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  1. Rick Stephens

    Octane requirment for a 1993 4.3LX

    Is only a problem whenever water is present. Water and ethanol are solvents to each other. When they come into contact they mix, period, whether sitting or freshly filled. Once mixed the gunk created falls out of suspension (phase separation) and the octane level of the gas drops a bunch...
  2. Rick Stephens

    Octane requirment for a 1993 4.3LX

    87 will run fine. I have always run 92 octane in Idaho because it is ethanol free. I expect I would notice no difference on 87 octane except the added maintenance for ethanol's hydroscopic tendencies..
  3. Rick Stephens

    Link to Service Manual for 3.0 MPI

    Can order paper version here. http://outdriveshop.com/mercruisermanuals.html
  4. Rick Stephens

    Thru hull exhaust

    New holes and custom stainless caps for the old holes wouldn't be awful if fiberglassing and finish work isn't in the budget.
  5. Rick Stephens

    Alpha 1 seal help

    Absolutely.
  6. Rick Stephens

    Alpha 1 seal help

  7. Rick Stephens

    Backfire

    Usually timing causes backfire, or an out of time cam, but I can see a flooded intake manifold having the potential. 4.3L intakes don't have much torque applied to the bolts. More I hear about rebuilt carbs less I'm comfortable being around em.
  8. Rick Stephens

    Engine alignment issue

    What causes the front mount to be too short? My best guess is a rotten transom that allows the transom plate to shift downwards.
  9. Rick Stephens

    interrupt switch disconnected

    Buying a new to you boat..... first thing is do all the maintenance that you must assume the previous owner neglected. A few highlights are the water dripping out of the lower shift cable - that is most likely the water passageway o-ring between outdrive and bellhousing. Water from the water...
  10. Rick Stephens

    Poor ideling Mercrusier 3.0 TKS

    Sounds like you're running rich when you have to sit for 20 minutes to get restarted. I've never worked on a TKS, but the obvious issue your having would come from the enrichment solenoid on the carburetor. Mercruiser calls it the enrichment module 3310-866148. First thing is to try and clean...
  11. Rick Stephens

    Bogging at low idle.....carb issue?

    Happy to help, but you should start your own post and not hijack someone else's with your problem.
  12. Rick Stephens

    Bogging at low idle.....carb issue?

    Float height is probably the most important adjustment on a rebuild.... in fact, usually a rebuild is making sure all the passageways are open and then setting float height and double triple checking it. If the float height is not right it can easily prevent gas from getting into the bowl...
  13. Rick Stephens

    Carbed Mercruiser 260 5.7L Missing Above 4000 RPMs

    If you are going to calibrate a carburetor then you need to start at idle and work your way all the way up to WOT, calibrating each stage on the way up. Can't just address one portion since all the lower throttle settings effect the more open settings. And any carburetor purchased that wasn't...
  14. Rick Stephens

    2013 monterey 204 fsx prop not operating

    Amazing what horsepower, RPMs and a little between rock and hard place will do.
  15. Rick Stephens

    Carbed Mercruiser 260 5.7L Missing Above 4000 RPMs

    Anything over 150 is a crap reading. Your gauge is not right.
  16. Rick Stephens

    1992 Mercruiser 4.3 w/ balance shaft and 1 piece rear main seal swap to newer year Vortec.

    Timing cover remains the steel pre-balance shaft.
  17. Rick Stephens

    1992 Mercruiser 4.3 w/ balance shaft and 1 piece rear main seal swap to newer year Vortec.

    That is exactly what my motor is. Just changing heads and intake. I do not remember what the push rod length was.
  18. Rick Stephens

    Burned valve or worse 1997 5.7 LX

    Have to complete your assembly/rebuild before doing a leak down. That should always be done before tear down or not at all. Once you have heads done and reinstalled a compression test is all you need to determine ring quality. Or you can pull pistons and rings and measure end gap. Do not start...
  19. Rick Stephens

    Burned valve or worse 1997 5.7 LX

    Easy to have a 1409 on the lean side and not know it. Go for years if it isn't run hard for long enough, or had a little timing advance. Add in the extra advance, run lower octane fuel, push the throttle a teensy bit more and bang, ya gots a hole in a piston. I'd go through the carb once again...
  20. Rick Stephens

    2006 4.3 Vortec engine (partially) under water for about 2 hours

    You would have to fill the bilge over engine breathers to harm the motor itself. Electrical issues are about all I would worry about with your event.
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