropicalhebert]

I decided to freshen up my 302 v8 Pleasure Craft motor in my Shamrock. I bought the boat used a few years ago and the hour meter showed 800 hours on an 86 year model. It ran fine but I always had a little doubt concerning the engine time plus sometimes we fish 60 miles offshore and there is no coast guard or sea tow available in this area.<br />When I finished Sail fishing this year I wanted to do some cosmetic work to the motor: de-rust, paint, and replace the intake & valve covers with used Ford aluminum covers and intake. When the motor was out I decided to open it up to see how it looked. It really had low time & I had put on atlest 350 more hours. I decided instead of just buttoning it back up, to re-ring and put new rods, mains, and replace the original ford timing set (plastic cam gear).<br />From the time I started it up it seemed the timing was late (open exhaust through the marine ex. manifolds) and only at the most advanced timing on the distributor --45 degrees, do I get 15 inches of vacuum. When you try to start the engine, it is so advanced that it will buck against the starter, So that is too much advance, I took the restrictor out of the vacuum gauge to see if it was pulsing. The engine runs and idles nice, with only a little pop through the carb if you crack the carb hard. I have taken the timing cover off to recheck the timing marks as I had timed it late in the evening. I reviewed it the morning , ran it through to see if the marks were stamped correct and at tdc the valves were in overlap. In reviewing this I think the outer ring of the crank dampner may have slipped 7 or 8 degrees but that will only affect the timing with a timing light. (had a bad experience 20 years ago with a Morgan that had the gear stamped wrong) Using your hand to chock the carb, using light weight oil, and carb cleaner around the matting surfaces of the intake or carb, no change. Can it be the intake manifold? It is a ford with a provision for a E G R. I used the gasket and cut a plate of aluminum to block it off. I have burned 4 gallons of gas in it since I started it and the compression is all 140-- to 150 I have an older gauge with no threads so it is hard to be real accurate.<br /><br />Jeano Down in Costa Rica

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Intake manifold problem?

Hope you have a closed cooling system with that aluminum intake... Salt water will eat that aluminum intake from the inside out in no time flat.. Distributor might be off one tooth or mabey 180 out.. Or like you said damper may have slipped.. Think I would loose that intake and go with regular cast iron without egr provision...