Time to look here
https://forums.iboats.com/threads/how-tos-and-other-great-information.283508/
Read links 14, 15, 17, 18, 2, 3, 4a and 4b
Remove the drive
Remove the motor
Remove the interior
Pull the cap
Start the restoration
They made millions of C10 pickemups. They made a few hundred Larson Cabrio 240s
Vinyl lasts maybe 10 years tops now days since they quit using arsenic in 2004
See your local marine upholstery shop. Upgrade to Sunbrella Horizon vinyl
Regarding your dash. Find a local fab shop to laser you...
If you want to jump to a V8, now is the time
However if you want to go 4.3, I would target a vortec motor
While your motor says vortec in the valve covers, it doesn't have vortec heads.
First, boats are designed with only a 15 year life in mind
You have the right attitude knowing it will need work
96 is a toss up between 1996 vortec motor (8 bolts on the intake) and left over 1995 motors (12 bolts on intake)
I would verify the motor, and swap to a 4-barrel. However if it's...
Compression numbers are run with plugs out and cranking
Fuel pressure is checked with engine off, key on, engine running at idle, and engine running at full out WOT
agreed, start at the battery and work your way to the helm cleaning every connection with 150 grit sand paper, making them shiny enough your mother would eat off them. then seal them with marine electrical varnish.
seriously doubt they will have kept anything
run a compression test yourself, post the numbers here
check fuel pressure yourself while under load and post the numbers here
get a factory manual from here https://www.volvopenta.com/en-us/service-and-support/your-engine/manuals-and-handbooks/
if...
there really isnt a stage 1 or stage 2 anything outside of some idiots in the JDM market and some red necks in the LS market.
thats a game played facetubers, video gamers and wanabee racers
its as stupid as the greasers talking about a 3/4 race cam in the 60's.
its not a real thing its...
Install a quick pin with a cable lanyard in the actuator clevis vs the current clevis pin.
Route the cable to the edge of the hatch and retain with a staple or screw
Then if you loose power OR THE ACTUATOR FAILS. Just pull the cable to pull the pin and lift
If you haven't checked fuel pressure, start there
If you haven't changed the crab cap, do that after checking fuel pressure
You threw thousands of dollars at it and never diagnosed what may be a $10 fix
