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  1. Lou C

    Stalls out hot

    If you’re smelling fuel the carb might be flooding; the needle valve may not be holding or the float might be adjusted too high or absorbing fuel & not closing off the fuel flow.
  2. Lou C

    Mercruiser 260 Backfire Through Exhaust

    Glad you were able to get it back together too much difficulty. The simple and cheap to repair small block Chevrolet is a wonderful thing isn’t it?
  3. Lou C

    4.3 Harmonic Balancer

    As much as I want a reman 4.3, one thing that concerns me is all the variations. Will the reman engine sellers get it right? Or am I better off with a local machine shop? The easiest thing would be to replace what I have (pre Vortec, no balance shaft, roller cam, mechanical fuel pump) with the...
  4. Lou C

    RWD Tow Vehicle Launch Issues?

    With respect to smaller tow vehicles: 1) payload is a non-issue for me because I'm not taking the boat on vacation, I live 300 ft from a beach and it goes on mooring for the whole season. 2) this Jeep has electronic lockers in the rear and FRONT. No other vehicle in recent production to my...
  5. Lou C

    RWD Tow Vehicle Launch Issues?

    So a pick up or larger SUV isn't a horrible tow vehicle when you overload it to the same extent? There are people on www.jeepsforum.com that have towed 6000-7000 lbs with these Jeeps either the V8 Hemi or the TurboDiesel version. Without problems!
  6. Lou C

    RWD Tow Vehicle Launch Issues?

    If he had 1,000 lbs tongue weight he’s towing overweight! The max tongue weight on these is 750 lbs but to do that you need a WD hitch or air bags for lighter loads. They are rated at 7200 lbs and I’m towing 5,000 and I don’t even feel it. Has your friend ever had his trailer weighed? If it’s...
  7. Lou C

    Deck draining to bilge

    Consumer grade = Lake style boats Not salt water I’m not impressed with Dual Consoles with tiny deck drains A center console in my climate is useful for 2 months of the year the spring & fall it’s too cold! I’d never buy one! Waiting for the right Steiger to come along…
  8. Lou C

    Merc 4.3

    Read through all of that a while ago. Hard to believe the differences that happened over the years, even due to what plant it was made in! Mine is a T for Tonawanda unit.
  9. Lou C

    Fogging oil won't kill engine

    It really depends on your storage climate. In the frozen north where it never warms up all winter there isn't enough moisture in the air, to matter. However in a temperate climate like where I am, we go from zero to 40 to 60 degrees in the winter. That, combined with moisture being a coastal...
  10. Lou C

    Merc 4.3

    Yep you were right about the year of the balance shaft, the 4.3 is actually a popular swap into CJs, nice & compact. A nice 4bbl 4.3, with a Turbo Hydramatic 350 would make a nice combo in a CJ Jeep.
  11. Lou C

    Deck draining to bilge

    What they do on some consumer grade boats is put deck drains in that look like they drain overboard but they have hoses leading to the bilge. Probably because the decks aren’t high enough. I think modern consumer grade boats are sadly lacking in the ability to keep water out of the boat if water...
  12. Lou C

    Deck draining to bilge

    However it will drain overboard only if the deck is above the water line. It isn't in a lot of consumer grade boats.
  13. Lou C

    Merc 4.3

    I bet you had 1 or 2 older GM cars with the odd fire Buick 231 cu in V6, because what you are saying is true of them, however, the even fire split journal crankshaft was used on the 4.3 from the time it came out. There were other V6s from Chevrolet that used what was called a semi even fire...
  14. Lou C

    Merc 4.3

    The main difference is the split journal crankshaft, due to harmonics set up by this design they really shouldn't be revved over 5000 rpm. I'm not sure if the balance shaft on the '96 and newer ones mitigates this or not. Other than that, they are just as durable as a V8. In fact I have heard...
  15. Lou C

    Merc 4.3

    The pre Vortec intake with 12 bolts drained when you drain the engine. The Vortec intake with 8 bolts has a larger water passage that added the extra drain plug in front. I guess these could trap water depending on the angle of the engine in the boat. The water passage in the Vortec was larger...
  16. Lou C

    Merc 4.3

    Compared to outboards? There’s the good: simple engine & inexpensive parts and not so good: sometimes difficult access and the issues that arise from deferred maintenance. Once you learn how to do all the services they need to stay reliable they aren’t that bad…as long as the boat has good...
  17. Lou C

    Never owned a boat!

    Can't really see now long it is here but you get the idea. I was able to get a factory Load Rite tongue with all the holes already drilled so it wasn't a hard job. Ramp is shallow so with a short tongue your tires would be in salt water maybe even the axle housing.
  18. Lou C

    Never owned a boat!

    I put a 4’ long tongue on my old Load Rite for that reason. The only ramp I know of that is grooved is the one maintained by the town. None of the private ones here are grooved & most are in rough condition with cracked concrete, pot holes etc. Storms & bad winters take a toll. For this reason...
  19. Lou C

    350 MAG winterizing - which method is correct?

    #2, just make sure to use antifreeze that will stay liquid down to the coldest temp you would expect. #1 is just a waste of antifreeze, if you're not leaving it in, don't bother to use it. Remember you DRAIN to prevent FREEZE damage, AF is ONLY for corrosion protection. Also, there may be a PS...
  20. Lou C

    Never owned a boat!

    The other issue is that 4x4s have low range which is a huge benefit in pulling out a heavy boat. Here's the NV242 transfer case shifter in our old '98 Jeep, the low range gives you a 2.73:1 gear reduction. Our '07 has an automatic full time transfer case with electronically shifted low range...
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