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  1. Rick Stephens

    Perfectly for 15 minutes then, surging, knocking, and jumping tac

    Next time it does it open the fuel filler cap and see if it sucks air. Would indicate a plugged tank vent. Other thing to try is put a pressure gauge on the fuel line and see if you are maintaining fuel pressure.
  2. Rick Stephens

    help with iffy gas?

    That you can ignore ethanol is ridiculous. It is chemically different. It poses different challenges, especially when water and time are combined with it. Ethanol has molecular attraction to water - it combines in short time frame with no energy required. And the end result is different...
  3. Rick Stephens

    help with iffy gas?

    Who's bashing ethanol? Talking frigging chemistry. Geez.
  4. Rick Stephens

    1995 5.0L Carb Replacement Options

    As every post has stated, you need a 4 barrel manifold if you switch to a 4 barrel carb. And the manifold should match the carb design, spread bore versus square bore, or it will cost more with an adapter as well. You may be able to find a used manifold on fleabay or from a boat mechanic that...
  5. Rick Stephens

    help with iffy gas?

    That is entirely dependent on whether there is ethanol in the gas. Once you mix water with ethanol no additive is going to correct the chemical breakdown and lowered octanes.
  6. Rick Stephens

    Help understanding vacuum test

    You are going to have electronic ignition. The controller for that determines advance, there are no mechanical weights for advance. The proper way to check is to use a electronic advance timing light, set it to the maximum advance from that motors curve, point the light at the timing mark and...
  7. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser 5.7 ?

    New to you boat means time to go through and do all maintenance items that the previous 'bored with his boat' owner neglected for the last 10 years. In that process you will be pulling the flash arrestor off and seeing what carburetor you have. Don't skip on doing bow to stern inspection and...
  8. Rick Stephens

    Help understanding vacuum test

    I was going to suggest you ignore it. The tiny bit of bounce is next to nothing, and being at 15 may just be gauge inaccuracy or a teeny bit of wear on your valve guides. You would not have high compression if the standard and truly low vacuum causes were present - worn rings, tight valves. Only...
  9. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser 5.7 ?

    2 Bbl Mercarb or 4 Bbl Weber.
  10. Rick Stephens

    Help understanding vacuum test

    A little low. Mine was down there as well. Not too bad though at <700 RPM. Have you done a compression test to find baseline?
  11. Rick Stephens

    Won't go in park or reverse. Stuck in forward position

    Damn brain cells keep on dying. Comes from standing upside down all the time.
  12. Rick Stephens

    Ran amazing then shake no thrust

    I have the same one. Back when I bought this boat, I recall perfectly how stupid I felt when I didn't think it even had a throttle only button. Is not really evident function :^)
  13. Rick Stephens

    1996 mercruiser 4.3LX fuel pump question

    Sounds like a bad connection on the afore mentioned purple wire. .
  14. Rick Stephens

    1996 mercruiser 4.3LX fuel pump question

    The purple wire which goes to ignition and choke also goes to the oil pressure switch from the ignition switch.
  15. Rick Stephens

    Need advice from experienced people.

    What did you do with the head crack?
  16. Rick Stephens

    Ran amazing then shake no thrust

    Probably should post serial number of engine. Have you inspected contents of water separator? What kind of engine maintenance you have done in 7 years of no problems. Carb rebuilds? Fuel water separator replacement? Fuel filters? Cap rotor sensor plugs replacements? Is the motor due for a tune up?
  17. Rick Stephens

    1978 5.7l pre-alpha with alpha gen 1 drive over heating

    The water pocket is the plastic housing in the upper gear case that the copper water pipe inserts into. It is held in with 4 1/4 - 20 bolts. It is also in the direct path of the exhaust gases and if any loss of cooling water will melt, right there.
  18. Rick Stephens

    1978 5.7l pre-alpha with alpha gen 1 drive over heating

    Cool enough you can rest your hand on them, no problem.
  19. Rick Stephens

    1978 5.7l pre-alpha with alpha gen 1 drive over heating

    Gas engines are most efficient at 200-210ƒ. Unfortunately, that is only possible with closed cooling where the coolant is pressurized to 14 pounds or so. An open cooled Mercruiser motor at over 160ƒ will start building up steam bubbles on the walls of the cylinders and heads around the exhaust...
  20. Rick Stephens

    1995 4.3 liter mercruiser

    FYI, boat model is irrelevant. For the most part that model 4.3L motor will be the same in everyone's boat.
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