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  1. Rick Stephens

    Can the base of engine work? Two to bolts under engine are rusted and can

    First thing is to determine the extent of the rot. Drill test holes in lower transom and stringers as well as the front mount crossmember. If the wood comes out clean, fill the hole with 3M 5200. If the wood comes out mushy, you keep on drilling further and looking at the shavings. Oak is...
  2. Rick Stephens

    165 L6 Bushings need replacement?

    The L6's out for rebuilds? If not, might do a compression test to determine baseline wear.
  3. Rick Stephens

    4 to a 2 barrel carb

    I did it one time without thinking, way back when. You don't forget after being reminded.
  4. Rick Stephens

    Can the base of engine work? Two to bolts under engine are rusted and can

    the front engine crossmember rotting would most often be after stringers and transom got wet and rotted.
  5. Rick Stephens

    Boat swamped, let's see if we can get it running...

    Here's the text on the controlling idle system for low throttle opening positions: Idle circuit is a combination of air ports and passageways and fuel ports and passageways. The system metering properly is highly dependent on float level as well as clean passageways. Is finicky that way.
  6. Rick Stephens

    Boat swamped, let's see if we can get it running...

    At least the 1409 is relatively simple progression to tune. My guess though is still something partially plugged up since you already had it running good before the burial at sea. Idle circuit on the 1409 is mostly ineffective once you open the throttle. Immediately springs and rods are the main...
  7. Rick Stephens

    Alpha 2 not coming out of gear after new interrupt switch.

    Right on. I love a happy ending.
  8. Rick Stephens

    Trim sender/gauge

    Short answer, no. All that sender is is a variable resistor. It has a low and a high resistance. The combination of manufactured variables from the sender and even more, the gauge, makes it an inexpensive guess on location. You will have to pick either the low end being reasonably accurate...
  9. Rick Stephens

    Blowby through vent tube? Mercruiser 3.7

    I cannot imagine! Did the machine shop have any thoughts?
  10. Rick Stephens

    2003 5.0 Vortec i/o Tstat housing sensor connection

    Swap it for a ring terminal and a nut. I'd also, while I was at it, pull the water temp sender and wire brush it to get it and the hole is screws into shiny bright and reinstall.
  11. Rick Stephens

    4 to a 2 barrel carb

    You jet for airflow, not for engine size or model. Edit: now that I posted that, rethinking things that would require rejetting. Compression, airflow improvements like from Vortec heads, torque range from stroke.... Guess I should keep my mouth shut. R.
  12. Rick Stephens

    Slight hesitation off idle 5.7

    Do it the right way. Be thorough, follow the Marcruiser manual - it actually is really good. Get a kit and go through everything. The tiniest little thing can cause hesitations or burnt valves. Pay attention to every passageway. Run a piece of heavy fishing line through them. Make sure the float...
  13. Rick Stephens

    Slight hesitation off idle 5.7

    Like to hear in detail what all was done to rebuild the carburetor. Step by step - how clean were all the little passageways? Did you do a full disassembly and rebuild? Did you use a OEM carb kit or a cheapie chinesium one? How do the check balls look? Is there deposits built up in the bottom of...
  14. Rick Stephens

    Can the base of engine work? Two to bolts under engine are rusted and can

    Like this:
  15. Rick Stephens

    Alpha 2 not coming out of gear after new interrupt switch.

    Did you set the clearance to specification according to the manual? If you press the switch, does the motor die? Did you check all linkage adjustments? That would be my next step.
  16. Rick Stephens

    Alpha 1 Gen 2 connector

    Other than the loose nuts behind the wheels, that's the weakest part of Mercruisers.
  17. Rick Stephens

    Bearing preload

    Cannot be done with a standard torque wrench. I picked up one of these from Precision. Price was quite a bit lower back when.
  18. Rick Stephens

    Alpha one lower shift cable

    A better look:
  19. Rick Stephens

    Alpha one lower shift cable

    The threads are different sizes from the pictures.
  20. Rick Stephens

    Blowby through vent tube? Mercruiser 3.7

    I wish you would stop with the irrelevant stuff.
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