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  1. Lou C

    3.0LX Mercruiser always running cold

    I have had this same problem, it is usually a bit of rust flake(s) that keep the stat from closing, then the engine will run at a cool 120* instead of its normal 160 unless I get it up on plane for a while. Even in freshwater you will get flaking rust on the inside of a raw water cast iron...
  2. Lou C

    1988 Bayliner Capri with a 2.3L OMC Ford cobra

    Yep that little Ford OHC sounds quite good, they were used in many smaller Fords way back when. My cousin had the smaller version in a European Ford Capri, 2.0 version I think. Quite a nice car for the time.
  3. Lou C

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    the flood maps of the South Shore of LI were actually scary to look at. after Sandy even though the winds weren't a true hurricane down on the South Shore the Ocean met the Bay, nearly covering the City of Long Beach. The parking lots of the local beaches on Lido Boulevard were filled with...
  4. Lou C

    1993 omc cobra 4.3 stuck in reverse

    That sounds more alike a separate problem with the shift cable.
  5. Lou C

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    Isn’t New Orleans technically below sea level? I live about 300 ft from the water but am about 80 ft above sea level. North Shore of LI is very hilly South Shore is very flat…
  6. Lou C

    2000 5.7 craps out when going above 3500

    There’s usually an anti siphon valve on the fuel tank where the fuel line attached to the tank. If these corrode or get clogged with debris you can have that problem.
  7. Lou C

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    About raising up water front houses after Sandy that became a big business here on Long Island especially on the South Shore many communities there are only 5-10 feet above sea level. You see it in the City of Long Beach & all over Fire Island.
  8. Lou C

    Second mortgage for a carb?

    Some Holly carbs have the nipple for the tygon hose on the air horn, ones that don’t you have to use a flame arrestor with a nipple built into it.
  9. Lou C

    Help please

    Those manifolds were poorly cast & prone to failure which can ruin the engine, it’s risky to keep using them. The OMC version I had didn’t seem prone to that problem & I had that set up on my engine till 2016. The Barr kit for the Mercruiser works with the original Y pipe. To replace the hoses...
  10. Lou C

    Help please

    Barr Marine sells a kit to replace them.
  11. Lou C

    Popped through the intake.

    If the engine was ever overheated the heads may have suffered damage but the block usually survives in terms cracks. Get the heads checked out & if cracked just install reman heads. That’s what I did on mine back in 2017.
  12. Lou C

    Stalling after warm-up mystery 5.0 Mercruiser Searay

    Have you actually verified that the auto choke is working as designed? Cold engine it should be close to closed; after a few min of run time it should be open or close to open. Some engines with carbs need the throttle cracked open a bit to start.
  13. Lou C

    1988 Bayliner Capri with a 2.3L OMC Ford cobra

    Keep in mind that marine cooling systems by their design (has to bring in raw water from the water you are boating in) are more maintenance than a vehicle with a totally closed system. Vehicle systems with long life coolants can run for many years with just checking for coolant leaks & the belt...
  14. Lou C

    1988 Bayliner Capri with a 2.3L OMC Ford cobra

    If you’re older or have a bad lower back buy a drive jack. I have one for about 10 years & it saved me prob over $3000 in maintenance costs and no back injuries, even better! While it’s an aluminum casting it’s damn heavy!
  15. Lou C

    1988 Bayliner Capri with a 2.3L OMC Ford cobra

    When filling with a pump you can never get all the fluid in the bottle out so if you want to put in 2 qts have 3 qts ready.
  16. Lou C

    1988 Bayliner Capri with a 2.3L OMC Ford cobra

    Sometimes NLA hoses can be found on EBay or NLAMarine.com I’ve gotten many NLA Cobra spares from them. The hoses don’t really wear out because raw water cooling runs at lower water temps & low pressure compared to a closed system. As long as they are not hard & stiff they’re OK.
  17. Lou C

    1988 Bayliner Capri with a 2.3L OMC Ford cobra

    Any good marine grease; I use Lucas Marine which is a calcium sulfonate grease one step up from the lithium complex greases.
  18. Lou C

    1988 Bayliner Capri with a 2.3L OMC Ford cobra

    I've had a Cobra for approx 20 years, they are good when set up right and maintained properly. I would use OEM parts for impellers, shift cables and driveshaft bellows. Check on this site to see if they sell OEM parts for OMC if not, there are a few other sites that sell OEM parts. OMC impellers...
  19. Lou C

    1988 OMC 4.3 2V - Leaking Manifolds

    If they are paper gaskets I would use sealer if they are composite gaskets with the silver backing they may not need it. I suggest removing the paint from the sealing surfaces. You bought them from Marine Engine Parts AKA Lighthouse Marine? They are local to me (Riverhead Long Island NY). Give...
  20. Lou C

    My poor old Buick took a hit

    Same for me. One day I’d like to have a GM (77-78 Cad Fleetwood or 94-96 Impala SS) and a FoMoCo or 2 (Crown Vic or 87/89 Lincoln Town Car). I grew up with a ‘72 Impala 350 and a ‘75 Olds Delta 88 350. Todays cars disgust me.
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