1987 Mercruiser 3.0 Alpha One... Getting HOT

[Dante04SRT]

I just bought a 1987 ThunderCraft Regency w/ a Mercruiser 3.0 Alpha One setup and have a couple questions...

First and foremost, my wife and I took it out for a test run today and while it started and ran, it was getting very hot, very quick. My first thought was cracked block/head but the boat has always been a SE US boat, never really seen freezing temps... We took the hose that connects the water pump to the thermostat housing and noticed there was really no water to speak of inside. Should there be? I assumed it was just like a car, where water would come pouring out. My next thought was bad water pump or bad impeller... Sound about right? The water pump was running fine, no bearing noises, no water coming off it anywhere visible.

The other problem was the idle. I know the boat needs a tuneup, but I am going to attempt to do some of it myself. Is there an idle screw on the carb anywhere?

Last, the TILT/TRIM rams are either shot, or the fluid inside is bad. TILT/TRIM works, but VERY slowly and doesn't instill confidence. Is this something I can replace myself or is there more to it? The rams feel very spongy and almost like worn out shocks do on a car.

Ok, last one I swear... Where can I get parts for this setup? I would prefer to get them quickly, but I have never had to shop for this type of thing. Will people/companies understand what I have or is there some other identifier that I will need to include when ordering parts?

ANY HELP would be greatly appreciated, as I am very excited to get this baby out on the water and have some fun!

PICS, if anyone is interested:

http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa211/dante04srt/boat/

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 1987 Mercruiser 3.0 Alpha One... Getting HOT

Ok -- lets do first things first. You posted your question in an OUTBOARD forum. You have an I/O so you are advised to post your issues over there for faster and more accurate response. However, a HOT engine needs to be fixed before you think about running it again. In fact, the engine may indeed have a cracked block or head, or blown head gasket because it had been previously run hot. There are two water pumps on your drive system. The raw water pump is located in the outdrive and is a rubber vane type of pump that gets water up to the engine. The engine mounted pump circulates the water through the engine. The impeller should be replaced anytime one buys a boat and is uncertain about its maintenance history. Thermostat replacement, oil change and full tune-up are also highly recommended. Parts are available at your Mercury dealer and you will need the engine serial/model number as well as the outdrive model. NAPA auto stores can order aftermarket parts for you as well. Things like spark plugs, oil, filters, etc are available at most auto stores. You should also order a service manual if you intend to work on things yourself. I guarantee that you quickly find it is the best money you've spent recently. Especially if you have already screwed something up. Yes - there is an idle screw on the carb linkage. But don't fiddle with things. Understand what you are doing and why you feel you have to do it. Turning an adjustment is generally not a "fix", it simply masks the problem.