Search results

  1. Lou C

    First time winterizing 4.3 mercruiser, alpha one.

    You can't go wrong, by draining everything and verifying that it actually drained first. Then if you want to add AF, pick one that will stay liquid down to the lowest temp you anticipate. And just pour in via the hoses. Easy, no risk of burning impellers etc.
  2. Lou C

    2015 Dodge Grand caravan SE trailer wires installation failed

    One thing I always worried about with my Jeeps is Chrysler's electrical systems. I was concerned about adding aftermarket electronics so in 2000 I installed the Mopar hitch and Mopar factory 7 way trailer wiring (that allows you to connect an electric brake controller) in our '98 Jeep. Just...
  3. Lou C

    mercruiser 4.3 Slow acceleration at WOT

    If you have a 21' boat with a 4.3 its not going to have a high top speed, mine is at most 40 mph. Your max wide open throttle rpm should be at least 4600, you can go as high as 4800 for better acceleration. What carb, is it a 4bbl, are the secondaries opening up as they should?
  4. Lou C

    350 mag mpi manifold/elbow temp

    Use an IR temp gun I keep one on the boat for testing. If it’s the Merc warm manifolds system the manifolds don’t get water circulation till the engine thermostat opens so they should be as warm as the engine block. The elbows get cool water continuously so they should be cooler. The idea behind...
  5. Lou C

    5.7 Merc coolant check?

    Also keep in mind that these are high volume low pressure cooling systems; they depend on a large quantity of incoming cooling water to carry away the heat from the engine & exhaust system. The impeller in the outdrive or on the engine pulls water in and then the thermostat housing directs it to...
  6. Lou C

    Time to chuck the 470

    And you can still buy one brand new, at least here in the USA. Yep they are simple as can be, like the cast iron inline 6s we had on our American cars when I was growing up: GM: 250 Cu in inline six was available in a 292 cu in version for trucks, Mercruiser used these in boats as well. Ford...
  7. Lou C

    Time to chuck the 470

    Ahh well if its that easy, then I see the point. A lot less work than a conversion, and less unknowns for sure. Perhaps use a 2" lower pitch prop to get a bit more response out of the hole making sure it doesn't over-rev the 3.0. The only negative thing about those engines I've heard is they are...
  8. Lou C

    2015 Dodge Grand caravan SE trailer wires installation failed

    I switched to LED Lights in 2015 and haven't had to fiddle with them every time I use the trailer, like before with the incandescent ones. Tec Nic I think is the brand name, very good quality made in USA
  9. Lou C

    2015 Dodge Grand caravan SE trailer wires installation failed

    Using the hitch remember you are depending on a hitch, that slides into a bolted on receiver mount that is bolted to the frame, etc. The white wire on the other hand goes to one of the actual vehicle grounds. For the same reason some people wire up seperate grounds for each light on the trailer...
  10. Lou C

    Time to chuck the 470

    Don’t think the 3.0 has the torque for a 19’. 4.3 swap a lot more work but worth it. Ideal engine for a 19’.
  11. Lou C

    2015 Dodge Grand caravan SE trailer wires installation failed

    The white wire in the harness for the trailer is the ground, this goes back to the electric ground for the vehicle, that is a better ground than depending on the hitch....
  12. Lou C

    Time to chuck the 470

    True. Most of the time water conditions here aren’t smooth enough for WOT!
  13. Lou C

    Time to chuck the 470

    If the OP wants to do a 4.3, the way I'd do it is go with a 96 and newer Vortec, with a 4bbl carb for sure. That will give approx 225 hp, maybe a little more with an Edelbrock intake. However, if the boat is heavy for its size like mine is, the 5.7 is easy to justify, the cost is about the same...
  14. Lou C

    Fuel treatment question.....

    With EFI engines because there isn't a float bowl like in carbed engines, I think they may be less sensitive to fuel storage issues. When we fired up my brother's 2020 Merc 4.5 last spring it just started like any other warm day. We didn't even run it on the fogging mix, just ran out of time the...
  15. Lou C

    Engine access is never easy ....but...

    The more room you have the less your body gets bent lol
  16. Lou C

    Engine access is never easy ....but...

    this was pretty easy on my boat..... this, was not, only way those large cotter pins were coming out, was with a special cotter pin extractor and some colorful language lol. cotter pins can be seen in this pic they are there to make sure the mounting bolts don't back off. OMC/Volvo used...
  17. Lou C

    Engine access is never easy ....but...

    With fuel filters I have noticed sometimes what happens is the base (aluminum) sometimes gets a bit of oxidation on it making the filter harder to remove. I just coat the base, and the rubber gasket with motor oil & never had trouble getting one off.
  18. Lou C

    Time to chuck the 470

    Just compare the ratios used in each engine. There was a list of these floating around a while back….
  19. Lou C

    Engine access is never easy ....but...

    Those new style Merc filters are totally different than the old standard canister filters. Not sure if they are more or less prone to get stuck on. At least Merc sells a handy tool to get it off….
  20. Lou C

    Swapped Thunderbolt IV for Delco EST

    Yep that job is easier to do if you have the valve cover on the port side off so you can watch the valves...Both valves closed and the rotor in the distributor pointing to #1 terminal....
Top