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  1. Lou C

    How to Switch to Antifreeze Cooled Engine

    You’re got a little Chevy small block that used to come in a 4,000 lb Chevy Impala/Caprice full size car of the 70s/80s/90s in a large boat so your fuel economy is not going to be great no matter what. I would also recommend a 4 bbl carb on that engine because you will have better low end...
  2. Lou C

    Four Winns SL262 - 2008 Bimini repair help

    Taylor Made may sell those poles as well
  3. Lou C

    1994 Volvo Penta 5.7 GL Timing Setting Procedure

    Then just time it at idle rpm
  4. Lou C

    1994 Volvo Penta 5.7 GL Timing Setting Procedure

    These are 2 different systems; the BID uses an electronic module but a conventional centrifugal advance set up like that used with points vs the Delco EST which also uses electronic spark advance. The Delco requires the special procedure whereas I do not think the Prestolite BID does because of...
  5. Lou C

    TCW3 Oil and Non Outboard Applications

    The only applications that I know of where TCW3 is recommended for an air cooled 2 stroke is in Toro snow blowers and Lawn Boy lawnmowers. For everything else use the 2 stroke oil for air cooled 2 strokes. Reason why is that the air cooled 2 stroke oil has the low ash formula vs TCW3 which is...
  6. Lou C

    How to Switch to Antifreeze Cooled Engine

    while good boats are hard to find due to market etc, you'd be a LOT better off, waiting till you can water test any boat you might want to buy. What you're doing is risky, even if the boat is very low priced.
  7. Lou C

    How to Switch to Antifreeze Cooled Engine

    two euphemisms about boat buying: "I was told" "I recently acquired" both can get you into a lot of trouble! A boat that age, can have so much wrong with it, that if you don't have someone who is familiar with wood/fiberglass composite construction you might be making a big mistake. The...
  8. Lou C

    Four Winns 200 with outboard ?

    Yes they did come with outboards, go on to their website and you can download old brochures to see what the boats looked like. https://www.fourwinns.com/uploads/2017/2/Catalog-1996.pdf in the H200 section they don't have a pic of the outboard model but they do list the outboard choices....130...
  9. Lou C

    How to Switch to Antifreeze Cooled Engine

    you want to REALLY make sure it's a Merc Alpha and not an OMC Stringer. I have a later Cobra and there are very few places who will work on them, and parts you have to search for. DO NOT buy if it's an old OMC drive! and far as the salt water discussion, you just get used to the extra...
  10. Lou C

    How to Switch to Antifreeze Cooled Engine

    If you are going to run a raw water cooled inboard in salt water, the exhaust replacement every 5-7 years is standard maintenance. If you go with full closed cooling, then you won't have to replace the manifolds only the exhaust elbow. Keep in mind that for full closed cooling you may have to...
  11. Lou C

    How to Switch to Antifreeze Cooled Engine

    I doubt this is any Pontiac 301 engine, very unlikely to be ever used in a boat, if its a Ford/Merc I/O It could be a Ford 302, if an OMC same thing both used Ford engines then, in addition to GM, which could be a 302 (5 liter). As far as putting a closed cooling system on a salt run inboard...
  12. Lou C

    Air don't freeze... RV antifreeze DOES!

    If you can find the Sierra PG antifreeze and get a refractometer (for PG antifreeze/water mix testing) you can get better antifreeze protection for less than the cost of -100 PG. I have been using this for a few years now.....
  13. Lou C

    How to Switch to Antifreeze Cooled Engine

    Even if used in salt water with raw water cooling you can get 15 seasons or more without major engine problems in the Long Island Sound region. Yes ideally closed cooling is best for longevity but I ran my old 4.3 in salt from 2002 to present; replaced heads in 2017 (cracked) due to an overheat...
  14. Lou C

    Divorced choke

    I thought my Quad was too old to rebuild and tried replacing it with a brand new Holley 4160 that never ran right. In disgust I pulled out that old Quad and rebuilt it with a rebuild kit and a new accel pump plunger from Cliff Ruggles. It ran fine and was 100% better than the Holley. A few...
  15. Lou C

    MerCrusider Fuel Rail - is there an alternative?

    were these ever used in an automotive application? if so it may be the same part. Check a GM parts catalog. That's what I don't like about older EFI systems, they start making things NLA and you have to search places that sell NLA parts and ebay, usually one will turn up... with carbs the...
  16. Lou C

    Question about engine oil

    Really the only difference likely is that the 15w/40 might give you slightly faster starts at low temps, other than that not much difference. Merc says their oil is better because it does not use VI improvers, whereas conventional multi vis oils do, but again not sure how much of an issue this...
  17. Lou C

    Divorced choke

    That’s the style I’m referring to; the bracket bolts onto that pad where the spring used to sit. There is another style that can be used on Vortec engines where there is no choke coil mounting area. The Vortec engines do not have the exhaust cross over so they all have to use electric chokes. If...
  18. Lou C

    Question about engine oil

    Agreed I'm sure there is a reason why the 10w/30 is ok for outboards but only 25/40 is recommended for inboards and I'd go with what the manufacturer says on viscosity. I think the old school inboards may shear the oil down more than the outboards do, perhaps due to more friction in the...
  19. Lou C

    I am trying to find out the weight of a 21 Ft. 1994 sun tracker trailer vin 4tm12cj1xsb001573 to register it. I can't find the specifications for it.

    I figured out a way to get an approx weight on mine carefully using a Sherline scale with a 0-5,000 meter. See my post in this forum. I found that I had approx 4650 lbs on the axle (single axle hubs/brakes 6,000 lb capacity, springs 5,700 lbs capacity, load range D tires 5040 lb capacity) & 410...
  20. Lou C

    Question about engine oil

    I have over the years used straight 30 & 40 (Delo 400) and Merc/Quicksilver 25/40. As far as automotive vs marine spec oil I have searched and searched; read many oil analysis reports, and have not been able to come to a conclusion one way or another. However, I will say this, when I had my...
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