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  1. Lou C

    4.3 liter, the DC-10 of I/Os...

    Some will agree but even Hot Rod magazine did a nice build up with the result being somewhere north of 300 hp. As a practical matter though, as long as the owner observes a 5000 rpm redline, well if you blow that 4.3 up, you might blow up a 5.0 or a 5.7 just the same. Back when GM still supplied...
  2. Lou C

    Maintenance intervals

    the beauty of old school inboards and I/Os is unlike outboards, you can get GM/Chevrolet parts for the engines, and, since the small block Chevrolet is the most popular boat, hot rod, etc engine at least here in the USA, the aftermarket behind it is HUGE, just look at JEGS and Summit Racing...
  3. Lou C

    Maintenance intervals

    yep and mechanic's knowledge, is like the quest for the holy grail. I guess because we as teenagers already knew how to troubleshoot lawn mowers, dirt bikes and when we got to cars, had a bit of experience. The video game/internet generation, not so much. But, they can learn here so that's all good!
  4. Lou C

    4.3 liter, the DC-10 of I/Os...

    and they came in a lot of bargain priced entry level boats that don't get maintained. the only thing I can throw out there beyond what I said is that Merc made a big mistake with those one piece V6 manifolds that caused a lot of engine problems, (cracking & water intrusion) but that was Merc...
  5. Lou C

    4.3 liter, the DC-10 of I/Os...

    https://www.mercruiserparts.com/bam/subassembly/31527/16591/40 https://www.mercruiserparts.com/bam/subassembly/31527/16591/50 look familiar? I guess Merc thought it was good enough, to update and refine it further....as I said, a lot of old school GM engineering appears to live on here...
  6. Lou C

    Maintenance intervals

    Maintenance intervals well you can use the manuals as a good guide but also common sense/mechanics knowledge. Examples: Bellows, regardless of age replace when you see small cracks forming between the folds. That means the rubber is not pliable & getting stiff. Shift cable, as soon as you notice...
  7. Lou C

    4.3 liter, the DC-10 of I/Os...

    I don't think so, at all. They can take a beating like any other Chevy small block, and are perfect for small boats. Mine suffered a bad overheat (2013) blown head gaskets and water in a couple cyls (2016) got a pair of reman cyl heads and new gaskets (2017) and is still running on the original...
  8. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 LX Gen+, Hydrolock, no water in oil.

    Well yeah no flappers!!! that could explain it! wonder if this boat had a past overheat that melted em, or if they just fell off. In the second pic of the manifold its hard to tell but I think I see a bit of rust in the center exhaust gas section but that could be from water rushing up the Y...
  9. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 LX Gen+, Hydrolock, no water in oil.

    agreed that would be very rare, on mine it didn't hydrolock it, just a small amount of water would seep in when it sat for a day or so. I was able to see the exhaust gas getting into the water exiting the stat housing via the hoses that feed the manifolds. If I checked for water right after...
  10. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 LX Gen+, Hydrolock, no water in oil.

    Remove the oil fill cap and look inside. what a blown head gasket does.... first sign of this though was difficulty starting and rough running found water in cyl #2 and just a bit in #1 upon dis-assembly found both head gaskets blown right near a water passage near each cylinder water in the...
  11. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 LX Gen+, Hydrolock, no water in oil.

    Sometimes what can happen is if the engine dies at higher than idle speed it can actually suck water back into the engine due to the vacuum developed in the exhaust system. Given what you just said, it is more likely that, (engine dying at above idle speed) than leaky exhaust. If it were leaky...
  12. Lou C

    Trailer Leafsprings Bottoming Out

    Your springs are too long. They come in all different lengths. Measure the distance between the mount flanges where the center hole is, that's how long the springs should be when measured eye to eye. When leaf springs are loaded they get longer. With the trailer unloaded your spring shackles...
  13. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 LX Gen+, Hydrolock, no water in oil.

    If the gasket for the intake failed at the water passages it is more likely to put water right into the cam valley and into the oil. Water in the cyls might more likely have come from the exhaust system, do you have wet joint exhausts or dry joint? If wet joint it isn't that uncommon for those...
  14. Lou C

    99 Four winns horizon 200 possible electrical problems.

    Where did you connect radio to? Same way the OE was connected?
  15. Lou C

    OMC Cobra EFI 5.0L stopped and won’t start again

    My boat is always stored with whatever gas (e-10 is all we can get) was left in it but stabilized, stored outside in damp Long Island NY winters and I never see water in the fuel from the fuel filter when I dump it out in the spring when installing a new one. It is strange that you have this...
  16. Lou C

    1988 omc 5.7 w/ omc outdrive rookie service

    1) agree with Scott, the Qjet is an excellent carb when set up right, but one that age may need a REAL cleaning and a new marine grade accelerating pump. Also, my boat the same year as yours had a problem with the anti siphon valve when we first bought it causing a similar problem 2) you have a...
  17. Lou C

    99 Four winns horizon 200 possible electrical problems.

    Your fuse box might have extra pos and neg terminals where you can connect the radio directly to it, that's how I did mine, & the GPS unit.
  18. Lou C

    noise coming from gimbal/coupler area after taking on water

    Water & sand & salt air.
  19. Lou C

    Yamaha with Water in Oil

    Agreed I’d probably change the oil & put a sample of what came out in a clear container, let it sit & see if you find a layer of water on the bottom. Also look for a mayo appearing emulsion under the valve cover(s). Both are evidence of a lot of water in the oil. If not if it’s only a little...
  20. Lou C

    noise coming from gimbal/coupler area after taking on water

    Ok guys Question Having driven off road on beaches for years and done more than a few water crossings (rain water not salt) in 3 different Jeeps all with non greasable ujoints & never having to replace one, what does that say? The oldest of these is 24 years old with 180,000 miles on it. As...
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