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  1. Lou C

    mercruiser 140 low compression & cracked exhaust manifold

    Agreed I spent a LOT of time getting the block deck & bolt holes clean on mine. Just when I thought I was done I found SOMETHING else! I used a level as straight edge, not orthodox but worked. Even though this engine had a bad overheat it was flat to less than .001”. And the heads were reman...
  2. Lou C

    Replacing trailer axle... what are the considerations?

    Does it have hydraulic brakes or electric? Wires heading to the back of backing plates or a brake hose? If no surge coupler they could have been electric brakes. If what you are towing is heavy enough to need brakes it is not a big deal to install a surge brake system. If in freshwater if you...
  3. Lou C

    Replacing trailer axle... what are the considerations?

    keep in mind this refers to towing cars behind RVs, not the same standard as trailer brakes for a separate trailer.
  4. Lou C

    Replacing trailer axle... what are the considerations?

    Unless you install free backing surge drum brakes in which case no solenoid needed, the 4 pin is fine. These are free backing drums, the front shoe has a section that falls away from the drum when moving in reverse, so that the hydraulic pressure applied by the wheel cylinder does not create...
  5. Lou C

    Replacing trailer axle... what are the considerations?

    Spring center dimension is something you really can't change but you can go wider on hub face to hub face dimension if you have to in order to get an off the shelf axle. The other option is Champion Trailers in Slidell La. They will make a custom axle to your dimensions exactly how you want it...
  6. Lou C

    Outdrive Leaking Oil

    The leak is what causes the high lube levels, the drive as it cools off will tend to suck in water and that pushes the oil level higher. There just may not be enough water in the drive yet to turn the oil milky.
  7. Lou C

    Towing more than capacity?

    If there is any way you could get it weighed before buying that would be great.
  8. Lou C

    Thinking of buying a Maxum 2400 SCR. Thoughts?

    MPI or GXI is great until Mercury or Volvo decides to make your parts NLA, then you are SOL Meanwhile, I can still get all the parts for this, that hasn't been made in 30 years... carb rebuild kit =$50 USD brand new Carter or Sierra mechanical fuel pump that lasts 20-30 years, =$85 USD to me...
  9. Lou C

    Towing more than capacity?

    Are you sure your tow capacity is 6,000? I know for my 07 Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi it is 7,200. Still I would not tow a boat that big! Not just weight its sail area, etc.
  10. Lou C

    Towing more than capacity?

    There is no way that a 30’ boat weighs only 5,000 lbs. I bet if you weighed it it’s a lot more. My little 20’ dry weight was supposed to be approx 3000 yet on the trailer boat & trailer is 5,040. The boat is at least 4,000 if not 4100-4200. For that load you need a 3/4 ton pick up.
  11. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 Vortec Backfire and no start

    As long as the rotor is at the #1 plug wire position and the harmonic balancer is at the zero mark with cyl #1 at TDC of the compression stroke it should not matter what position the distributor is facing. I’m not sure if Merc set them up that way due to the module connections sticking out or...
  12. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 Vortec Backfire and no start

    Ok what this procedure does is it gets the timing close enough so it will start; doing it this way you are more or less setting the timing at zero degrees. The actual spec will vary by the tune but typically it is 6–>8 degrees before top dead center. Set at idle speed and if you are using an...
  13. Lou C

    2006 Volvo 5.7 osi-d crank no start

    When my HGs blew I had water in one cyl not enough to hydro lock it and the compression in that cyl was about 200 psi. All the others were about 160 which is normal. I’m wondering if your manifold gasket leaked down on that side into # 3.
  14. Lou C

    2006 Volvo 5.7 osi-d crank no start

    Ok two things That cyl does look very shiny (washed) I’m wondering if water got in & caused the compression to go sky high in that cyl and blew out the HG. Water in a cyl will definitely raise compression way above normal Other thing I’m wondering is if when that dist cap failed could it have...
  15. Lou C

    2006 Volvo 5.7 osi-d crank no start

    How long have you owned the boat? Is it possible that a previous owner had it over-propped? what do the spark plugs look like? make sure there are NO restrictions in the fuel system starting with the tank vent, and anti siphon valve.
  16. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 Vortec Backfire and no start

    Looks about right. Just make sure you have the correct plugs wires in the cap in the correct position/sequence. Refer to the diagram I posted. Years ago my brother changed the dist cap on his wife's Subaru GL 4x4. Car wouldn't start. I asked him did you put the wires in the cap in the correct...
  17. Lou C

    Mercruiser 3.7 / 470 Holley EFI Sniper.

    Agreed that's a lot of cash for not much improvement. Carbs are better by far for cost/benefit on old boats. The only time I'd even consider that is for a boat that had factory throttle body FI and if major parts are NLA and I was the type of owner who couldn't deal with carbs. But I like...
  18. Lou C

    2006 Volvo 5.7 osi-d crank no start

    That's what I was getting at. If this engine never overheated, something else besides a bad dist cap made that happen. My engine had a bad overheat but the HGs didn't look that bad. Check: fuel mixture total timing advance at specified RPM propping, you may be overpropped (prop to large in...
  19. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 Vortec Backfire and no start

    Normally on a Chevrolet small block your #1 will be in the front, on the V6 it will be in the front right behind the carb & flame arrestor.... You want the line on the harmonic balancer to be lined up with the Zero or TDC mark on the timing chain cover and both valves on #1 cyl (front cyl on...
  20. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 Vortec Backfire and no start

    That engine technology wise is about on the level of a 1977 GM V6. Simple carb, electronic ignition, the only thing this has that GM V6s didn’t have then is the balance shaft. Mark the position of #1 plug wire on the dist cap on the dist body. Then remove the port side valve cover so you can...
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