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  1. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Gel Coat Restoration, Still Scratches after 3000?

    Doh. I guess I'm just repeating what others have already said. :-(
  2. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Gel Coat Restoration, Still Scratches after 3000?

    Rubbing compound PUTS scratches (swirls) into your gelcoat. It's the polishing w. the random orbit polisher that takes them out. You mentioned an "orbital" polisher. Do you mean a random orbit polisher? My guess is that's what you need at this point (random orbit). With polishing compound (not...
  3. San_Diego_SeaRay

    7.4L Impeller replacement attempt

    Here's a good video illustrating this job for just the impeller:
  4. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Fuel flow meter options

    I wish I could give you my real world experience but I have never actually set up my NMEA 2000 system for operation on my boat (yet). I know you said <$300 but if you decide to do a general electronics upgrade, then you might want to look into getting a chartplotter with NMEA 2000 network...
  5. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Trouble reinstalling pre-alpha drive

    Did you put new O-rings on the drive shaft? At my boatyard where I store my boat, the mechanics hate installing new shaft O-rings because they know it is going to be a %$#* to get the drive back on with them. If I remember correctly it's that one O-ring right before the shaft splines and not the...
  6. San_Diego_SeaRay

    How do YOU run a BRAVO system with the sterndrive removed

    1993 270 Chaparral w. 7.4 Bravo 1 Drive I've removed my sterndrive and I need to run my engine. I was thinking of rigging up a hose that ended with a barbed hose fitting as pictured that would go into the Bravo water hose at the Gimbal housing as pictured. Is there a better way? I plan on doing...
  7. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Ok to swap old style manifolds (overflow) into a system w. new style T-stat housing?

    Year: 1998 Engine: Gen VI 7.4 Bravo Serial: 0K281139 I have a set of older style manifolds that have the overflow inlets in the risers. However, they are for a boat that has the newer style T-stat housing where there are only 2 one inch hoses coming out; going directly under the manifolds. The...
  8. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Can I Bypass The Ignition Module on a Thunderbolt V?

    Have a 1998 Merc Carb'd 454 w. a TB V ignition. After many months of not running, it couldn't generate spark. Thought it was the ignition sensor but swapped that out and still no spark. So that pretty much means it's gonna be the Module. I have a green/white and a red/white wire coming out of...
  9. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Can you swap a 350 Dizzy into a 454?

    Have a carburreted 1998 454 and have determined that the dizzy sensor is bad. While I wait for the new sensor, am wondering if I can pull the dizzy out of a 1982 vintage 350 that has I *think* an old Mallory with upgraded (from points) Pertronix module. Are these GM distributors interchangeable...
  10. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Diagnosing Trim Pump Noises

    My trim pump sounds like it's laboring both going up (1st sound) and especially going down (2nd sound). I think the "going up" sounds acceptable, but the "going down" does not. It's hard to appreciate how bad the "going down" sounds in real life when you listen to the clip. Any thoughts of...
  11. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Do Not Rotate Engine While Distributor is Out - Merc Manual

    1998 Merc Gen VI 7.4 I have my engine half disassembled and I would like to do a compression test on it before totally re-assembling. But the Merc Manual says I shouldn't rotate the engine w. the distributor out. Is this solely because it doubles as an oil pump? What if I used one of those oil...
  12. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Where To Find Riser Fittings....

    As always thanks guys. I'm always so impressed with your knowledge and your willingness to share. Found them at my local non-big chain hardware store. They were 3/4" thread diameter and the barb was 1" diameter. As a side note to ponder, why aren't we concerned with two different metals...
  13. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Where To Find Riser Fittings....

    My new risers (1993 454) came with a plug, no actual inlet fitting. Need to unscrew the plug and add these fittings. Anyone know where to get these? Are they universal NPT fittings I might find at a good hardware store? If so, what size and thread?
  14. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Setting the Valve Lash on a 1998 Gen VI 454 Engine

    So page 3A-24 of Manual 16 says that "No valve adjustment is needed. Simply torque the rocker bolts to 45ft lbs and that sets the lash". Is it really that simple? No "spinning of the engine"? Just torque each rocker arm to 45 lbs? Other online resources like THIS GUY indicate that you should...
  15. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Which engine do I have? My Serial Number doesn't make sense...

    I have a 23' 1998 Reinell Bowrider w. a Bravo One setup (7.4 Engine). I'm in the process of re-intalling the heads after taking them off for a valve job. I have Merc Svc Manuals 16 and 23, which both cover the 454/7.4 engine. The problem is that I'm trying to figure out exactly which manual I...
  16. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Anybody Have Any Luck Epoxying Exhaust Manifold Surfaces?

    1998 Merc 7.4 Bravo One cylinder had a stuck valve due to manifold failure/water intrusion into exhaust ports. So I took off both of my heads and brought them to a machine shop. After jet cleaning, they say overall the heads look in pretty good condition. The major issue is that a few of the...
  17. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Mercruiser MC-1 1.32 Drive

    Serial Number: 6267140 Ratio Stamp?: H So I have this sterndrive that I bought a few years ago. Back when I bought it I didn't know any better and was told it was an Alpha Gen 1 drive w. a 1.5 ratio. I brought it home and put it in storage (I bought it w. a Merc engine and it was the engine I...
  18. San_Diego_SeaRay

    Just Replaced Gimbal Bearing, Still Making a Noise?

    Just replaced a gimbal bearing and two other people as well as I agreed the old one didn't feel bad. So I re-install the drive, and the sound didn't go away. Could it be drive shaft u- joints if I don't remember feeling any play in them? I just can't imagine what else could be making this...
  19. San_Diego_SeaRay

    How concerned should I be that my open eye leaf springs are barely hanging on?

    Well it's already a two axle trailer. I imagine you're saying that one axle will break in half, leaving a 3 axle trailer? I actually don't remember comparing the old and new springs. I thought these were standardized sizes so I figured I was good. The re-install didn't betray a problem as the...
  20. San_Diego_SeaRay

    How concerned should I be that my open eye leaf springs are barely hanging on?

    Recently replaced my leaf springs. Pictures tell the story. Can any adjustments be made? On a side note, the trailer was put in water ONCE (saltwater), and rust and salt are already attacking the leaf springs and zinc hardware. *SIGH* :facepalm:
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