the problums started two weeks ago.
the motors wouldn't pass 4000 rpm and lots of back fires took to shop. the timimg had retarded 24 degrees. wow what a problum i thaught it had gone oout of timimng. set back on timing . put in water and it pops allover the place when trying to go past 1500 rpm

whaat is happing. could it have jumped timing or cam broke ..
seems like it out of timing.. what can it be.

what happens if the cam moves..

helpppppp

What are your engines?

Broke balancer? Distributor gear?? Doesn't sound like a cam. It is in the timing somehow.

540 cu in natrully aspirated 675 hp..

not the gears checked already..

Sounds like your timing chain jumped. If it did, your gonna need to check and see if your valves got whacked by the pistons.

but the balance makes sense . two weeks ago the drain plug fell of while on the way , the motor most likely vibrated the drain plug loose.

Check and see if the timing mark at TDC lines up with the key in the crank. If it does not then your balancer has moved I have seen it a bunch of times with stock balancers.

i hope its that. everything else is catastrophic.

What he said. If they do line up, pull the timing cover and check the marks on the crank and cam gears.

If the boat was running fine, then out of nowhere lost power, ran rough, etc, would make me think timing chain jumped

Pull the coil wire off and turn over the engine. If it turns over smoothley, then the engine is OK. It will be a dampner, or something else that has let the timing move around.

Also you are leaving out an imprtant piece of info.

Does the engine rev smoothley while it is on the trailer on in neutral??

If it is only generating problems under load, then it is either fuel of fire.

Do you have MSD ignition?

Check the MSD box??? Balancer???? If the engine is running good in neutral, and turns smoothley when not firing, it is not catastrophic. It is on the outside