Re: Power loss VP 5.7 Gi-D (with Video)
The voltage hopping from the rotor to the cap is pretty substantial and it'll jump better than Evel Knievel over a line of dancing ladies with Marge Simpson type hair. Both those pictures of caps arent that bad in my opinion but I don't let mine get that bad so I don't see that too much. I suggest keeping a spare cap, rotor, and plugs on the boat along with tools to change them. Can save a weekend.
The anti siphon is to prevent fuel from draining out of the line and back into the tank thereby causing a hard starting situation. It's not about safety, most if not all mechanical pumps had them. However if the carburetor has gas still in the bowl it will start right up and supposedly the pump will reprime in time before the bowl runs dry. The siphon valve also helps the fuel diaphragm stay wet with gas and therefore lubricated for a longer life. I have no problem leaving it out, but just bear it in mind if you seem to have first time of day hard start. Most distributors for marine use are designed to keep spark away from the outide of the cap. Sometimes that consiste of simply a O type gasket under the cap. Don't use automotive distributors. If there is a fire and someone is hurt or killed whether you planned it that way or not, once a lawyer knows about it he/she will bite onto that like a pit bull on a careless boaters gonads and never let go until your insurance company cries 'Uncle' and pays up. if you don't have insurance and don't own anything besides a waterlogged corroded up boat well then they can't get anything out of you except maybe your gonads which many a lawyer has on their walls signifying that they may not get blood out of a stone but they'll get gonads out of a bonehead.