por mans compression test,,can you remember when you were cranking it over,,did it hit on all cylinders and there was not one or 2 missingpulses?
and smitty forgot one,,fuel line collapsing on he inside.

It cranks great and it seems to run really well at Ron's above idle so hard to suspect fuel line

All the more reason for a compression test. Low compression on a cylinder or two will cause low vacuum and poor idle

BTW, timing can bet set at higher rpms easily. If you have a V8-24 module, then set timing to 32* at 3800rpms. Full timing advance happens around 3700rpms with a V8-24 module.

cranking great isn't what I mean,,listen to the engine as compression happens,,does it stay as an even noise or is it missing any time.Its hard to explain.

You mean the rhythm that it makes cranking over?…. It should be steady when
compression is equal, when you have a weak cylinder, the rhythm will change momentarily when that cylinder comes up on compression.

thats it,thats what I was trying to say(albeit poorly ),,thank you

ummm, if they (mekanic and helper ) can’t time engine right or put a decent fuel line on it, this is a little more advanced. No reason not to put compression tester on it.

Btw: still waiting to find out what intake gasket was used.on this rect intake/ peanut butter port headed engine.

You positive this engine brand new oe from merc didn’t use an adapter to seal the carb ? I know the 502 bravo with that style intake and weber carb used one to seal the carb base gasket to intake.

I also know edelbrock used a thinner but similar plate to seal their carbs to their similar performer series spreadbore intakes.