distributer and coil identification

[rebars1]

Can anyone tell me about this distributer and coil? The coil is short and has a metal U-shaped bracket over the top. The engine is a GM5.7L originally in a Volvo Penta set up (AQ271?) The egnine is not in the original boat and is now set up to a Merc Alpha1, so I don't have much information about it.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/rebars1/7472290-R1-023-10.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/rebars1/7472290-R1-045-21.jpg

 

[Don S]

Re: distributer and coil identification

It's the Delco EST distributor and coil.
Electronic advance, and you MUST put the distributor into base timing mode to set the timing.

PS: That distributor is not OEM for the Volvo AQ271 either, but it will work just fine.

 

[rebars1]

Re: distributer and coil identification

Thanks, DonS. I was guessing on the AQ271 part. It seemed to match the parts pictures I could find online.

 

[Don S]

Re: distributer and coil identification

The Volvo AQ271 used the Prestolite BID distributor. What pictures were you looking at online?

 

[rebars1]

Re: distributer and coil identification

Actually, it was a parts diagram from Shorts Marine:

http://volvopentaparts.stemtostern.com/VolvoDiagrams/ShowAssembly.asp?ID=71070#diagram.

The picture I had seen for the AQ271 matched the exhaust manifolds.

 

[rebars1]

Re: distributer and coil identification

If the original engine in the boat was a Merc260, would the different coil be the reason the tachometer reads about half of what it should?

 

[Don S]

Re: distributer and coil identification

Well, after viewing the site, I see why you said it looks like the pictures, but that is from a Gi, GLi, and GSi, all fuel injected engines and not AQ271's. The 271's were used between 1986 and 1989, long before the EST was used by Volvo. Volvo started using them on carbed engines around 2002. But on the fuel injected engines started earlier, around 94.
Mercruiser however never used them on a 260hp engine and never on a carbed V8. They used their own Thunderbolt ign.
So my guess, the engine had that system installed by a previous owner for who knows what reason. The Volvo engine is not an OEM item in front of a Mercruiser drive, and my guess would be you probably have Merc exhaust manifolds and risers so the exhaust sytem lines up with the exhaust Y on the Merc transom shield.
BUT, like I said back in the beginning, it's not a problem, you just need to know the timing is not set by Merc methods or even most Volvo methods. You do need a shunt to set the timing. Also not a big deal, but necessary. Same with troubleshooting the system. Nothing hard, just different from other systerms.

 

[rebars1]

Re: distributer and coil identification

Thanks again. Here's a picture of the overall engine. Upon closer look, I think there is even some Crusader components bolted on. It came with the Volvo Penta exhaust with a 2" riser spacer which helps it line up to the Merc260 Y pipes. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/rebars1/7472290-R1-039-18.jpg. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/rebars1/7472290-R1-037-17.jpg

 

[Don S]

Re: distributer and coil identification

From the looks of the picture and the engine style, I would say that is one of the 570 series engines. Might look on the block back by the oil filter on the port side or even the stbd side by the starter right where the bellhousing attaches, for a tag with a model or volvo SN on it. Could at least find out what they were looking for as far as timing with the original distributor.
It also has the 7 shaped heat exchanger with the vertical heat exchanger and horizontal expansion tank mounted on the side. That is an OEM Volvo heat exchanger used on the 570 series engines.

 

[rebars1]

Re: distributer and coil identification

Where would I connect a hand-held tachometer to this set up?

 

[Don S]

Re: distributer and coil identification

The best thing to do is use an inductive tach or a photo tach that you can use on the crank pulley.
You could hook to the tach lead (Gray wire), but don't even think about damaging the wire or connector.

 

[rebars1]

Re: distributer and coil identification

Thanks Don S for engine ID information and tach info. For the tach tester, are you talking about a digital timing light device with a tach that clamps onto the #1 wire?

 

[Don S]

Re: distributer and coil identification

Yep!