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  1. Lou C

    Exhaust Manifold bolts

    As far as how bad the rust on the valves is, a compression test will tell you if one or more are not seating, so will a backfire through the intake. If so you might need to have a valve job done. Not a big deal to pull the heads on one of these. Just a few hrs work once you get the...
  2. Lou C

    EXHAUST

    Yep, once cast iron starts corroding, you can never really stop the flaking. It corrodes differently than cast aluminum. Closed cooling is really only for a new engine or a reman one that came from an auto application where antifreeze was used in the cooling system.
  3. Lou C

    Exhaust Manifold bolts

    You want your exhaust ports to look like this (when I as changing my manifolds back in 2011, for the second time) see how they are grey in color with no rust. The rust on the cyl head is just from trapped moisture (condensation, damp climate) from the gasket. This is when I still had the old...
  4. Lou C

    No power under load

    You have to make a decision either pay the mechanic for their knowledge of modern systems or make the investment in diagnostic tools and learn yourself. If I had a modern boat for sure I’d have one of those scanners that would pay for itself in a few years. With my old boat I can use the same...
  5. Lou C

    Exhaust Manifold bolts

    With these it’s hard to see a leak path till you clean off the old gaskets. What’s important: Check the sealing surfaces of the manifolds & elbows with a straight edge & feeler gauges you want them flat & level to less than .002”. If they need to be decked you can take them to a machine shop or...
  6. Lou C

    No power under load

    In addition don’t forget simple causes of low rpm like a rusted or clogged anti siphon valve or a blocked fuel tank vent.
  7. Lou C

    3.0 mercruiser i/o

    I knew that the plastic bowl was not allowed on inboards but I thought the metal bowl was allowed….
  8. Lou C

    Exhaust Manifold bolts

    Those look like the exhaust has been leaking for quite a while. The Barr gaskets are good I installed a set 5 years ago and had to remove the manifolds to get at the steering actuator and no leaks & no rust on the exhaust ports or valves
  9. Lou C

    3.0 mercruiser i/o

    The difference is that an EFI or throttle body system stays full of fuel that is not exposed to air between the fuel pump & the injectors. A carb bowl has to be vented so the fuel in the bowl is exposed to air and it oxidizes and evaporates leaving deposits behind. With small engines used on...
  10. Lou C

    Chris Craft - Which should i purchase

    The modules for the Prestolite BID system which they used are NLA, but that can be replaced with a Petronix. However, if these boats come with a Ford marine engine (5.0 or 5.8 V8s) a lot of those parts are NLA. The engines themselves were fine, its the add ons that are no longer available.
  11. Lou C

    Volvo Penta 4.3 GL-A Cutting Out After Idling

    The OP switch is how Mercruiser and aftermarket installations wire in the electric pump. I think Volvo used a diode and voltage from the alt to achieve the same end.
  12. Lou C

    Chris Craft - Which should i purchase

    Also, besides checking the wood/composite structure out VERY carefully if both are Volvo Penta engines do they have GM marine engines or Ford marine engines? If GM parts are somewhat easier to find. Ford Marine parts can be tough to find. Look to see if you can get parts for the ignition system...
  13. Lou C

    Chris Craft - Which should i purchase

    Neither too old and many VP engine parts from that era are NLA. Do yourself a favor and get a much newer boat. An old boat with twin I/Os to me is a nightmare.
  14. Lou C

    Wonder if I should go IO again or go OB?

    As I’ve often said, I/Os made sense when the engines were simple carbed GM marine engines and boat design allowed reasonable access to the engine, exhaust etc. At the same time back then carbed 2 stroke outboards were loud and smokey. Now, 4 stroke outboards are powerful, light and low...
  15. Lou C

    EXHAUST

    If the Merc OEM will last that long in salt then over time it would be cheaper because in that time frame (10 years) you’d wind up replacing most aftermarket 2x usually. I chose Barr when I did mine because I read in here they cast for some OEMs like Volvo Penta. Not sure if there is a...
  16. Lou C

    Restoring a chaparral 187XL

    If you know the basics of the boat are solid and you yourself can get the finish work done gradually over time given the high price of used boats it does make sense. Think of what you’ll have to put into it, can you buy a good boat for that sum? Most boats in that price range will be in...
  17. Lou C

    Volvo Penta 4.3 GL-A Cutting Out After Idling

    If you shop carefully you can replace what’s there with better terminals such as Ancor Marine
  18. Lou C

    Next to No Maintenance

    If possible maybe remove a valve cover & see if the rocker arms are rusting. That’s a sure sign of water intrusion
  19. Lou C

    Wonder if I should go IO again or go OB?

    For anyone thinking about a modern boat with the I/O especially if you are in a salt water region check the price of replacing the cat exhaust if it has that, you'll see it's between 5000-6000 per engine. Fresh water you probably will never have to worry about it Beyond that, take a good look at...
  20. Lou C

    EXHAUST

    The whole dry joint system is a good deal more expensive but if you are in salt water I'd say it's definitely worth it. In fresh water where exhaust corrosion is not such a big issue it might not be as much. Here in the salt pond if I could fit the dry joint exhaust to my OMC engine (it now has...
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