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  1. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Ordered the 2" o rings. Didn't bother on the other ones... as I don't know if I'll need them.
  2. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    O-ring is right... it was late after a long day. Here's an example: https://www.mcmaster.com/5288T358/ Nice hard 90 Durometer too. My only worry is the rubber not tolerating the elements long term... but again, maybe I'm overthinking it. Edit: If needed, here's something for the tachometer...
  3. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Voltmeter came in. Run into a slight snag... the new gauge is a hair smaller and no matter what I do I get a bit of daylight shining between the gauge's outer ring and the console hole. Does anybody make washers/gaskets I could put between the gauge and the console to fill the gap and ensure...
  4. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Got the tach ordered. GPS speedometer came in along with an adhesive antenna. Found a way to hide it in the console for a clean install: Rigged up a 9v battery for a quick outdoor reception test. Works great: (Also, why I'm electing to replace everything else... These gauges are very...
  5. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Doing some eBay sluething... found the black coral Faria Bede gauges I'm wanting to go with for a good price (all BIN exept the tach which is pending an offer). Minus the voltage gauge, which I'm amazon'ing (my wife has prime through her parents 😁). I found a deal on an oil pressure gauge, but...
  6. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    The issue isn't just the gauge mechnicals... the face paint is in terrible shape (lots of cracks and fading) and while I was able to uncrimp and recrimp the housing on the voltmeter, the process wasn't pretty and honestly this is reeking of "not worth the trouble". If this was a concours...
  7. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Buzzer/light came in. Other than needing ring/fork terminals (not spades), is a direct replacement for the old unit. Heck, if I glue it back together, the old square "oil" lens will fit. Sounds about right too. If I even keep it... Still mulling over what to do with gauges.
  8. ratdude747

    Best Battery for MerCruiser 888 (1976 Ford 302)

    The old relay is still on engine block above the starter. Currently it's just being used for a power distribution point... I can't access it very well and it was easier to mount a fresh relay somewhere easier to access. Battery covering is a known issue I haven't gotten to yet. Battery...
  9. ratdude747

    Best Battery for MerCruiser 888 (1976 Ford 302)

    Another picture, now with stater relay mounted better (correct #12 stainless screws and plastic spacers): Also, why the battery install is such a pain on this thing. The fuel hoses shove to the side a bit but they're generally in the way.
  10. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Back to square one on the gauges. Discoveries made: The old voltmeter has failed miserably. Didn't like the glue repair (it had been working, at least the "nub" on the hub moved). Now it doesn't move more than a twitch. Likely a mechanical issue, but I'm done with this faded cracked and...
  11. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    With a bit of persistence, I was able to uncrimp the old voltmeter, glue the needle back to the spindle, and re-crimp the housing. So, as a lower-cost option, I could just replace the speedometer and (for now, at least) replace the oil buzzer/light. And maybe LED swap the cluster lights...
  12. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    For the other gauges, it seems that Faria-Beede makes some nice gauges for a respectable price: https://www.amazon.com/FARIA-BEEDE-3003-3472-Mercury-Mercruiser/dp/B0000AZ84Y https://www.amazon.com/Faria-13004-Coral-100-250%C2%B0F-Water/dp/B000FOW4QE...
  13. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Ah. Noted. Tracking down a decent (enough) tachometer is proving to be a pain. Most of the stuff that isn't $$$ is all reviews as "leaks water and died" in the reviews. I'd like to have discreet gauges for everything else as I don't know what else worth adding would fit there.
  14. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Exactly. --- That same company also makes this wonder: https://www.amazon.com/MAIMEIMI-Speedometer-Tachometer-Voltmeter-Adjustable/dp/B0CG66GVHK The only boon to this would be if I wanted to knock out everything but the trim gauge to add something else completely different or add a digital...
  15. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    I should have clarified... "Modern" as in "new, drop in replacement", not "Modern" as in CAN bus. A bit too old for that!
  16. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    My plan above reused the existing gauge holes. Small holes are standard 2" gauges. Tach and Speedo appear to be standard 3 3/8" holes. Speedo example I found: https://www.amazon.com/MAIMEIMI-Speedometer-Odometer-Waterproof-Motorcycle/dp/B09DNVCNKG/
  17. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Updates and new projects: First, I swapped out batteries and put in a new battery hold down today: https://forums.iboats.com/threads/best-battery-for-mercruiser-888-1976-ford-302.771534/ Second, I'm trying to get the gauge issues resolved. Pulled the console, only to find that the voltmeter...
  18. ratdude747

    Best Battery for MerCruiser 888 (1976 Ford 302)

    Got the battery tray installed: Moved it forward a bit to match where the PO ran the old battery and to give better clearance of the manifold drain. One issue I've run into is the studs aren't threaded enough. Bottomed out with 1/4" to go: Probably will need to pull them and use a die to...
  19. ratdude747

    Best Battery for MerCruiser 888 (1976 Ford 302)

    It was already there when I got the boat... No audible bolt grinding (nor a loose starter) so presumably there's no issue. If it wasn't a marine rated unit, I'd be swapping for something due to the fire hazard. But it is marine rated and I was able to fix the wiring mistake, so I seen no need...
  20. ratdude747

    Best Battery for MerCruiser 888 (1976 Ford 302)

    The current starter is the newer design (Ford PMGR) that were used on later Mercruiser 302's. Here's a pic of it from last year: Unless one is doing a Concours restoration (which I absolutely am not), the old 1 wire starters are not worth keeping in my opinion. They draw a lot more current...
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