1978 mercruiser 165 won’t time

Starcraft4me

Recruit
Joined
Jul 18, 2020
Messages
1
Have a 78 Starcraft American 18 with in-line 6 (Chevy). Verified #1 cylinder is at exact TDC on compression stroke and rotar is pointing directly at #1 cylinder. Harmonic balancer has been rebuilt and mark is at exact zero when at TDC. Carbs been rebuilt. Engine fires right up and runs very good BUT when I put a timing light (new timing light) on the balancer it’s at approximately 14-18 ATDC. Engine is very snappy but isn’t even close to correct timing mark. Supposed to be 6BTDC. Points are set per manual. Engine won’t run at 6 BTDC. WHAT AM I MISSING HERE????
 

Bt Doctur

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
19,452
The rotor points to #1 wire in the cap/ If you say your pointing to #1 cylinder it may not be #1 wire
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
How did you verify that the crankshaft is exactly at TDC?

Chris....
 
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