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  1. Lou C

    MerCruiser 4.3lx shortblock compatibility?

    I would never advise anyone to do EFI in an old boat. The parts cost and complexity of wiring & added failure points are a deal breaker for me. Simple 4 bbl carb feeds a Chevrolet just as well now as it did 50+ years ago. Parts for a Holley, Edelbrock or even a Quadrajet are available and...
  2. Lou C

    . . . and I Thought Hi-tech Boat Engines Were Bad . . .

    Interesting... I don't have much data on the trans in my '07 Jeep 5.7 (Chrysler 545RFE) they are the same as what was used in the RAM trucks until they switched to the ZF design 8 speed. So far so good, but it has only covered 123,000 miles. They seem better than the old RE series (based on the...
  3. Lou C

    MerCruiser 4.3lx shortblock compatibility?

    I have thought the same thing 4.3 to 5.7 swap while it’s more money for certain things I have a heavy 20’ boat approx 4200 lbs. My Cobra drive ratio is 1.68:1. Currently using a 15x17 prop I wonder if I could do the V8 swap with the same drive and a 21 pitch prop? This boat definitely came with...
  4. Lou C

    Temperature Gauge Fluctuating

    Sticky thermostat prob has nothing to do with the fact that you changed the carb, unless you may have bumped the wiring for the sending unit in the intake manifold. Sometimes you get a flake of rust or sand that keeps the stat from closing and then the engine runs cold. Sometimes they clear out...
  5. Lou C

    . . . and I Thought Hi-tech Boat Engines Were Bad . . .

    And this is why I kept the old boat!!! simple DC wiring, anybody can figure it out with a meter and a test light! My brother's 2021 Chapparal is CANBUS no thanks!
  6. Lou C

    . . . and I Thought Hi-tech Boat Engines Were Bad . . .

    PS All this suggests with modern vehicles you need an advanced scanner that can read ALL the modules and sometimes, expert help…
  7. Lou C

    . . . and I Thought Hi-tech Boat Engines Were Bad . . .

    I came across something on this topic with my 2007 Grand Cherokee that I’ll pass along. So first oddity I notice is blinker on pass side flashing very fast but only when headlights/parking lights were on. Blinker bulbs were fine. Both pass side headlights were out. Bulbs fine fuses fine. Pulled...
  8. Lou C

    Lower unit

    I believe they are, the differences are in the gearing for the upper gear housing…
  9. Lou C

    I freeze my block so you don't have to!

    If you have a Vortec 4.3 V6 (1996 and later) there is a drain plug in the front of the intake manifold you can remove to fully drain it....
  10. Lou C

    Winterization

    Yep I have always done it this way & I think it’s safer & uses up less AF in the process… 1) you know for sure the engine is totally drained 2) no risk of burning up the impeller if it won’t pull in the AF…..
  11. Lou C

    Winterization

    Been doing it this way for 20+ years & never a problem. And, you don’t have to pull out the stat BTW…All that’s needed after disconnecting the bottom end of the J hose up front & draining the block is to reconnect the bottom end of the J hose & disconnect the top end. Replace the block drain...
  12. Lou C

    Winterization of my Commodore 272

    I put a bit of gasket sealer on the threads of the metal drain plugs and some grease where the hoses fit onto the stat housing, impeller housing, manifolds & circulating pump. This helps to prevent corrosion that will make the hoses hard to remove
  13. Lou C

    Winterization

    For those temps the ONLY thing I'd use is -100, not the -50 or -60, if you want to use AF. The -100 stays liquid to approx -55*F, last time I checked. If you have -50 or -60 in there drain it out. The other options: drain and leave dry mix up your own batch of PG antifreeze (Sierra) use a...
  14. Lou C

    1987 2.3 OMC Cobra out drive gear lube...

    I used the OMC stuff the first couple years I had my Cobra then my mechanic suggested to me to use the Merc High Performance Gear Lube (greenish blue stuff) because the drives he serviced seemed to last longer with it. Not saying the Mobil 1 or Valvoline syn isn’t as good. The main thing with...
  15. Lou C

    1987 2.3 OMC Cobra out drive gear lube...

    Yep those took OMC Hi Vis gear lube. I have used the Merc High Performance Gear Lube in mine for about 20 years. Seems to like it!
  16. Lou C

    Mercruiser 5.7 EFI Water in Oil

    Ah, I see what you were getting at then. I have the old carb engine so I just fog it thru the carb, and I change the fuel filter in spring.
  17. Lou C

    Mercruiser 5.7 260 EFI - Water Temp Fluctuations

    The stats can get sticky after some time esp with raw water cooling. When you have one that takes forever to warm up till you run it on plane that’s usually a piece of rust or sand that’s keeping the stat from closing. I seem to have to change them every 3 seasons or so…
  18. Lou C

    Mercruiser 5.7 EFI Water in Oil

    I think once the 2 cycle fuel is used up the filter is still good because you leave it on the whole next session right? Glad you don’t see any water in the oil!
  19. Lou C

    1990 Mercruiser 4.3 Same As???

    Not only are they not 4 bolt mains but there are only 4 main bearings and they had to use the split journal crank to make the 90* V6 an even fire engine. Even so there is still a harmonic vibe at about 1800 rpm that the balance shaft was designed to damp out. That said they are tough engines...
  20. Lou C

    1990 Mercruiser 4.3 Same As???

    If you have a mechanical fuel pump this also Must be a marine unit with the safety overflow hose that goes from the pump to the carb.
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