Thread: Harmonic balancer on 454 has 4 timing marks.....

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Well here's the update, and not good. Fiddled with the motor all day. Made sure was TDC on compression stroke, made sure button was on one. Made sure all wires followed the proper firing order. It was all good. Also new gaskets for carb(yes gasket(s), it's got an adapter plate).

Motor still only started by matting the throttle(or pumping 20 times). I advanced the timing by ear, till motor sounded best. At this point motor started a lot easier. Typically one or two pumps on throttle(sometimes none). While it started easier and with less fuel, it definitely was fighting itself. The motor would crank slower and almost stop, right before it started(i assume combustion was premature pushing piston back down). But it was starting.

I had to put a timing light on at this point. Turns out I was way off timing tab and I'd guess roughly 32-34 degrees BTDC at idle. Tried moving back to end of timing tab(16 degrees). Motor idle would drop off and motor would stall or be on verge of. The start up was back to matting throttle or pumping twenty times, at 16 degrees BTDC.

Checked fuel pressure again(just after fuel pump). Pressure still 5-1/2 psi. Advanced timing and restarted, checked vacuum. Read about 13 inches and was pretty steady(maybe inch either way periodically). This reading was with the ridiculous base timing(32-34BTDC). Obviously as I retarded advance RPM and vacuum dropped. Best I could get was crappy rough idle around 900, with 8 inches of vacuum. Vacuum reading was consistent with lumpy idle(if idle when up, so did vacuum. if idle when down so did vacuum).

Finally smartened up and got out the compression tester. Tested 2-4-6: roughly 110psi to 120psi(low but enough. But for big cam too low, right?). Regardless, #8 was around 65psi(checked it 3 times, along with gauge/S.P. hole connection). NOT GOOD!

At this point I was tired, sweaty and ticked. I packed up and went home. Leaving the rest of the cylinders untested and didn't bother shooting a little oil down #8.

Worst part I've had the motor for some time. I doubt the shop I bought it from will give me a break(gonna try though). Should have done a test right there in the shop.

Lesson learned, regardless of outcome! To anyone as dumb as me(hope none). Do a compression test before you buy. It doesn't matter who your buying from either(I bought from reputable marine shop). Put a starter on it, jumper cables, jumper wire and good battery. Or just test it by hand. Just find a way to do it. Don't be a dummy like me!