www.iFourWinns.com

I have just re-fitted my fully reconditioning Volvo 5.7GL engine and having had a look through the manual I can't find anything on setting the timing (been through it about 5 times).

Can anyone point me towards any documentation that will give any instructions. I understand on some engines with a Delco distributor there is a jumper plug but mine is a Prestolite distributor and I'm not sure if there is something similar or whether I can just set the timing on idle speed around 400rpm.

Also does anyone know how can I identify the engine type as the manual gives a different advance for a 5.7GL-A to the 5.7GL-B,C,D,E

Hope someone can help.

What year 5.7GL do you have?
I have the last of the pre-Vortec block 5.7GL's (1997) with electronic ignition and my timing requirements are 9 degrees BTDC on 95 RON fuel (89 AKI?).
I'd set your neutral idle around 700RPM, so the in-gear (in water) RPM is around 600...

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

Hi Deafwish
Mine is the 5.7GL 1997 Vortec. I'm pleased you mentioned that 89 AKI (which I'd never heard of) being 95 Ron as the manual says that all 5.7GL engines should be 12 degrees BTDC on 89 AKI. Where did you get your 9 degrees info from and should yours not be 12 degrees, the manual I am looking at is http://www.boatinfo.no/lib/volvo/manuals/5057a-f.html#/166

As a side note, I had to adjust my engine a little more advanced after switching from marina gas to E10 (10% ethanol) to prevent "popping" at WOT. I adjusted timing "by ear", and measured afterword and found myself to be about 12-13 deg btdc.

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Wow that's pretty far advanced, have you ever checked your total timing advance with the boat in the water (in neutral, you can rev the engine to the specified rpm and use an advance timing light to check).
I have my '88 4.3 set at 6*BTDC as per the manual. I use 93 octane fuel most of the time.
Are you sure you're not getting pinging or detonation?

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Are you certain it's a Vortec?
I haven't seen a 1997 RS with a Vortec block...
How many intake manifold mounting bolts do you have - 4 each side, or 6?

_________________
2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

When we lifted the engine out the guy at the engineering shop said it was a Vortec, to be honest I didn't know any different. Youv'e got me wondering now so I'll take a look how many bolts.

Taking everything into account and having searched around for info my understanding so far is that there is no jumper for the Prestolite distributor just set it to idle speed (not 100% certain what that is yet but assume around 400rpm). It would seem that 12 degrees BTDC is the correct setting which is in the on-line manual and also from another site which published some settings. http://forums.iboats.com/filedata/fetch?id=7003059 .

I'm not quite at the stage of setting it by ear but its interesting when rpengr did it ended up at 12 to 13 degrees.

You may indeed be looking at the wrong manual if it has 12 mounting bolts on the intake!
Any engine photos you can share? I should be able to tell, as the Vortec has a high rise manifold with a 2BBL adapter...

_________________
2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

Just counted the bolts and it has 6 on either side, hope that's good news. Picture below.



If it is the Vortec I suppose that means I am looking at the wrong manual as you suggest and also possibly the wrong timing settings. Any links to the correct one

I was correct - you don't have a Vortec engine, sorry!
You have a 572BPLKR, or commonly referred to as an LK series.
We have the worst flowing heads (TBI) GM ever made. Cool, huh?!
Timing settings are as I stated above.

_________________
2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

Thanks for identifying the engine for me Deafwish, It would have been nice if I had dropped on a good one but this one went pretty quick anyway before I filled it up with water.

So 9 degrees BTDC it is and I note that you suggest 700rpm idle. When setting the timing should I set it at a lower rpm and then increase the idle afterwards to 700 or set the timing at 700rpm. Some info I have seen would suggest that at 700rpm the advance would be higher than a lower idle speed.

You seem to have a lot of knowledge on these engines, do you work from a workshop manual that you could recommend or do you just know what you are doing.

The correct service manual:
http://boatinfo.no/lib/volvo/manuals/lk_engine.html#/0

Timing is actually 8 BTDC, sorry. I wound in around 9 because I always use high octane fuel.
As per the manual, "in gear RPM" should be 550 - 650RPM. In gear means in the water, so set it at 700RPM on the hose.
<100RPM on the hose while setting timing won't make much, if any difference to the performance of your boat.

Oh, fit an Edelbrock 2506 manifold and a Holley 4BBL vacuum secondary carb to make it a 55MPH weapon!

_________________
2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

Thanks for the manual and all your help, I've learned a lot. I've got a rev counter and timing light on order so next weekend I will have a go.

55mph would be wasted on me in the UK as the sea is rarely calm enough to do even 30. So long as it gets me out and back I will be very happy.

Many thanks