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  1. tango13

    Upgrading, or downgrading?

    Best advice is to wait for the right one to come into reach instead of getting into something that your not 100% on. Where was that chap located?
  2. tango13

    Upgrading, or downgrading?

    I’ve always been told to always go more power than less if you can. Those Chap 226’s are great family boats, in-laws used to have one. Bonus if it has a V8, theirs had the 350 Mag and it it could pull a water skier/wakeboarder while fully loaded.
  3. tango13

    Draining manifolds, 1995 7.4

    Forgot to mention, it’s a fresh water, raw water cooled engine
  4. tango13

    Draining manifolds, 1995 7.4

    Hi all, I started winterizing the 7.4 in my ‘95 Cougar and I noticed there was almost no water that drained out of my exhaust manifolds. This boat/engine is new to me, and I’m used to draining tons of water out of my old pre-alpha 5.7 (log manifolds). I’ve stuck wires and screwdrivers up the...
  5. tango13

    7.4/Bravo - no hot start

    Hi all, Earlier this summer, my 95' Cougar was starting to refuse starting when warm. Its got a carbed 454/Bravo 1 drive. The block and bottom end are almost new, 25'ish hows (0.30 over with an upgraded cam, built and installed by reliable people). Anyways, it would fire right up every morning...
  6. tango13

    Accidentally grounded 12v power under dash

    Had a friend come over with a multimeter and we did some poking around, full 12v to the coil and wasn't able to find anything else melted. Will replace the melted wire and keep on trucking, with a fire extinguisher on hand :)
  7. tango13

    Accidentally grounded 12v power under dash

    Made an absolute bonehead move - a few weeks ago I pulled the tachometer to measure it, and for whatever reason, I threw all the wiring back in all the wrong spots. A couple nights ago, I turned on my batteries and went to hit my hood ram switch (located beside the tach), and it didnt work! So I...
  8. tango13

    1995 7.4 Thunderbolt starting

    Thanks for clarifying. And that actually makes a lot of sense - when I looked at the boat before buying, the previous owner couldn’t get it started and we figured it was flooded. He had ran it earlier that day on the muffs. I wonder if the carb is infact leaking…
  9. tango13

    1998 5.7 srartup

    My old carbed 5.7 would smoke like this for several minutes until the choke opened while warming up…. otherwise I never had issues.
  10. tango13

    1995 7.4 Thunderbolt starting

    Thanks, I did update my boat and included that its a carbed engine with a mechanical fuel pump system.
  11. tango13

    1995 7.4 Thunderbolt starting

    Hi all, I recently just changed boats and am getting accustomed to the 7.4/Bravo 1 with the Thunderbolt ignition system. The engine has 23 hours on it, as the shortblock was replaced a couple years ago by a very reputable marine shop (new engine is a 7.4 bored 0.030 over, with a non-stock cam...
  12. tango13

    Block draining idea for older Mercruiser v8

    Hi All, Like most boats, mine is a major PITA to winterize. I have to remove my whole rear bench interior, just so I can crawl in to drain the block plugs on the old 350. I would really like to set it up so I can simple reach into the engine compartment to winterize (also planning to relocate...
  13. tango13

    Grease zerk pulled out from top of MC outdrive, swivel shaft

    Went to grease my outdrive a few nights ago with a new grease gun and ended up ripping the whole swivel shaft zerk out from the top of the outdrive. The threads didn't look completely destroyed, so I took another zerk and slowly threaded it back and forth, further and further into the problem...
  14. tango13

    Mercruiser 1.32 ratio behind a 250 hp SBC?

    Hi all, I was installing new decals on my mercruiser outdrive this spring and noticed a few things that are not adding up: My outdrive has 1.32 stamped as the ratio, has a "250" hp decal, as serial number reads 4734559 (the 3 might be an 8, not 100% sure). From what I was reading up online...
  15. tango13

    '78 Mercruiser 250hp idle speed shake

    Hi all, Late season last year and this summer iv been noticing a shake when I put my merc into gear. My carb is set to idle at 750 (warm), and once in gear, it shakes untill about 900rpm, then no problem. Im running a stainless prop, which was balanced and repaired a few years back. Iv had...
  16. tango13

    Aluminum intake on a '77 Mercruiser 350

    I have an older 70's ski boat (1978 18ft American Eagle) with a merc 350/250hp w/original outdrive. Looks like the intake manifold gaskets are ready to be changed, and I am wondering if there is anything to gain by picking up an aluminum intake swap out with the stock cast iron intake. On a...
  17. tango13

    Best oil extractor

    Hey everyone. Spring is around the corner and its time to start thinking about a little boat maintenance.. I bought my first boat a year ago, and I am in need of an oil extractor for the motor. Its a 78' merc/chev 350. Dipstick is on the starboard and has threads for an extractor. So whats the...
  18. tango13

    Confirming Ignition upgrade

    After a ton of research, I want to confirm my plan for my ignition upgrade before getting started. On my 1977 Mercruiser "250hp" 350, Ill be doing plugs, cap, rotor, wires, Pertronix ignitor, and coil. Since the coil is externally resisted, I'm going with a new coil with a lower primary...
  19. tango13

    trying to figure out pertronx ignition upgrade

    coil ohm question Hey everyone, Bought my '78 American almost a year ago and i'm just about ready to order parts for complete tune up (motor runs okay but everything appears to be original factory equipment and 25+ years is a little overdue IMHO).. I'm going with a pertronix system as far as...
  20. tango13

    Drive shower for pre-alpha

    Has anyone every had a pre-alpha equipped with drive shower? I know these things raise a bit of a debate but I'm interested in having on installed on my outdrive (77' merc 350/250hp). I have looked at a few manufacturers but they are all for the alpha and bravo drives
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