Exhaust Replacement Questions!

[jumpjets]

I have read here on iboats that the Merc exhaust system should be periodically replaced. I pulled apart my exhaust system to inspect it, and I am not sure if I need to replace it or not. I have an open cooling system, and I primarily boat in the ocean, or very brackish rivers within 20 miles of the ocean.



This is the port side riser inlet. Considering I've been boating in salt water for the last 3 years, I though it would look worse. How is this comparable to others that you experts have seen? Does it need to be replaced? Should I just take it to a machine shop and have them soak and clean it? Should I just reinstall it as is after I clean it up at home? The other riser looks exactly the same.

More pics coming in follow-on posts....

 

[jumpjets]

Re: Exhaust Replacement Questions!



This is the shutter I pulled out. The other one looked the same. The edges are cracked and missing. They made a lot of noise at idle and low speed.
Mallory Water Shutter, Exhaust 9-42802 - iboats
Is this an OK replacement? There are several to choose from on iboats, and they all look different!



These are the riser gaskets. They look like they block two of the water passages between the manifolds and risers. Is that normal?
Exhaust Manifold Gasket Set for Mercruiser, GLM 39880 - Sierra 18-4349 - iboats
Is this a correct iboats replacement part?



The exhaust manifold itself has very little surface rust. The exhaust passages looked great. I'm surprised how large they are.



The water passages of the manifolds had less corrosion and blockage than the risers. Can these be reused, or do they need to be replaced?

One more thing: I have a shop in town that does chrome plating very inexpensively, and the end product is good quality. Would chrome plating work on these exhaust manifolds and risers, or would it flake off with the heat applied to it? Would it look cheezy to have chrome logs instead of headers? It's an older boat, but the engine bay already has a chrome K&N flame arrestor, chrome coil, and chrome valve covers. It might add some extra hot-rod appeal.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Exhaust Replacement Questions!

Ayuh,.... Ya gotta clean up the gasket surfaces to see how bad they are,...

Takin' the rubber boot off the riser will give ya a Look at the outlet ports,...

'n the shutters gotta match what's takin' out,... Can't tell if yer's match the link or not,...

At this point, with what's See-able, I'm guessin' ya need new risers, the manifolds might be good for another round,...
or Not,...