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  1. Lou C

    est ignition on a 1989 4.3 liter cobra.

    Don’t think that’s OE! Nothing like that on my 1988 4.3
  2. Lou C

    Trailer surge brakes

    While you could have 14” rims with 215/75-14 tires with 10” brakes I had long before switched from that to a 225/75-15 tire on a 15” rim. Didn’t notice a difference when I still had 10” drums. When I went to the 12” drums with 6 lugs I stuck with 15” rims & same size tires. I’m curious about...
  3. Lou C

    est ignition on a 1989 4.3 liter cobra.

    I actually prefer the OMC ESA because it does not stall the engine as the simpler Merc can if you shift too slowly. Properly set up OMC’s is a better if more complex system. When you actuate the ESA it drops your idle from 600 rpm to 450. Mine has never stalled when shifting.
  4. Lou C

    est ignition on a 1989 4.3 liter cobra.

    This is why l kept the points on mine; the choices were old school points, Petronix or Delco EST. I know points well having learned them in my 60s & 70s cars, Petronix has mixed reviews, Delco is probably the best. If you have the original OMC ESA module it will have to be changed to one that...
  5. Lou C

    Trailer surge brakes

    It’s rated for 6,600 lbs. And was able to be used with four 10” brake assemblies so I don’t think there’s a problem. The 10” shoes are wider than the 12” shoes. 10.25” vs 12”
  6. Lou C

    Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda

    On the other hand the house I bought in 1992 in a beach front community here in Long Island NY for $205,000; is now with about $650,000. I had to be patient & wait about 18 months because it was an estate sale but it was a great chance to own a unique water view property in a private beach...
  7. Lou C

    Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda

    During the gas “shortage” of 1973/74 I saw a 1967 Corvette convertible with a 427, 3 deuces & outside exhausts. $2500 at the local Chevy dealer. Told my dad to buy it. He had no interest in cars and I was a 19 year old kid with no money.
  8. Lou C

    Wheel Bearing Inspection Interval

    I have had the same experience, I greased the spindle lube axle I used for 17 years once a year and the only thing I ever did was replace the drum backing plates a few times, (but I could have just replaced the wheel cylinder & adjuster) and replaced the seals at the same time, the bearings were...
  9. Lou C

    RE: Issues with Mercruiser 5.0 LX 4 Barrel Carb

    that's an unfortunate reality of old boat ownership...I had a running problem and shifting problem with my OMC Cobra both of which I tried to fix but back then I didn't have the knowledge to do so luckily there was still a very good OMC mechanic who fixed both (bought it in 2002, this was in...
  10. Lou C

    RE: Issues with Mercruiser 5.0 LX 4 Barrel Carb

    looks worse than mine, which has been in salt water 6 months of the year, for around 16/17 seasons!
  11. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 alarm won’t stop

    On these you fill from the bottom with the vent plug out on the drive & then when the gear oil appears at the vent; replace the plug & keep pumping till it fills the gear lube bottle. Pump slowly to allow air to escape. After running briefly re-check level in the bottle.
  12. Lou C

    power steering cooler on a 1989 4.3 liter cobra

    https://www.crowleymarine.com/omc/oem-parts/stern-drive/1989/432aprmed/power-steering-pump
  13. Lou C

    Trailer surge brakes

    Maintenance with discs is much easier. The first brakes I learned to repair were drum brakes on mid '60s VWs. Pretty simple, but my '70s American cars all had discs up front and drums on the rear. If I were using disc brakes on the trailer in our salt water here, I'd have to use stainless...
  14. Lou C

    Intake Manifold Gaskets

    Also make sure to follow the correct torque procedure; those take way less torque than the pre Vortecs.
  15. Lou C

    Intake Manifold Gaskets

    You said you had a 2004 Sea Ray correct in previous threads so those SHOULD be Vortec heads, how many bolt holes for the intake are in each head? If only 4 bolt holes then those are the right gaskets. Vortec had only 8 holes for the intake, 4 per head, pre-vortec had 12 bolt holes or 6 per head...
  16. Lou C

    Overheating Problem

    The part you removed is the temp sending unit for your temp gauge. I suggest you get a shop manual & start reading. These are very simple systems
  17. Lou C

    Overheating Problem

    You’re not getting anywhere enough water up to the impeller. The water should be shooting out of the manifold feed hose and the hose that goes from the impeller to the thermostat housing. Are you using good fitting muffs? They must fit tightly for the impeller to prime. You might have old...
  18. Lou C

    Exhaust pieces and parts

    Good work You can do a better job doing maintenance yourself!
  19. Lou C

    Volvo Penta 7.4 overheats

    That’s how I did it. The tricky part is lining up the water tube. See if you can get someone else to help you; I was able to do it myself. The mechanics I used to use recommended splitting the drive & cleaning that area out every 5 seasons in salt water. So it’s a good thing to learn how to do.
  20. Lou C

    Bought a house on the lake! Got to get the old boat up and running.

    Very nice, I'd love to have one. Don't know why no one makes boats in that style any more. I don't want a center console or bowrider for my next boat up here in the northeast, I want a closed bow like that for when I go out into Long Island Sound. I've actually thought about having a 'glass...
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