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  1. Lou C

    Engine swap, OMC to mercruiser

    You could go with a 5.7 even if you originally had a 5.0 in it. The exhaust manifold pattern is the same on all small block Chevrolets the OMC exhaust will bolt up to any 5.0 or 5.7. The main differences: If your original engine has a one piece rear main seal & flywheel the new engine has to...
  2. Lou C

    Engine swap, OMC to mercruiser

    First you need to evaluate what shape your OMC drive system stuff is in before using it with a new to you engine. If it’s a Cobra keep in mind while these were good when maintained by someone who knows OMCs (like me, owned this one about 20 years) but I also have the manuals and LOTS of spare...
  3. Lou C

    Starter Wiring, 4.3L Mercruiser

    Now I'm just guessing here but with the 3 terminal vs 4 terminal solenoids... you need a 4 terminal if you have a points ignition, and/or electric fuel pump you can use a 3 terminal if you have electronic ignition and a mechanical fuel pump.... S terminal = start, yellow/red wire from ignition...
  4. Lou C

    Engine swap, OMC to mercruiser

    A well maintained Cobra is fine but if you really don’t know if what you have is any good best to go with all Mercruiser. Sell off the OMC stuff and start over.
  5. Lou C

    Starter Wiring, 4.3L Mercruiser

    You need the 4 terminal solenoid.
  6. Lou C

    Bowriders that handle waves well?

    On my bow rider I keep the bow cover on anytime it gets rough and have a reinforced support for the bow cover just in case. I also have a spare emergency 2000 gph bilge pump. The salt water DCs have several advantages: Self bailing deck Greater bow flare Some have fully foamed construction so...
  7. Lou C

    Bowriders that handle waves well?

    A salt water DC like Key West
  8. Lou C

    Keeping boat interior (carpeting / fabric) "nice"

    I am probably the worst for cosmetic maintenance but very good on the mechanical...so... carpet belongs in your house, in a boat you should have nonskid gel coat. On boats with wood cored decks (95% of boats more than 20 years old) carpet causes rot because it holds moisture. When I redid the...
  9. Lou C

    Has anyone seen or heard of a trailer tire doing this?

    I think it may be more important to put the axle under jacks for long term storage so all the weight is not in one place. I got two divots in my asphalt driveway from the trailer always being parked in one spot! After realizing that those tires have about 2200 lbs on them, each, it made sense...
  10. Lou C

    Alpha 1 gen 2 5.7L overheating

    I recall thinking of this when I I stalled the temp sending unit in the intake (had to clean up all the rust & paint) so what I did was thread it in to see about how deep it threads in. Then I just used a bit of Evinrude gasket sealer on the threads at the very end of where it threads in to...
  11. Lou C

    Alpha 1 gen 2 5.7L overheating

    The reason why the raw water flow test should be done in the water is that the hose water pressure can mask a weak impeller.
  12. Lou C

    Exhaust manifolds

    I installed Barr Marine (made in USA) on my 4.3 five years ago and so far so good. Just give ‘em atop coat of Rustolium becaus if you’re in a damp climate they will get surface rust a a season or 2. Remove any paint from the sealing surfaces for the manifolds & elbows and check flatness with a...
  13. Lou C

    4.3 merc water in #5 cylinder

    The sealant is a good idea if either the cyl head or the manifold is pitted on the sealing surfaces. I recall when the Vortec engines were introduced on both the V8s and V6s in GM vehicles there were a LOT of failures resulting in antifreeze getting into the cam valley & motor oil. Eventually...
  14. Lou C

    4.3 merc water in #5 cylinder

    Go back to your pic of the engine with the intake removed. As I pointed out earlier there is suspicious rust deposits on the cyl head near the intake port for that rear cyl and the rear water passage in the cyl head. The intake gaskets on the Vortec engines were more failure prone than the Pre...
  15. Lou C

    New Engine Replacement - Engine Died and Hydro locked after 5 hrs!?

    Depending on how much tolerance you have for more hydro locks you could just change one thing at a time to answer the question what was the cause. So if the flapper solves it totally you know it was back wash/stern of boat too low if not then it’s solved with adding the vacuum break valves...
  16. Lou C

    Ideal Mercruiser 350 cu.in. running temperature?

    While temps vary I found that the part of the engine closest to the dash gauge temp is the intake manifold right below the thermostat housing. I find that it reads approx 10-15*F cooler than the dash gauge. Try taking it there is still way off your sending unit & gauge may be mis matched or...
  17. Lou C

    About to do my first VP SX outdrive service and have a few questions

    As long as your bellows is in good shape & that bearing carrier does not have any corrosion on it grease will make the seal for you. My old Cobra has the same set up & no leaks in 19 years of moored/6 months salt water use. I would however: When you grease the D/S splines don’t get it in the...
  18. Lou C

    Has anyone seen or heard of a trailer tire doing this?

    Don’t buy cheap steel belted radials. If you want cheap tires for a trailer IMHO you’re better off with a bias ply tire. I’ve had 3 sets of Kenda Load Stars and not one failure in 17 years. As soon as I see cracks I change em like at 7 years or so. A steel radial when the steel belts delaminate...
  19. Lou C

    New Engine Replacement - Engine Died and Hydro locked after 5 hrs!?

    Well given the problems you've had I probably would. See the thing is we don't know if it is mostly reversion, mostly back flow or a combination of the 2. So if you add that vacuum break valve (I can't believe VP charges $95 each for them!) and the exhaust flapper you have both possible causes...
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