So my manual says 6 or 8 degrees advance timing depending on distributor; there was no way I could figure out which distributor I was running. BUT, I checked my initial timing before I pulled my old distributor to install my Mallory magnetic; the marina had it set to 1 degree. Interestingly enough, in 1990 mercury switch to a delco electronic distributor... THIS called for 1 degree; my points distributor as stated earlier was either 6 or 8. Might explain why my plugs with only a few hours on them were pretty well covered in a layer of carbon (not horrible, but bad for how long they'd been run).
SO, I'm looking for someone with a good deal of 3.0L experience. I set the new Mallory distributor to 5 degrees initial advance at 650RPM; figured this should be a safe starting point. Anyone with experience want to give me some input? I'm figuring it should be in the same ballpark as the old distributor (I'd imagine there was also a cam change to accompany the distributor change... which would require the initial advance, and advance curve be generally pretty close to original).
The plan is to take it on the water tomorrow and run it a bit; if there isn't any spark knock, hold what I've got. Check the plugs after a few hours of running and look for indications of pre-ignition or excess heat. I imagine this is a conservative setting and I should be alright.
Thoughts?
SO, I'm looking for someone with a good deal of 3.0L experience. I set the new Mallory distributor to 5 degrees initial advance at 650RPM; figured this should be a safe starting point. Anyone with experience want to give me some input? I'm figuring it should be in the same ballpark as the old distributor (I'd imagine there was also a cam change to accompany the distributor change... which would require the initial advance, and advance curve be generally pretty close to original).
The plan is to take it on the water tomorrow and run it a bit; if there isn't any spark knock, hold what I've got. Check the plugs after a few hours of running and look for indications of pre-ignition or excess heat. I imagine this is a conservative setting and I should be alright.
Thoughts?
