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  1. Lou C

    Should I get this FREE project boat?

    Honestly save your money till you can afford a late model boat 20' range with a 4 stroke outboard. That "project" is likely to have the effect of causing you to HATE boats and boating. Just about garanteed.
  2. Lou C

    1979 Mercruiser 5.7L 260 Overheating at 220?

    Sounds like you still might have bad manifolds, you can take them off and test for water leaks, but in any case I would not risk ruining an engine with a rusted and welded manifold! That might be why the engine locked up, hydrolock because there could be a crack internally where you can't see it.
  3. Lou C

    1994 OMC Cobra 5.8 only 75% power

    Consider checking the fuel tank vent and the anti siphon valve on the gas tank.
  4. Lou C

    Should I get this FREE project boat?

    No
  5. Lou C

    1988 4.3 OMC Cobra guidance

    This is what you can convert to after the engine is repaired. Costs approx $720 for the Barr exhaust and for the Volvo stuff, another $500 or so, the parts are not cheap. But then its one and done, no leaks, bad fitment etc. Either that or take your chances with cheaper aftermarket. First 3 pix...
  6. Lou C

    1988 4.3 OMC Cobra guidance

    The only way to narrow it down the cause is to do a leakdown test; this will tell you if it’s valves not seating vs a blown HG between #1 & 3 cyls. I had the batwings on my engine till 2017, I had 3 sets, the original, replaced in 2004, then again in 2011. I’m in salt water and have to change...
  7. Lou C

    Possible boat purchase!

    The Volvo SX is a development of the OMC Cobra where during the joint venture between OMC and Volvo the Cobra drive was re-designed from dog clutch shifting to cone clutch shifting and identical models were sold from '94 to '98 under both brand names, after '98 Volvo bought out the rest of OMC's...
  8. Lou C

    Impeller challenged...?

    That way of installing the impeller is not really necessary, because you can use a sticky marine grease like Evinrude triple guard to hold the o ring in the impeller housing slot and it will not move out of place when you have to twist the housing to get the impeller on. I like to lube up the...
  9. Lou C

    1986 Mercruiser V-8 5.7L - overheating issue??

    Those holes are blind on GM cast iron intakes. What I’d do is put the boat in the water and bring a 5 gallon bucket. Look up Mercs test for the volume of water that impeller should pump in a set amount of time. That will tell you if the impeller is supplying enough water. However for a complete...
  10. Lou C

    Won't shift into gears. somethings seems stuck.

    Yes that is correct. What happens is that the notches or 'dogs' in the fwd and rev gears are cut in such a way that they stay engaged under power, since those small gears have to transfer all the power of the engine to the prop. So when you want it to disengage, its going to resist that and...
  11. Lou C

    Won't shift into gears. somethings seems stuck.

    No it does not shift gears like a car just Fwd Neutral and Reverse
  12. Lou C

    Won't shift into gears. somethings seems stuck.

    That will cause starting problems but not usually running problems. I’d go thru everything on this boat esp bellows, cable, ESA function and battery cables. Stock boat battery cables are usually crap. Remember the ESA lowers engine idle when shifting from in gear (Fwd & rev) to neutral, not...
  13. Lou C

    Won't shift into gears. somethings seems stuck.

    The bubbles like that are not normal, your exhaust bellows (lower bellows) is installed upside down, the slits should face down. The way it is, its exhausting hot water right against the shift cable and the upper (driveshaft) bellows. There is a normal clunk when shifting into gear, common to...
  14. Lou C

    2000 3.0 L engine temp fluctuating

    Test the stat, does it open at the right temp? If not just replace it.
  15. Lou C

    Thru hull exhaust

    Metal pipes can be made up by a muffler shop but you have to use proper marine High Temp hose to make the connections.
  16. Lou C

    Thru hull exhaust

    It looks like the boat did come with a small block judging by how the outlets in the transom are set up. I think you’d need to get the pipes made custom to mate up with the thru hull exhaust.
  17. Lou C

    4.3 GXi-J with DPS-A howling sound

    My 4.3 4bbl Cobra sounds similar but the Cobra drive itself is very quiet. However with the extra strength of square cut gears I wouldn’t mind a little noise
  18. Lou C

    Need second battery pointers

    On small boats the “house” and engine loads are not wired separate so the easiest thing to do is to use the simple 1,2, 1+2 and off switch. Just alternate use of each battery and never leave it on “both” since one bad battery can kill the good one. The only time you would use both is if both...
  19. Lou C

    4.3 GXi-J with DPS-A howling sound

    I looked at some pictures of the gears used in the SXA series and they are indeed square cut gears not like the more typical gears used in the SX series. Like a heavy duty racing transmission they may be inherently noisier. As long as there are no unusual wear particles I don’t think I’d be...
  20. Lou C

    4.3 GXi-J with DPS-A howling sound

    Bluish sounds like they may have used the Mercury High Performance gear lube which may not be the best choice for the Volvo although I don’t know what color the OE Volvo gear oil is. I have heard reports on some forums that the later model Volvos used straight cut gears which naturally make...
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