Volvo 4.3 GL Ignition Timing

[JDCousteau]

Hi there, I’m a diy guy and recently rebuilt my engine after an overheat from the head gasket up. I got everything together and did compression checks and so forth with all being good. I haven’t been able to find ignition timing specs that work. The manual says 1 degree btdc, but when I set that the boat sounds looks it’s strugglig to stay running. When I set it at around 8 degrees at idle the boat stabilizes nicely. That said, the OEM appears to tell me between 18-23 degrees at idle. The boat won’t even run with that, nor is that even marked on the balancer. What is the right timing spec?

2000 Volvo Penta 4.3 GL PWTR with Delco distributor

 

[jimmbo]

From my Volvo Shop Manual

You have to shunt the distributor to disable the electronic advance

4.3GL Models1
Engine RPM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 AKI Fuel
Initial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1°
600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18°
1000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21°
1500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23°
2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24°
2500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25°
3000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25°
3500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25°
4000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25°
4600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25°

1. 3.0GL-B/C, 4.3GL-C/D. 5.0GL-D/E, 5.7GL-D/E and later
models require special tool P/N 888863 to adjust ignition
timing

 

[JDCousteau]

Is that special tool mentioned the shunt? How do I tell if my model is A/B/C/D?