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  1. Lou C

    Rebuilding or replacing Mercruiser 4.3 in 1996 caravelle 1950SE

    Here's a pic of that extra drain. The Pre-Vortec engines don't have this. If I remember correctly the one piece exhaust manifolds were used from the start of the Vortec engines in '96 till '99 or so. So if its a freshwater boat it may still have them. The article I read said that Merc did this...
  2. Lou C

    Bravo 3 water pickup hose and engine run

    Yes you can just make sure to use clamps so it doesn’t pop out and starve the impeller for water. Looks like that bellows was leaking for a long time. You’re doing the gimble bearing or is a shop going to do it for you?
  3. Lou C

    Rebuilding or replacing Mercruiser 4.3 in 1996 caravelle 1950SE

    Just echoing what Scott said, while you'll find a lot of on line sellers of both remanufactured and new 4.3s, a local shop who can build you one might be easier to deal with, especially if they are familiar with marine builds. The 4.3, 5.0 and 5.7 are good, simple durable engines, built properly...
  4. Lou C

    2004 Grand Cherokee stalling/shutting down

    On the 4.0 six that is in a tough spot, right up on top of the bell housing. You're far better off with the Mopar sensor. On the older models like ours it can be reached with a combination of extensions and u joints. Glad that fixed it cheaper than the ECM which was about $600 if I recall.
  5. Lou C

    Oil change could be easier...

    Have you seen a schematic for even just raw water cooling on a late model Mercruiser? Its a rats nest of hoses going everywhere, fiendishly complex for what benefit? Compare this to older Mercs, or even an OMC Cobra or Volvo SX. They seem to get by just fine with 4 hoses up front, a raw water...
  6. Lou C

    Understanding how engine died - water on inlet and exhaust sides

    Your story is a little confusing. You say first that you had a vacuum leak, not a water leak, then replaced the intake gaskets then got water in the oil due to over torquing the intake bolts (Vortec is like 10 ft lbs, Pre Vortec is 30 ft lbs if I remember correctly). Then you say you are...
  7. Lou C

    1995 OMC 5.0L Electrical mishap

    Good for you glad there was no damage! Now get some duct tape and a sharpie and mark your + battery terminal!
  8. Lou C

    Oil change could be easier...

    Or that silly plastic door/flap you have to unscrew from the belly pan each time you do an oil change...yes the filter location is great on those we have a ‘17 Forester in addition to the 3 Jeeps...
  9. Lou C

    Volvo Penta 5L GXI Overheating

    If it overheated bad you may have blown the head gasket, or your exhaust manifold/elbow gaskets could have leaked water into the cyls. Sounds like you have some work ahead of you. Take off the thermostat housing and clean it out, look for impeller parts jammed in there, as well as in the hoses...
  10. Lou C

    Oil change could be easier...

    Agreed on making the designers do all the maintenance before releasing a design for sale! A few design changes could make a world of difference: Remote oil filters with the filter mounted the “right” way to avoid all that mess... Dipstick tube with the top high enough to get to it for pump hook...
  11. Lou C

    Removing impeller

    nice job you made your own tool! necessity is the mother of invention...
  12. Lou C

    1995 OMC 5.0L Electrical mishap

    Probably won't know for sure until you run it in the spring. I hope you didn't blow the module in the electronic distributor because those I don't think are still available (Prestolite BID system, same thing used on V/Ps of the same era). I guess you could replace that with a Petronix or the...
  13. Lou C

    Removing impeller

    the issue is that some designers make it easier on mechanics/owners some do not. Since Volvo has been using these types of pumps for many years you'd think they'd figure out a way to make it easier. The difficulty in servicing I/Os and the availability of modern outboards that are not difficult...
  14. Lou C

    Removing impeller

    Why do they have to make a simple job like this, so difficult? On my old Cobra its a 15 min job! Impeller kit is $40! for OEM parts... On these the impeller housing is at the tail end of the upper gear housing, 3 bolts you remove a plastic cover, 3 more bolts and its off.
  15. Lou C

    Impeller

    Are you using OEM parts or aftermarket? Because using OEM they last at least 3 seasons in my use...
  16. Lou C

    Removing impeller

    I seem to recall that someone makes a puller to remove impellers. That said I’ve never removed mine for winter storage and just replace every 3 years or so.
  17. Lou C

    Overhauling my 1988 MerCruiser 4.3 ltr. engine

    or what's left of it!
  18. Lou C

    Volvo Penta Stiff Steering

    Glad you got it. I’m surprised other people have not reported back on this. I still have the original cable and helm unit in my 32 year old boat. I think what helps is lubing the power steering piston rod with Evinrude triple guard grease every season. This probably takes strain off the cable...
  19. Lou C

    Starboard engine drain/4.3L

    Almost seems like the did that to keep the water from draining right on to the starter.
  20. Lou C

    Starboard engine drain/4.3L

    just as an aside, I have seen those 90* drain fittings on older Merc 4.3s as well again probably when they used the bigger starter. I'm guessing the shorter block casting of the 4.3 put the drain right next to the starter vs on the V8 there was more clearance to not need the 90* fitting. Here's...
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