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  1. Lou C

    VP 8.1 Engine overheat and seize

    I see what looks like scoring on the last cyl, all the way to the right. If you clean the cyls get the surface rust off it may be easier to see. I don't see how they could be stumped. Here's why: when my engine overheated, the temp was off the chart (240*) but from the outside, the rubber...
  2. Lou C

    VP 8.1 Engine overheat and seize

    Another option is to get a mechanic to look at it see if they will offer an opinion on the failure. If they don’t send an adjuster to look at it I would not accept their decision
  3. Lou C

    91 four winns 285 express cruiser question

    Ah looked at the ad. Twin Ford 5.0s with Cobra drives but I don’t know if they are the cone clutch or dog clutch units. If you're going to buy do you have an OMC trained mechanic near by? At least it’s a fresh water boat, so less stuff will have to be replaced (manifolds & elbows). The dog...
  4. Lou C

    91 four winns 285 express cruiser question

    Next question OMC power or Merc? If OMC keep looking. I have one and know it inside & out but you have to be good at finding parts. Some (electronic ignition and EFI) are nearly impossible to find. Parts for the cone clutch drives also are hard to find. Parts for the old school points ignition...
  5. Lou C

    Towing with/without Overdrive

    Not towing in OD helps because it allows the torque converter to stay locked. In OD any added load might cause it to unlock and downshift.
  6. Lou C

    91 four winns 285 express cruiser question

    Probably a fiberglass cockpit liner not just carpet covered wood decking; which was standard in the cheaper boats.
  7. Lou C

    VP 8.1 Engine overheat and seize

    Ask the ins clowns how water flowed thru that oil cooler. It may have seized due to scored cyls. Since you have the heads off take pix of the cyl walls. I had a similar problem once (cooling hose popped off) and the engine overheated and seemed seized but once it cooled it cranked over normally...
  8. Lou C

    SX cobra out drive crack

    In fact if you don’t pull the drive for winter storage you should at lease poke that area with a small thin screwdriver to make sure it’s not clogged, or else you can have cracking there if it freezes where you are.
  9. Lou C

    Second Happiest Day . . .

    Congrats and that shows that people will really travel for the right one!
  10. Lou C

    Converting Mercruiser MC-1 to Alpha

    Agreed you are better off buying a rotted boat for the whole drivetrain and all the assorted bits that will nickel dime you on these conversions
  11. Lou C

    Converting Mercruiser MC-1 to Alpha

    Due to changes over the years you want there to be compatibility between the year of the drivetrain and engine. So if you are doing alpha 1 gen 2 then you want a 96 and up Vortec engine
  12. Lou C

    Moving from IO to OB experiences?

    As my old mechanic used to say we love our Chevy small block but better in a muscle car than a boat.
  13. Lou C

    Moving from IO to OB experiences?

    With the added complexity forced on I/Os of cat converter exhaust and expense of repair and replacement combined with the typically horrible engine access of modern boat designs (yes open that little hatch and imagine just how you’d replace a starter or steering actuator without pulling the...
  14. Lou C

    SX cobra out drive crack

    That’s a water drain and if that slot gets clogged then it will cause a crack if water gets trapped inside & freezes. But you are missing your front anode!
  15. Lou C

    Boat Ramp Disaster

    Operator error all over the place there. When he first stopped the boat was in far enough to back it off. All he had to do was leave it in gear engine off set the parking brake and put a chock behind the wheel.
  16. Lou C

    Volvo penta 5.0 knocking sound

    Just watch the engine temp don’t let it overheat
  17. Lou C

    Overheating

    It is possible that a blown or leaky HG is putting hot exhaust gas into the cooling water. You could get one of those carbon monoxide test kits to see if that’s the case; easier to determine with the closed system. We had a similar problem on a 98 Subaru EJ2.5 flat 4, these are known for blowing...
  18. Lou C

    Volvo penta 5.0 knocking sound

    Try disconnecting the belt for a few sec to see if it stops, if so spin each accessory and see if any feels rough or is noisy. Replace as needed. It sounds more like an engine sound to me like a bad lifter or bent push rod/stuck valve. Your best bet is to get a mechanics stethoscope because...
  19. Lou C

    new carb new issue

    Your fuel pump pressure is fine. It sounds like your floats are sticking, the needle valve is not holding or the vent is clogged or obstructed. New carb I’d call Edelbrock tech support and ask.
  20. Lou C

    Drain Plugs for 1999 Mercruiser 4.3 Thunderbolt 6 cyl

    The situation with ruined engines in places that don’t usually have winter (so owners never felt the need to drain) is so bad that one major engine supplier told me they don’t expect any new 4.3s maybe ever because GM doesn’t build the old cast iron version any longer apparently. So then all you...
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