Recent content by Lou C

  1. Lou C

    Exhaust manifold discovery?

    for some reason that's a Vortec 4.3 issue only, the pre-Vortec didn't have that issue. Just pulling the bottom end of the big hose on the circulating pump would drain it. Water passage inside the manifold must have been changed in shape/size.
  2. Lou C

    Oil 4 stroke Mercury 115hp

    When evaluating oils for marine use, one thing I will notice is this: after running the boat up on plane for a while, slow down, let the boat come off plane, bring it to idle, now what is your hot oil pressure? My sense is the better oils won't let it drop down as far, for example, at cruise you...
  3. Lou C

    Exhaust manifold discovery?

    It seems unlikely because it's much easier to drain the manifolds on most V6s and V8s than the block drains. After my first experience with winterizing mine years ago, I totally re-configured the back of the boat to make the seats easy to remove and the wood framework that supports the big sun...
  4. Lou C

    Exhaust manifold discovery?

    It’s not salt water so much it’s the pain of getting at the drains on V6s & V8s, that’s what would stop me from buying another. You wait too long just one time and you’re done.
  5. Lou C

    Oil 4 stroke Mercury 115hp

    IIRC when Merc came out with their 25/40 mineral oil they also said that if it wasn't available you could use straight 30 in cooler temps, straight 40 in warmer temps and 20/40 or 20/50 but this is all for inboards. I agree if I had a modern outboard I'd just use what they advice, given the...
  6. Lou C

    Exhaust manifold discovery?

    I have seen guys who are commercial fishermen out in my harbor with their boats....some are left out all winter, this year it was in the ice, etc, and they come out with a fresh battery, fire up the outboard and motor on. None of the nonsense that I/O owners have to go through trying to make a...
  7. Lou C

    Oil 4 stroke Mercury 115hp

    I have used the expensive Mercury/Quicksilver oil and gotten excellent oil analysis results on my old 4.3 that still has the original 38 year old short block. Here's a bit of info that pertains to inboards more than outboards, for others who might be interested: The 25/40 syn blend, is approved...
  8. Lou C

    Exhaust manifold discovery?

    Low maintenance boat = outboard Raw water cooled I/O = unforgiving of even 1 mistake Closed cooled I/O is better but there'd still be damage I love Chevy small blocks but at 70 years old doing this over 20 years there's no way I'd have another raw water cooled I/O here. They are just an enormous...
  9. Lou C

    454 mag mpi chuggles/stalls

    If a guy can't operate a carbed boat with an electric auto choke, new carbs, etc, then maybe he should not be in command of a twin engined boat! Having been inside all 3 I think the Edelbrock, while not as tunable, is the easiest/least trouble to keep going, reliably. 15-20 year old marine EFI...
  10. Lou C

    454 mag mpi chuggles/stalls

    2 four-barrel carb manifolds 2 Edelbrock 4bbl carbs 2 simple low pressure electric fuel pumps from Michigan Motorz that would be my solution, no more sensors that can have intermittent problems, you will have the simplest set up that worked 65 years ago (when they were Carters lol) still works...
  11. Lou C

    Glastron GXL 235 anti siphon valve location?

    It will always be right where the fuel hose from the pump hooks up to the fuel pick up tube. Excuse the dirty fuel tank my boat is 38 years old and the tank is original. On this boat the whole fuel tank compartment hatch just comes up. Be careful with this valve, it is either brass or aluminum...
  12. Lou C

    Starter stays running.

    You can check for voltage at the yellow red wire for the starter either at the ignition switch or at the solenoid itself (switch will be easier) if there is no voltage on the yellow/red wire after you release the key, then I'd suspect a solenoid or starter drive problem. If there is, more likely...
  13. Lou C

    buying a new boat, this is broken on the trailer. what is it?

    That's what it looks like. I have the same thing.....flush system for drum brakes that trailer looks like it might need some work, springs are very rusty.
  14. Lou C

    99 Volvo 5.0GL

    thanks for the follow up! Just filled up my boat with Sunoco 94 octane for its trial run next week....
  15. Lou C

    Rear main seal on 5.7 GXI

    Hard to say, the front and rear seals on my old 4.3 which has to have at least 1500 if not more hrs on it, don't leak, but on the other hand, I just had to have the rear main done on my 2007 Grand Cherokee 5.7 which has only 135,000 miles on it. When this one went, it was leaking like a sieve...
See more
Top