OK guys ....... I've been chasing numbers, ideas, skiers and fish with this boat for a month now. All numbers (aside from the 1979 carbeurator) trace to a 1988 engine. Block, heads, intake, distributer etc. etc. say this is a 1988 5.7 350 chevy marine long block engine. However it is still running with the HP of a six cylinder.

If, during the rebuild, the cam chain had been retarded one tooth this would seem to have intake valves partially open during the compression stroke. This would seem to not only lose power without a backfire, but also show low compression across the board when tested ....... nicht war??

Just a hypothesis fellers before I start throwing wrenchs in all directions. Would an engine set up in such a way still start with one or two pumps of the throttle?

Hopefully this will be a stimulating thought and not a waste of time.