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  1. Lou C

    Fogging oil won't kill engine

    It really depends on your storage climate. In the frozen north where it never warms up all winter there isn't enough moisture in the air, to matter. However in a temperate climate like where I am, we go from zero to 40 to 60 degrees in the winter. That, combined with moisture being a coastal...
  2. Lou C

    Merc 4.3

    Yep you were right about the year of the balance shaft, the 4.3 is actually a popular swap into CJs, nice & compact. A nice 4bbl 4.3, with a Turbo Hydramatic 350 would make a nice combo in a CJ Jeep.
  3. Lou C

    Deck draining to bilge

    What they do on some consumer grade boats is put deck drains in that look like they drain overboard but they have hoses leading to the bilge. Probably because the decks aren’t high enough. I think modern consumer grade boats are sadly lacking in the ability to keep water out of the boat if water...
  4. Lou C

    Deck draining to bilge

    However it will drain overboard only if the deck is above the water line. It isn't in a lot of consumer grade boats.
  5. Lou C

    Merc 4.3

    I bet you had 1 or 2 older GM cars with the odd fire Buick 231 cu in V6, because what you are saying is true of them, however, the even fire split journal crankshaft was used on the 4.3 from the time it came out. There were other V6s from Chevrolet that used what was called a semi even fire...
  6. Lou C

    Merc 4.3

    The main difference is the split journal crankshaft, due to harmonics set up by this design they really shouldn't be revved over 5000 rpm. I'm not sure if the balance shaft on the '96 and newer ones mitigates this or not. Other than that, they are just as durable as a V8. In fact I have heard...
  7. Lou C

    Merc 4.3

    The pre Vortec intake with 12 bolts drained when you drain the engine. The Vortec intake with 8 bolts has a larger water passage that added the extra drain plug in front. I guess these could trap water depending on the angle of the engine in the boat. The water passage in the Vortec was larger...
  8. Lou C

    Merc 4.3

    Compared to outboards? There’s the good: simple engine & inexpensive parts and not so good: sometimes difficult access and the issues that arise from deferred maintenance. Once you learn how to do all the services they need to stay reliable they aren’t that bad…as long as the boat has good...
  9. Lou C

    Never owned a boat!

    Can't really see now long it is here but you get the idea. I was able to get a factory Load Rite tongue with all the holes already drilled so it wasn't a hard job. Ramp is shallow so with a short tongue your tires would be in salt water maybe even the axle housing.
  10. Lou C

    Never owned a boat!

    I put a 4’ long tongue on my old Load Rite for that reason. The only ramp I know of that is grooved is the one maintained by the town. None of the private ones here are grooved & most are in rough condition with cracked concrete, pot holes etc. Storms & bad winters take a toll. For this reason...
  11. Lou C

    350 MAG winterizing - which method is correct?

    #2, just make sure to use antifreeze that will stay liquid down to the coldest temp you would expect. #1 is just a waste of antifreeze, if you're not leaving it in, don't bother to use it. Remember you DRAIN to prevent FREEZE damage, AF is ONLY for corrosion protection. Also, there may be a PS...
  12. Lou C

    Never owned a boat!

    The other issue is that 4x4s have low range which is a huge benefit in pulling out a heavy boat. Here's the NV242 transfer case shifter in our old '98 Jeep, the low range gives you a 2.73:1 gear reduction. Our '07 has an automatic full time transfer case with electronically shifted low range...
  13. Lou C

    Never owned a boat!

    I would: Buy a smaller and much newer boat. A 22 year old I/O powered boat could have many unseen problems anybody here who has worked on older boats knows that. Suggestion: 20-22’ dual console saltwater style boat with 175-200 hp outboard power. 3-5 years old. If I ever get another boat...
  14. Lou C

    Vista 275

    If you can get Barr Marine aftermarket exhaust where you are they are good quality & a good deal cheaper than Mercury OEM. But first the mechanic must remove the elbows to verify that the exhaust is actually the problem.
  15. Lou C

    Vista 275

    The exhaust elbows will be getting hotter than normal because the cooling passages inside are blocked with rust. It’s one of the costs of boating every 5-7 years in salt water you have to replace at least the elbows if not both the elbows & manifolds.
  16. Lou C

    Never owned a boat!

    I have a 20’ bow rider that is supposed to have a dry weight of about 2700 lbs. Fully fueled and full of gear it weighs 5050 lbs on the trailer! I towed it at first with our ‘98 Grand Cherokee 4.0 rated at 5,000 lbs but after a few years switched to the ‘07 Grand Cherokee 5.7 rated at 7200 lbs...
  17. Lou C

    Engine bay blower question

    Add a gas vapor detector to any gas inboard
  18. Lou C

    2012 VP 300 C-A Exhaust manifolds getting too hot - DTC 441 & 442

    Good to know what you’re dealing with before bad things happen!
  19. Lou C

    2012 VP 300 C-A Exhaust manifolds getting too hot - DTC 441 & 442

    I’ve done a few on the boat and my 07 Jeep. The ones done on the boat actually predicted the head gasket failure I had in 2016. It had overheated in 2013 but ran fine the next 2 seasons. Then at the end of the ‘16 season the head gaskets started leaking and let water in a cyl. An oil analysis...
  20. Lou C

    2012 VP 300 C-A Exhaust manifolds getting too hot - DTC 441 & 442

    Yes I still visit BoaterEd and do read BITOG It’s actually amusing to see how obsessed people are with motor oil. I do find oil analyses very interesting I’ll admit…
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