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  1. Lou C

    What kind of damage from an I/O in salt water for 2-3 years?

    No I’m saying that the boat needs to be pulled out of the water and thoroughly inspected by someone who knows what to look for. It could be salvageable or a complete refit needed which may exceed the value of the boat or anything in between. Was the boat bottom painted before being put in the...
  2. Lou C

    What kind of damage from an I/O in salt water for 2-3 years?

    replacing an outdrive runs into thousands and a transom mount costs about the same plus the engine must be pulled! Boats can live for a long time in salt water but they require yearly maintenance….Ive done it….for 23 years!
  3. Lou C

    Brake woes

    Sometimes with a bad wheel bearing you don't feel the play till you remove the caliper, wire it up so it doesn't hang by the hose, put wheel/tire back on and then check for play with the caliper off. Had this with our '98 Subaru, they were famous for losing wheel bearings. I was shocked at how...
  4. Lou C

    Volvo Penta 5.0 GL PWTR - severe overheat - thought I was on fire - troubleshooting Questions

    I had something similar happen back in 2013, the cooling hose popped off right at the P/S cooler so the pump in the outdrive filled the bilge with seawater and the engine overheated of course. Seeing water coming in, but not knowing where it was coming in from, just couldn't see anything, I...
  5. Lou C

    Rebuild my choke to Electric. What with the "holes"

    That 1970 Ford had a choke that took forever to warm up, fixing it was how I learned about that system. No electric choke conversions were out there in 1977 or so when I had this car. What I found after thinking it thru & trying a new thermostatic choke spring to no avail….that choke housing has...
  6. Lou C

    Rebuild my choke to Electric. What with the "holes"

    LOL sometimes obsolete knowledge is useful to someone.
  7. Lou C

    Rebuild my choke to Electric. What with the "holes"

    Here's a pic of what I'm talking about, the tube with the insulation carried hot air up to the choke housing, the one with the rubber tube brought down fresh air from the air cleaner...
  8. Lou C

    Rebuild my choke to Electric. What with the "holes"

    OK if I had to guess, I think what was there, was a fresh air intake tube, that fits into the hole feeding the metal tube that's threaded into the exhaust manifold. The way it would work, is like this: the tube that connects to the choke housing is under vacuum from a passage in the choke...
  9. Lou C

    Cold Starting RPM: What is normal?

    I set my 4.3 4bbl to idle at 600 in gear in the water. At that rpm it goes in and out of gear very easy. 2 fingers on the throttle control….
  10. Lou C

    Manifold Change

    Same I have those too! Forgot to mention I use 2 headless bolts to hold the manifold in place with the gasket
  11. Lou C

    Manifold Change

    You might try warming up the engine, then drain the manifolds and then use an impact to break the bolts loose. The ones you’re most concerned with are those holding the manifolds to the cyl head, if the bolts for the spacers/elbows won’t come out or break you can remove the manifold & elbow as a...
  12. Lou C

    Cold Starting RPM: What is normal?

    Agreed you alway want to recheck idle speed hot and in the water due to the effect of back pressure of the underwater exhaust. For a drive with dog clutch shifting you want the idle to be about 600-650 max. Too high and even with a functioning shift assist it may not lower idle enough for the...
  13. Lou C

    Simple winterization process / draining 4.3gl

    It will look milky and the level will be higher than normal, also if you remove the oil cap, inside the valve cover there will be an emulsion that looks like mayonnaise. Here's mine after blown head gaskets. This led to a top engine overhaul in 2017.
  14. Lou C

    Bellows adhesive or not?

    I look at a driveshaft bellows like I look at tires, if I see small cracks starting to form it is time to replace, that is a sign that the rubber is becoming less flexible. Tilt the drive all the way up and look in between the folds, if you compare an old bellows with a new one you can see and...
  15. Lou C

    Bellows adhesive or not?

    When I do the Cobra bellows I've followed the OMC shop manual and used their gasket sealer on that flange, what I have found is just like with threaded fasteners, it keeps out moisture and the last time I changed the bellows (old one was in use in salt water for 11 years) the flange looked...
  16. Lou C

    What brand starter should I get?

    Ah yeah, I'm betting there isn't a backyard boat mechanic in the land who actually wants an old school heavy Delco direct drive starter after installing one of the lightweight PMGR starters. The are a pleasure for your forearms, hands and fingers lol.
  17. Lou C

    What brand starter should I get?

    ARCO is good too. I have used their starters and alternators
  18. Lou C

    No water coming out of the exhaust on muffs

    Definitely running rich lucky you caught the crack!
  19. Lou C

    Simple winterization process / draining 4.3gl

    I mix my own....cheaper than -100 (-55 freeze protection) 50/50 mix gives you freeze protection down to -26, but can increase it to suit your climate. Does it help reduce corrosion? 1988 block and intake are original, used in salt water close to 25 years now, 6 month season, moored in the salt...
  20. Lou C

    Simple winterization process / draining 4.3gl

    Look at lower section of exhaust manifolds and engine block for cracks & rust stains and for water in the engine oil. Since I fill mine with PG AF I always verify freeze protection with a refractometer.
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