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  1. greg82255

    Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

    Let me bring everyone up to speed if you weren't following my other thread in this forum. I am rebuilding my 1986 Mercruiser 260 and turning it into 383 stroker as one of my winter projects. The other thread contains some very useful information for anyone looking to build a 383 - I asked...
  2. greg82255

    Glued Something on with 5200, Now I need to Get it Off..

    Hello, I have a Formula 206 and someone told me last year to use 5200 to seal the thru-hull exhaust tips. Then I started doing research and I found out the stuff is impossible to get off. Now the tips need to come off. Big mistake. Does anyone have a good method for removing the tips and the...
  3. greg82255

    Any problems with cutting the exhaust Y-pipe?

    Hello, I had a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One, but that block is currently at the machine shop and will be the base for my 383 build over the winter (see thread in the Non-Repair I/O forum). I am looking at different performance exhaust systems to use with the new 383, along with the custom silent...
  4. greg82255

    How Much Can I Disassemble before I Pull the Motor?

    Hello, I have a merc 260/Alpha One. I am looking to pull the motor this weekend to start a re-power over the winter. I don't have much time to work with this weekend, and my dad's friend is coming over with his massive tow truck at some point (not sure when..) to lift the motor out. I'd like...
  5. greg82255

    Building a 383 Stroker

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260, looking to build a 383 over the winter and I have a couple of questions. I'd like to do all the work myself and treat it as a learning experience (I haven't built an engine before), and I'll probably have the help of someone who knows what they're doing once I...
  6. greg82255

    Loud "Clunk" When Shifting Into Gear

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One, just winterized it and am thinking about all the things I need to do to it in the off season. There is a loud "clunk" noise when I shift into both forward and reverse. It goes into gear and stays in gear without any other problems, and it happens every...
  7. greg82255

    Vibration When Turning - U joints?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One. I've felt a vibration when turning hard left or right for a while now, and I figured it was due to the gimbal bearing or U-joints. I planned to replace them (or have them replaced by a pro) at the end of the year. I pulled the drive yesterday as part of...
  8. greg82255

    How Long Can You Safely Run a Mercruiser 260 at WOT

    Hello, I have a Merc 260/Alpha One with about ~800 hours. With a 21" prop the WOT RPM is about 4400 (52 mph) and with a 19" prop I also get 52mph, but at about 4800 rpm. I'm wondering how long I can safely run at WOT without damaging anything. I ask this because I am driving the boat about 23...
  9. greg82255

    3-Blade vs. 4-Blade, and What Diameter/Pitch to use?

    Hello, I currently have a 1986 Formula 206 LS with a Merc 260/Alpha One (1.5 ratio). The boat weighs 3250 lbs, and I have run 2 different props on it. First is a 14.5 x 19" Michigan Ballistic prop, and have gotten 52 mph at about 47-4800 rpm. Next is a Mercury Mirage 3-blade 14.75 x 21" and I...
  10. greg82255

    Performance Exhaust

    Just curious - Is there a noticeable difference in performance or fuel economy between the stock cast-iron exhaust manifolds and a performance set of headers like the new CMI E-top headers? If so, what is the power increase? I keep reading about how the stock manifolds are highly restrictive...
  11. greg82255

    Best Way to Clean a Carbureted Engine?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One and it's pretty dirty. There's definitely some grease all over it. I'm wondering what the best way to clean one of these engines might be. Is it OK to use a degreaser on the engine and spray it with the hose? If I put plastic bags around the distributor...
  12. greg82255

    Broken Hatch Actuator.. Options?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Formula and the hatch actuator is broken - the motor no longer works, probably because of its age. However the rest of the assembly moves freely. I've looked at replacements and they go for about 250, and I can't justify spending that much $ on an actuator. Is it possible...
  13. greg82255

    Removing Exhaust Manifolds for the Winter

    I have a 1986 Merc 260/ Alpha One and I want to take off my exhaust manifolds to paint them but don't have time to do more than remove them right now. I figure I'll get to it sometime this winter. How should I go about sealing the exhaust ports on the cylinder heads? I was thinking of drilling...
  14. greg82255

    Alpha Won't Stay In Gear When Trimmed Too High.. Is This Normal?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One. I was docking in some shallow water this weekend and therefore had to trim the drive high up to keep it off the bottom. I noticed that when the trim is up high, the engine won't shift all the way into reverse. Forward isn't as much of a problem - it...
  15. greg82255

    Merc 260 Losing Oil

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One. The engine has about 770 hours on it and I bought it last October. I was told it was always dealer serviced. I changed the oil as part of winterizing last year and checked it at the beginning of the season, and it was full. I think it took about 5...
  16. greg82255

    Play in Power Steering... and No Fluid

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One, 750 hours give or take. I bought the boat last fall and I was told it was always dealer serviced (but who knows). I was steering the boat at the dock with the hatch open and noticed some play in the power steering assembly - not the pump on the motor...
  17. greg82255

    Vibration When Turning Sharply

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One on my Formula. I've started to notice some vibration when I turn the steering wheel all the way left or right. I have only noticed this at idle because I haven't tried to turn too hard while at speed. I've done some research and it appears that the...
  18. greg82255

    How to Modify a 350, and is it Worth it at 760 hrs?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Mercruiser 350/Alpha One. I believe it's 260 HP, although who knows how much power its actually putting out now (760 hours). I have it in my Formula 206 Spider and I get about 46-47 mph @45-4600 rpm on a good day with my 19" Ballistic prop, and about 50-51 with my 21"...
  19. greg82255

    Drilled a Hole in the Wrong Place... What to Do Now?

    I think I made a mistake today. I have a 1986 Formula 206 Spider with a Merc 260/Alpha One. I was mounting some underwater LED lights and was drilling a hole through the transom to run the wires. Because my boat has one of Formula's bolt-on swim platforms, space for drilling the holes is...
  20. greg82255

    Wiring LED Cabin Lights

    So I just went out and bought 4 LED cabin lights for my Formula. They all looked great on display at West Marine so I picked the ones I wanted and went home. I can post the models if necessary. I started connecting them in series (Negative wire of one light to positive of the next, and so on)...
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