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  1. Lou C

    Merc 4.5, any reason I can't just dump the block and manually fill with pg antifreeze?

    My brother had one of these (Merc 4.5 200 hp) and what we did was drain it fully and then filled it with -100 marine antifreeze via the vent opening on the left side of the engine, till it ran out the outdrive water intakes. Took a while but no problems doing it that way. On my old OMC, I just...
  2. Lou C

    Mercruiser exhaust question

    I change the oil in my brothers Merc Alpha with the bottle and what I found was you have full it till it comes out the vent, then replace vent screw and keep pumping till the gear oil reaches the lube monitor bottle. Since there could be air pockets you have to recheck it after running it the...
  3. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

    It’s really a safety device. If the fuel line from the tank to the filter/pump ruptures that valve prevents fuel from siphoning out of the tank into the bilge. Particularly important if the top of the tank is higher than the level of the filter/pump. As I mentioned I had the same problem & the...
  4. Lou C

    2002 5,7 Mercruiser exhaust manifold keeps cracking - 5 times this summer

    Most mechanics I know around here like BARR if you aren't using OEM. I have to say this is one of the most mysterious engine problems I have come across. While some might argue, I think BARR is very close to OEM quality. Other than the cyl head on that side being out of level as far as the...
  5. Lou C

    Where is the idle mix adjustment on this carb on a 5.7 350 with Thunderbolt IV?

    Yep be careful because on the port side you may have to thread the tool inboard of the alternator or PS belt depending on the installation. The issue is that they are on the underside of the carb and the big bulky 'stat housing gets in the way.
  6. Lou C

    Major flooding in CT August 18th, marina destroyed

    We had flooding similar to that on Long Island not right where I live but about 5 miles to the east of us. Roads washed out, etc, probably the same storm that caused the damage above.
  7. Lou C

    2002 5,7 Mercruiser exhaust manifold keeps cracking - 5 times this summer

    OK I'm not real familiar with the cooling systems on Merc engines but there seems to be a lot of air in those hoses....is this running on the water hose/muffs?
  8. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

  9. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

    https://repowermarine.com/fuel-filter-for-omc-johnson-replaces-502905.html if you have the original equipment fuel filter mount, I think this is what you need, this fits mine, I usually use the made in USA BRP ones, but the made in Taiwan Sierra ones work too. I checked my spare fuel pump and...
  10. Lou C

    Copper head gasket

    Copper would cause galvanic corrosion between it & the alu block & head!
  11. Lou C

    4.3gl dieseling

    IIRC Mercruiser had put out a service bulletin about dieseling on these engines; with suggestions on how to reduce it. Maybe someone here can find it….
  12. Lou C

    1985 mercruiser 3.0 starter

    The older you get the nicer it is to have a PMGR starter! Like 8 lbs vs about 20 lbs. VERY IMPORTANT Make sure to use the correct length starter bolts, if you use ones that are slightly too long they will bottom out before they clamp down the starter and can break off in the block due to the...
  13. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

    When I get home I’ll measure the barb on my spare fuel pump. As far as the water separating filter if it’s the one that the factory mounted on the block then it’s the OMC/Volvo standard size filters. I have spares of those too in the garage so I can post up the parts #s. I use either BRP or...
  14. Lou C

    1985 mercruiser 3.0 starter

    check out ARCO's on line catalog, I have used both their starters and alternators.
  15. Lou C

    Closed cooling through hull valve placement

    That can be a tough one. I had leaky HGs that were putting some water in a cyl but not enough to hydro lock. No overheating. I rigged up a way to see if there was bubbles in the cooling water using hoses etc and I didn’t see bubbles when it was running but as soon as I switched off the engine it...
  16. Lou C

    I/O (Sterndrive) Conversion to Outboards

    Can't wait to see the plans. I go back n forth between just repowering this boat and letting it go and starting over with an outboard. In my boating area, the best thing is something boat companies don't make too much anymore, a walk around in a smaller size (20-22') might have to buy older with...
  17. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

    As far as the 2 problems one the flaking cast iron I have had that but it hasn’t been chronic just a few episodes and I think it might be because I always filled the engine with good PG antifreeze for winterization (20+ years worth). I can tell it helps because when I start it after winter...
  18. Lou C

    No fuel in carb despite several attempts to crank

    There is an off idle or transition system in most carbs that adds a bit of fuel between idle and cruise; it may be that the carb needs a good cleaning as well as a new accel pump. The Mercarb I think is a slightly modified Rochester 2bbl which is a pretty simple carb to take apart & rebuild.
  19. Lou C

    4.3gl dieseling

    A 4.3 with a clean & well tuned carb can easily idle at 600 rpm abs at that speed should not diesel. I’ve owned this boat with the 4.3 4bbl for over 20 years and it’s never dieseled
  20. Lou C

    Changing a 1989 4.3 liter gmc block to fuel injection

    As far as the reason not to the cost is pretty high vs the benefit which is really only better cold starting running smoother cold idle. I don’t think it’s giving you noticeably more power or economy. And here in salt water land EFI has a lot more wiring and possible points of failure if the...
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