It has stormed here all weekend but we did get about a 2 hour break today.

New cap and rotor (Sierra from parts house) swapped the original mercury coil on it. Fired up but sounded like it has a misfire that would dissappear over about 1200 rpm. Gonna bring my timing light home tomorrow and check base timing. The pickup in the dizzy looked brand new. Checked with the previous owner and he said he put it in when the engine went in. (Less than 50 hrs) I doubt it could be bad already? I did however ;upon reading the box the msd marine rated coil came in, discover that the msd says it needs an 8 ohm resistor in line with it. That is why I put the oem coil back on. Let it run at 1200rpm for 5 mins or so. The rain returned so it got covers back up.

The ballast resistor is only used on points ignitions because the points would burn up if supplied with a full 12 volts. When hooked up to an electronic system, the coil can be wired just like the factory Merc unit.

I thought so but wasn't certain. I try not to play with this distributor junk. I prefer 18 to 1 compression and direct injection lol.
So im almost to the point of calling it quits on this thing. If I put another distributor in here where do I need to set the weights for the advance curve?

Just talked to an engine builder/long time big block hot rodder friend of mine. Laid out the build of the engine to him. He recommended if I do go with a regular hei with weights to simply put a curve kit in it with soft springs so it comes in quickly and will get to ~24° around 3800rpm. He said don't really worry about what the initial timing at idle is as long as it gets to 24 at 3800. Although initial timing should be around 10 or so.

Does this sound right to you guys that play with marine engines?

I'm sorry but I refuse to waste any more money on the thunderbolt system. I'm sure its a good thing when it works like you all say. Simply put, mine still is not working and I will not spend another dime trying to make it work.

32 all in. some guys go more but I think they really watch their gas.

Great! Sounds good. I have my timing light and will get a timing tape to poke in the ballancer this evening.

The v8 24 module provides 24 degrees of advance plus the 8 initial gives 32. Most run 34ish but at 24 total it isn't enough and will leave power on the table and be inefficient. Not sure why he would say that unless you misunderstood him.

I did misunderstand. I asked again. He said between 34-38 with that camshaft would be good but need a hotter fuel and colder plug. So around 32-34?

I run 34* timing with 8.8 compression, rectangle heads, 134561 cam, and 5lbs boost.

I went by a fiends hot rod shop to get some timing tape and weight kit for the dizzy. Got home to find the balancer has the timing numbers laser etched into it...
Only $3 wasted. I hate ups right now! The plug wires have been sitting at there facility 3 miles from my house since Saturday! Maybe tomorrow I can get them, put the dizzy in, set timing, and call it done!