if there is no water in the combustion chambers or inside the exhaust ports and only in the crank case. its either like AD suggested - a bad gasket (intake gasket is first suspect), lack of sealant on head bolts, or the block has a crack in it
to pressure test:
with water out of the block...
was the block water jacket pressure tested or the block magnafluxed?
is this a 1996 and later motor? do you have the correct gasket on the intake?
are you using Mercruiser gaskets, or Sierra "green leaker" gaskets between the manifold and risers
Power steering is a separate system, so you...
some light reading on the 4.3. https://forums.iboats.com/threads/complete-history-of-the-4-3-liter-with-casting-numbers.693935/
to make things easiest and cheapest. find a running motor of the same vintage from a u-pull-it salvage yard out of a truck and use the short block and heads.
Just need this guy and his Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space modulator. (linked from the url below)
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/looneytunes/images/0/00/Hare_Way_To_The_Stars.png
those compression numbers are low, hopefully its your gauge
does your motor still use the original stator under the harmonic balancer for charging, or was it converted to an alternator? could be a magnet coming loose or the dust cover, or the exhaust flappers have burned up from lack of...
That doesn't put water out the exhaust.
If you are loosing water on the glycol side of the heat exchanger you have other issues
Did you tape the muffs in place. If not, the water isnt under pressure in the drive.
Did you verify the raw water inlet fitting is intact?
To expand above. Without a pump in the drive, once disconnected, the line from the drive pickup can not flow any water.....
Additionally, the fitting on top the H-frame pivot tube needs to be replaced every few years. When (not if) this casting goes bad, the raw water pump will loose prime...
typing on the phone with a cocktail in my hand would be the guess. I meant kit.
Monitor used to make HX's for Mercruiser before Champ (then Alpha Laval, and now whom ever is the parent company of Champ). Size should be ok for a half system.
how is it plumbed? until we have the pic uploads...
with wind or against wind
with current or against current
smooth water, or 1-2 foot chop
at idle speed, or wot
all of these things affect the fuel burn rate.
regarding your trip. bring along a bit of extra fuel
those cracks look like freeze damage. most likely the foam and wood under the fiberglass is saturated with water. hence the reason it never dries.
do a few test drills and core samples
your 470 has points ignition.
you will have to service the points, set dwell with a dwell meter, then set timing.
regarding the carb, my guess it needs to be gone thru.
Mandatory restoration reading in the stickies.
https://forums.iboats.com/threads/how-tos-and-other-great-information.283508/
read links 14, 15, 18, 13, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b (preferably in that order). look at tall the pics, watch all the how-to videos.
