New engine won’t start

[Dmaxx85]

so I recently repowered my 2004 sea ray 215 with a remanufactured long block. The motor is a 5.0 MPi

The engine is back in the boat and complete. I tried starting today and it wouldn’t go so come to find out I had the distributor 180 degrees off. After I adjusted to rotor to the number 1 cylinder at top dead center and it still won’t start and the spark is intermittent/weak it seems.
Where should I check next? checked fuel it’s getting fuel.
so now it just cranks and seems like the timing is on. But it did also act up and kinda hanging up during a crank once or twice like timing? Not advanced but the other way?

when the rotor comes to the number 1 cylinder that’s when Number is building compression does that for sure mean I’m good with the distributor? And the computer does the rest?
not sure if a timing light is needed here? Doesn’t seem like there is an adjustment to me.

Also so on the distributor there is a plug hook up but there wasn’t a connector to hook in. Someone said this plug wasn’t used until 2006?

Any help here would would be great
thanks

 

[Scott Danforth]

You still have to set base timing.....get the factory manual and a timing light

 

[Bt Doctur]

You need to have #1 at TDC, compression and the timing mark at the "0" position
Install the dist with the rotor pointing to #1 position in the cap

 

[Dmaxx85]

Ok I’ll have to pull all the plugs and start over. The timing won’t come to my use until the motor is running right?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Timing light will work when cranking too. That is how i normally set base timing prior to adding fuel. Pull plugs and crank, set timing, add fuel turn key and varoom

 

[Dmaxx85]

Should there be a gasket under neath my distributor? Cause there isn’t

 

[alldodge]

2004 ,,,,,,,,,,,, 5.0 MPi

Bring the motor to No 1 TDC then install the distributor as seen below.
Timing light is not used even after running

 

[Dmaxx85]

Ok so I align the rotor to the corner of the base or flat spot? And I don’t need to worry about Lining up the painted mark on the distributor housing with the indent on the bottom? Now I am seeing it done both ways and need to know which way I need to install?

So once im at TDC and my oil pump driveshaft is lined up so the rotor falls near the #1 but then it seems I have a hard time with getting it to drop in even to the oil pump shaft. I believe from what I read you just adjust the rotor and turn it in until the cam gears line up but it seems tough to align everything.

Also it seems once im on the compression stoke at #1 it seems it takes a half rotation to get the timing marks lined up to zero is that normally right?

Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[Dmaxx85]

[No message]

 

[alldodge]

Also it seems once im on the compression stoke at #1 it seems it takes a half rotation to get the timing marks lined up to zero is that normally right?

I think I understand this comment, but aligning the rotor to number one is irrelevant, it only matters that your at exactly at TDC on number 1, and the rotor is pointing at the place on the distributor as seen above

 

[Bt Doctur]

my oops, was thinking throttle body not MPI.In that case follow AD`s post

 

[Bt Doctur]

if your using the flat cap then the plug order is not what you might think

 

[Dmaxx85]

Yes mine has the flat cap.

 

[Dmaxx85]

I will double check the wires.

So I don’t need to worry about lining the paint mark and the indent on the bottom of the shaft? Like the picture above I posted?

just the base plate in that spot shown above and make sure I’m at exactly TDC?
Thanks

 

[alldodge]

just the base plate in that spot shown above and make sure I’m at exactly TDC?

Correct, your pic above is only used if the distributor is disassembled
The dizzy is marked prior to removal is only used if the the crankshaft is not touched

 

[Dmaxx85]

Ok I understand now. I was trying to line up the paint mark on the bottom and point the rotor to a different spot on the base. But not I see where it needs to point.
Would a TDC tool help me at all? I feel like I’m on TDC but not positive
I have the valve cover off and the second rocker I’m on #1 starts to close then I bring it back around to 0 on the timing marks?

 

[Bt Doctur]

when the second rocker arm opens the valve and then closes the valve you are on #1 conpression. Slowly rotate the motor until the mark on the balancer is at the notch or 0 position. Install the dist with the rotor as shown making sure the oil pump drive is in place. in the oil pump . Rotate the oil pump shaft with a long screwdriver to align it with the dist shaft .
You will know your on right when the dist bottoms out.

 

[Dmaxx85]

Yup I know I’m on TDC then. It’s pretty simple with the valve cover off and even tested to make sure it was building compression. And I had to go out and get a 10” flat head to get down in there so I have all that figured
I guess I just need to set the base as we talked earlier.
Mill tey it when I get home
lthanks guys

 

[Dmaxx85]

Well I’m not gaining much here. The distributor is a tooth off for sure. And how I know for sure is the distributor cap will not line up to the screw holes because the leads will hit the intake manifold and the whole cap is spun a little bit. It’s either too far one way or the other and when the base is lined up with the rotor the cap won’t like up

 

[Dmaxx85]

How crucial are those tolerances on the base plate?
From the picture it seems it’s within a 1/4”