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  1. Rick Stephens

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

    Drop to a 140ƒ thermostat. Check in the bell housing that the water inlet hose isn't kinked.
  2. Rick Stephens

    Rinker 192 captiva. Merc 5.0 EFI

    Take the time to use a test light and find out if you have power to the pump. Then you can chase whether it is fused or circuit breaker protected. Probably the latter.
  3. Rick Stephens

    Does this sound right? Mercruiser 4.3 Low Compression

    He may be so busy that the fast and expensive solution is what comes to the top - no downside to him. While you may chose to take it elsewhere, there is plenty of spendy business to take your place. There are always ways to be more frugal, but it takes desire to make that one of your priorities...
  4. Rick Stephens

    Rinker 192 captiva. Merc 5.0 EFI

    Sure.
  5. Rick Stephens

    4.3lx intake manifold question

    Zactly Hard to get more torque without adding more cubic inches
  6. Rick Stephens

    4.3 V6 leaks wet oil sump

    Bertram not known for crawl space :D
  7. Rick Stephens

    coversion to electric fuel pump on 1992 7.4 l

    Well, I have a pic of my motor, and I have achris's fancied up wiring diagram. I put those here. Note, I use a 2 pole oil pressure switch since all it has to do is energize a relay. 5-6 pounds is all you need in fuel pressure. I used the Airtex E1103 fuel pump because I could plumb and mount...
  8. Rick Stephens

    Does this sound right? Mercruiser 4.3 Low Compression

    A shop with a mechanic wanting to be frugal for his customers would do a leak down test and in less than an hour tell you pretty precisely what was wrong without tearing things apart. Still end up having to pull the head if it's valves, but at least you don't start in on it and find the whole...
  9. Rick Stephens

    4.3 V6 leaks wet oil sump

    Never underestimate that piece of crap timing cover's ability to leak. One of Chevrolet's outstanding screwups - right along with the crappy oil cooler hoses on big block pickup motors and alison trannies..
  10. Rick Stephens

    Air Fuel Ratio Carb Tuning

    Always wanted to do that, never did though. Hope you get a target answer. Might have to ask a marine engine builder.... or someone like Mike's Carburetor?
  11. Rick Stephens

    5.7 vortec manifold gasket

    You want the marine gasket. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/FEL-17320
  12. Rick Stephens

    Mercrusier 350 MAG MPI - RPM issue under a load

    Curiosity impels me to ask - what difference can that make? In 15º of rotation the two props will be aligned with each other. Had to ask.
  13. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser 4.3 LX Gen+, Hydrolock, no water in oil.

    Water will pass by the rings into the oil
  14. Rick Stephens

    04 Mercruiser 5.0 bogging down @2500rm

    I'd just start with a carb kit - get a quality one, not a chinesium one. Pay attention to every passageway and check, double and triple check float height.
  15. Rick Stephens

    Oil Pressure Switch for Fuel Pump - Strange Happenings

    Damn, one of my pet peeves. I get trailers into the welding shop that from the factory came with those connecting all the wires to the brakes. A few years down the road they all are corroded and no brakes. Seems all the manufacturers use em. Almost like they can't hire anyone bright enough to...
  16. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser 4.3 LX Gen+, Hydrolock, no water in oil.

    Just thinking here, have you ever heard of a blown head gasket hydro-locking a running motor? Seems unlikely. And the first symptom of that major of a gasket leak would be overheating.... This should be easy to find with a pressure test of the cooling system.
  17. Rick Stephens

    Maintenance intervals

    IMHO, 300 hours is a nonsensical number. Only by using average boat hours of use per year, which is well under 50 hrs/year if I remember right, can you use a fixed hour for maintenance on stuff like bellows and lower shift cable. That puts replacement in the 7-10 year range. Even then it is a...
  18. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser 4.3 LX Gen+, Hydrolock, no water in oil.

    Note that if you get water in the cylinders it is damn unlikely that none gets into the oil. If you are judging if water is not present by virtue of the dipstick, it won't show on a dipstick until enough oil is emulsified with the water to turn it to cream. I have the same motor setup as you...
  19. Rick Stephens

    Oil Pressure Switch for Fuel Pump - Strange Happenings

    Not all that many boaters sink their boat in salt water either 😕😕
  20. Rick Stephens

    Oil Pressure Switch for Fuel Pump - Strange Happenings

    Strictly to give an example, as I am not a big fan of Amazon, here is a relay that you can walk into your local Napa store and pickup. Wiring is not difficult, although neatness is important and having the right connectors for the wires is crucial. Corrosion on connectors, loose connectors, mis...
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