Search results

  1. greg82255

    Remanufactured 383 Question

    Anyone ever heard of CHS Machine Co.? They are advertising a re-manufactured 383 long block with oil pump and harmonic balancer for $2400. They claim it has 420 hp at 4500 rpm and 430 ft lbs at 3500 rpm. Looking to see if anyone has heard of them and if they are reputable.. Here's the link...
  2. greg82255

    Dad Found a Rebuilt Truck 454 for Free.. How to Marinize, or is it worth it?

    Hello, I started a thread a few weeks ago about swapping a 350 for a 454 but this topic is slightly different so I figured I'd start a new thread. My dad can get a rebuilt turn-key 454 truck motor for free. I know for a fact that I would have to change the following: -Starter -Alternator...
  3. greg82255

    How to Fix Scratches in Gelcoat?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Formula 206 Spider that has red and black gelcoat on it. I left it at the dock for a few days and my boat ended up scraping against a 2x4 that was attached to the dock (stupid me for not securing a bumper to it..). Anyways, now I have some scratches in the gelcoat and I'm...
  4. greg82255

    Small Block to Big Block Conversion

    Hello, I am looking to upgrade my motor without spending too much $ and considering a lot of options. I currently have a 1986 Merc 350/Alpha One. I found a friend with a bravo setup that he will give me really cheap. I am wondering how many parts from my 350 would bolt up to a 454 (ignition...
  5. greg82255

    Alpha One Trim Pump Works Then Doesnt

    Hello, 1986 Merc 350/Alpha One. I believe the trim pump is the original oildyne version (SAE J1171 motor with the small black reservoir underneath). I always put the drive pretty much all the way up when the boat is docked. Yesterday I got to the dock and went to put it down and I just got a...
  6. greg82255

    Rebuild Alpha One, Change Gear Ratio?

    Hello, Is it possible to change the gears in a 1986 Alpha One and convert it from 1.5 ratio to a 1.32? I've been researching and can't seem to find a definite answer. If it's possible, where could I find the parts, and how much time and $ am I looking at to do this? Thanks in advance
  7. greg82255

    Repower Questions, Alpha One Horsepower Rating

    Hello, I currently have a 1986 Formula 206 Spyder with a Merc 260/Alpha One. It does about 50 on a good day, but I'd really like to get some more speed out of it (60??). The engine has 800 hours, and I don't want to invest a lot of $ into an old motor, so I am thinking of buying a long block...
  8. greg82255

    Eagle Trailer Needs a New Bunk

    Hello, I just bought a 22' Formula sitting on a 1989 Eagle dual-axle Trailer. I noticed that one of the bunks was sagging slightly off the hull, and today once the boat was in the water for the season I took a closer look. I tried to pick the bunk up where it was sagging and the bunk crumbled...
  9. greg82255

    Engine shifts into gear, hard to shift out of gear

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One. It shifts from neutral into forward or neutral into reverse without any problem, but getting it to shift from either forward or reverse into neutral is really hard. I have to pull on the shifter very hard, and one time I even jumped from forward right...
  10. greg82255

    Merc 260 Oil Pressure

    What should be the PSI reading on the gauge for my 1986 Mercruiser 260? My old 305 had 60 PSI according to the gauge. This one is only reading about 30 PSI but goes up slightly when on plane. Is this OK or should I stop using it before it causes a big problem?
  11. greg82255

    How to mount a 33C Shift Cable on a Mercruiser Shifter

    Hello, I have a Formula with a 1986 Merc 350/Alpha one. I just replaced the shifter/throttle and had to switch to 33C cables. I purchased an adapter kit from teleflex that allows the 33C cable to work with the mercruiser shift assembly. Unfortunately this adapter kit is made entirely of plastic...
  12. greg82255

    Will this distributor work with my engine?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One with a thunderbolt IV ignition system. I posted earlier today because it wasn't working and I went through the troubleshooting and found that I need a new ignition amplifier. The part is around $460 from Mercruiser and I found $380 elsewhere. I found a...
  13. greg82255

    Engine Won't Start

    Hello, I have a 1986 Mercruiser 260/Alpha One, thunderbolt IV ignition system. Ran the boat for 20 minutes this morning, it was running fine then started sputtering and stalling every few seconds. I could get it started and it would sputter and then quickly die. Then it wouldn't start at all...
  14. greg82255

    Alpha One Shifts Into Forward, Not Reverse

    Hello, I have a 1986 Mercruiser 350/Alpha One. I bought the boat last October and test drove it and all worked fine. This spring I removed the lower unit to change the water pump impeller and I'm pretty sure I put everything back together correctly (everything was in forward gear). I then...
  15. greg82255

    Sealing Through-Hull Exhaust

    Hello, I have a 1986 Formula 206 that has one of Formula's bolt-on swim platforms. There is about a 1 inch gap in between the swim platform and the boat's transom. I am installing a through hull exhaust and am trying to figure out how to seal the pipes properly. I know the pipes come with...
  16. greg82255

    Engine Won't Start

    Hello, I have a 1982 Checkmate with a Mercruiser 898 of the same year. Everything ran fine when I winterized it last year. I went to put the battery in and start it up this weekend, turned the key and got nothing, not even a click. I have seen the post in the adults only section about how to...
  17. greg82255

    Smoking 350

    Hello, Just bought a 1986 Formula at the end of last year with a Mercruiser 260/Alpha One of the same year. I just put in new oil, a new water pump, dist cap, rotor, wires, plugs, and replaced the exhaust manifolds/risers about 2 weeks ago. I started up the engine and it runs fine but I...
  18. greg82255

    Through Hull Exhaust Cutouts

    Hello, I was cutting holes for through hull exhaust on my 1986 Formula 206 today. The boat is setup for this and has a thin section of the transom where the holes should be cut. However, the sections for the cutouts on the swim platform (which is bolted to the transom) did not line up properly...
  19. greg82255

    Mercruiser Riser Gaskets

    Hello, I know this issue has been brought up before (both by myself and other members), but I have a slightly different question. I just got new exhaust manifolds and risers for my 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One. I went out and bought a set of Mercruiser gaskets because I was told on this site to use...
  20. greg82255

    How do you install a neutral safety switch?

    Are there a set of standard directions for installing a neutral safety switch, or are they different for each shifter? If it is standard, how does one go about doing it? Also, where can I buy a new switch for a kiekhafer dual lever shifter? I saw in a thread from another site that you can pick...
Top