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  1. Lou C

    1987 5.7 omc outdrive

    While your upper may look ok don’t forget that the bits of the failed gears are spread through the whole drive because the lube supply is share with the upper & lower. I would try and see if there is a local shop that could do it, it might be tough because of parts & special tools availability...
  2. Lou C

    4.3 Starter mount area cracked

    maintaining your exhaust is your #1 top maintenance job in salt water. My old engine is on its 4th exhaust system since I've owned it (bought in 2002). Replaced orignals in 2004, again in 2011 and again in 2017. No hydrolocks due to bad exhaust. Even with 3 sets of batwings!
  3. Lou C

    4.3 OMC Cobra and or...

    while the 9.3 or so comp ratio of the old 4.3s is low compared to modern designs we must keep in mind certain other factors it does not use a quench design, due to the use of GM full dished pistons this limits the amount of spark advance that it could tolerate before detonation becomes an issue...
  4. Lou C

    Stickies on Winterizing 3.0 cobra

    You will get mixed opinions on that, it depends on your storage environment. If you are in a dry climate it is not so critical but in a damp climate like I'm in, I always fog the boat because its stored outside. My collection of small engines I store inside so I don't fog those. Here with the...
  5. Lou C

    1987 5.7 omc outdrive

    Yep there are 2 ways to do that. If none of the shops near you will work on OMC Cobras that’s an option that’s worth pursuing. Go on to SEI’s website and read up on their Cobra conversion kit
  6. Lou C

    1987 5.7 omc outdrive

    nope that is the older style Aquatic drive system, the style that would work for the Cobra is the Volvo SX, 1994-2005 or so. The reason why is that OMC and Volvo went into a joint venture in 1993/4 and the OMC Cobra was redsigned to use cone clutch shifting. These were sold as the Cobra (up to...
  7. Lou C

    Stickies on Winterizing 3.0 cobra

    with AF, I also think its a good idea to test it at the lowest temp you might get if possible. I found that with my freezer set at zero, both the -50 and the -60 solidify, whereas the -100 definitetly will not nor does the Sierra no tox PG stuff I will mix up. So go by your local conditions, if...
  8. Lou C

    4.3 OMC Cobra and or...

    PS for my year (1988) they listed the timing spec at 1* BTDC for regular gas and 6* for premium gas this is why I used at least 89 octane. I guess they felt these were prone to detonation because in fact the centrifugal advance distributor is specified for only 12* at 3200 rpm. So 6 base + 12...
  9. Lou C

    Stickies on Winterizing 3.0 cobra

    If you can go on eBay and search for an original OMC Cobra owners/operators manual it explains exactly how to do it. These steps are also listed on a commercial website but I’m not allowed to post it here. The main points: Block drain and poke hole Manifold drain and poke hole Disco big hose at...
  10. Lou C

    4.3 OMC Cobra and or...

    My boat was specified to have the 15x17 but the WOT rpm was still lower than I wanted so I went with a 15.5x15, which lowers my top speed but reduces the load on the engine as I always felt that the 4.3 was a bit on the small side for my boat (20’9”). I can get 5,000 wide open. When I repower...
  11. Lou C

    Stickies on Winterizing 3.0 cobra

    If you are going to use that method, I suggest loosening a drain plug take a sample and put it in the freezer to make sure it won't freeze. I do think the antifreeze helps because when I start my engin up in the spring I do not get rusty water coming out of the exhaust.
  12. Lou C

    Fuel leak

    www.Holley.com
  13. Lou C

    Stickies on Winterizing 3.0 cobra

    That’s how I’ve done it for nearly 20 years.
  14. Lou C

    1987 5.7 omc outdrive

    Did someone just change the gear oil in that drive? Because there is a right way and a wrong way!
  15. Lou C

    1987 5.7 omc outdrive

    well the Volvo SX conversion is more than that, I priced it out using a used drive, used pivot housing and other things needed and it's about $5000. the SEI conversion is approx $1800 but keep in mind that's an aftermarket copy of a Merc Alpha. rebuilding the Cobra, probably $2-3K. I am still...
  16. Lou C

    1987 5.7 omc outdrive

    well people have: had their OMC rebuilt converted it to a Volvo Penta SX (best solution but $$$) converted it to a Merc Alpha using their Cobra conversion kit (much cheaper but unknown reliablilty). I'm still running mine and picked up a good spare unit that I will have gone through as a back...
  17. Lou C

    Newbie rebuilding 4.3l mercruiser

    Fel/Pro makes a nice set of marine head gaskets for those engines and intake gaskets as well, I used both when I did my top end overhaul 4 years ago. I'm in salt water so I have to use marine... Nice job looks like the machine shop did a great job. The little 4.3 is a nice engine, they are...
  18. Lou C

    Stickies on Winterizing 3.0 cobra

    Not if it does not have corrosion inhibitors
  19. Lou C

    Stickies on Winterizing 3.0 cobra

    Looking back I posted the wrong pic, that's the 2.3 liter Ford! Sorry for the mix up. I don't have a pic of the 3.0 GM engine.
  20. Lou C

    OMC Cobra 4.3?

    Love my Chevrolets
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