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  1. Lou C

    My 84 4winns horizon 195 project.

    You want the longest lasting deck? In the chronically damp Northeast? Well when we redid ours 17 years ago carpet was not an option (that’s what caused the rot in the first place by holding in moisture), sea deck might not have been on the market yet. So I had the ‘glass shop gel coat it in non...
  2. Lou C

    I/O (Sterndrive) Conversion to Outboards

    Well other than routine maintenance, very few people are doing major repairs on them. Partly due to extremely high parts cost, and also complexity. It's not like pulling the heads off a small block Chevy, that's for sure. Also, when they start to corrode on the block deck surface, or same place...
  3. Lou C

    Engine over heats

    Also don’t forget to also replace a scored wear plate in the impeller housing….
  4. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

    If there’s any rust flakes stuck in the stat you’ll have the result you see, 100-120*F. Over time sometimes the engine will clear itself and stop shedding rust flakes. What I have done when that happens is run it up on plane & then bring it back to idle. Then carefully tap the stat housing with...
  5. Lou C

    I/O (Sterndrive) Conversion to Outboards

    Those are valid concerns, for sure…money invested vs what you could sell it for & how well it performs. I followed a few of these conversions on the hull truth and the people who did them were happy with the result & performance but the cost is very high esp with a twin engine set up…
  6. Lou C

    I/O (Sterndrive) Conversion to Outboards

    There are several “ifs” that would have maintained the popularity of I/Os vs outboards: If (mod edit) inboards (didn't have) expensive potentially dangerous cat exhaust If boat companies would design the engine space for easy access If there were better/more effective anti fouling paints for...
  7. Lou C

    I/O (Sterndrive) Conversion to Outboards

    It’s a misconception that the D/S bellows will sink the boat; as long as that seal is in place it will be a small slow leak. What will is that infernal Merc shift cable bellows! I never liked that design & think the OMC/Volvo shift cable tube is safer. When OMC came out with the Cobra they tried...
  8. Lou C

    I/O (Sterndrive) Conversion to Outboards

    Well the way it all fits together a bellows leak will let some water in but not much remember there is (or should be) a seal behind the gimble bearing. So if that seal is there a bellows leak prob won’t sink the boat but sure it will ruin the gimble & ujoints). That Alpha shift cable bellows on...
  9. Lou C

    Head gasket 2.3l 1986 Sportsman 1900

    If it’s a 2.3 liter 4 cyl that’s gotta be an OMC Cobra abs the engine is a Ford 4 cyl used in many smaller Fords in the 70s & 80s. Take the head to an automotive machine shop check for cracks & do a valve job. Check the block deck for cracks burn marks and flatness.
  10. Lou C

    I/O (Sterndrive) Conversion to Outboards

    The only way I’d have another I/O would be a larger boat single engine with a wide open engine compartment easy access no pulling out seats or other nonsense to do an oil change & pull drain plugs. It would also have to be old enough to predate the mandate for Cat Converter exhaust because...
  11. Lou C

    I/O (Sterndrive) Conversion to Outboards

    While big outboards have become complex and can have problems the balance is that they can tilt out of the water unlike I/Os and you don’t need the complex the interaction of the transom mount swivel housing & pivot housing & tilt n trim. On I/Os the engines are simpler but the adaption to...
  12. Lou C

    I/O (Sterndrive) Conversion to Outboards

    The problems of I/Os in salt can’t be appreciated unless you’ve been maintaining one for some years. Moored boats you will get marine growth no matter what the anti fouling paints for alu just don’t work that well. Ted’s engines were closed cooled from the factory so that’s covered. No one here...
  13. Lou C

    I/O (Sterndrive) Conversion to Outboards

    Hey Ted, Head over to the Hull Truth; there are a few people who have done those conversions on both classic boats (Bertram, Formula) and newer boats as well. For a job like this figure on using a really good glass shop for that part of the conversion. I thought of this briefly years ago but it...
  14. Lou C

    Cobra intermediate cable replacement

    The only tools I used were those actually sold by OMC so I can’t say if aftermarket ones fit the same but OMC did change that spec at some point. I’ll have to dig out my tools to jog my memory….
  15. Lou C

    Partsvu - are they legit and OK to buy from or?

    BTW the same is true of ereplacement for power equipment parts
  16. Lou C

    Partsvu - are they legit and OK to buy from or?

    I have bought not boat parts but outdoor power equipment from them. Legit BUT prices can be higher than actual manufacturers suggested retail; I found this with Echo, Toro & Briggs & Stratton parts. Check the actual manufacturer website first!
  17. Lou C

    Merc 260 fit in Winns 190 Horizon bay?

    Not sure about the 190 but in my 1988 Horizon the engine mounts are definitely big enough for the V8.
  18. Lou C

    Time for my first bellow change, tips?

    Not sure about the Mercs but in my experience the OMC/Volvo ones can go at least 10 years before needing replacement. I do that when the rubber starts getting stiff & you start to see small cracks forming. That’s an early warning sign that it’s time….
  19. Lou C

    Converted I/O to hydraulic steering - kicker motor next?

    I’m also interested in this…
  20. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

    It was always my experience that the OEM o rings fit very snug & the stat was very tight in there. The Ford set up is a bit different than the GM (Chevrolet) set up because the mount area for the stat on the GM intake manifold is horizontal but the Ford design is vertical. Not sure if that...
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