260hp I/o expectations

[smokeonthewater]

weirdness with timing is more likely to be in the harmonic balancer than the timing chain... tho 29* is a LOT... you ARE checking timing on the correct cylinder arent you?.... had a buddy who always had fords try to check timing on the right front of a chevy once and it didn't work for him LOL


If you pull out #1 spark plug and use a screw driver to feel the top of the piston you can determine if it is at TDC and then mark the balancer in line with the tdc mark....
You can check for slop in the timing chain by turning the crank back and forth by hand with the dist cap off so you can watch the rotor.... there WILL be a little slack but shouldn't be a lot.

I haven't had a 260 in a V20 but I did have a '78 merc 898 (198 hp 305) in an arrowglass siesta... 20' deep V cuddy... It ran 40-42 mph with a 14"x19" old school 3 blade stainless prop.