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  1. Lou C

    How to Switch to Antifreeze Cooled Engine

    Even if used in salt water with raw water cooling you can get 15 seasons or more without major engine problems in the Long Island Sound region. Yes ideally closed cooling is best for longevity but I ran my old 4.3 in salt from 2002 to present; replaced heads in 2017 (cracked) due to an overheat...
  2. Lou C

    Divorced choke

    I thought my Quad was too old to rebuild and tried replacing it with a brand new Holley 4160 that never ran right. In disgust I pulled out that old Quad and rebuilt it with a rebuild kit and a new accel pump plunger from Cliff Ruggles. It ran fine and was 100% better than the Holley. A few...
  3. Lou C

    MerCrusider Fuel Rail - is there an alternative?

    were these ever used in an automotive application? if so it may be the same part. Check a GM parts catalog. That's what I don't like about older EFI systems, they start making things NLA and you have to search places that sell NLA parts and ebay, usually one will turn up... with carbs the...
  4. Lou C

    Question about engine oil

    Really the only difference likely is that the 15w/40 might give you slightly faster starts at low temps, other than that not much difference. Merc says their oil is better because it does not use VI improvers, whereas conventional multi vis oils do, but again not sure how much of an issue this...
  5. Lou C

    Divorced choke

    That’s the style I’m referring to; the bracket bolts onto that pad where the spring used to sit. There is another style that can be used on Vortec engines where there is no choke coil mounting area. The Vortec engines do not have the exhaust cross over so they all have to use electric chokes. If...
  6. Lou C

    Question about engine oil

    Agreed I'm sure there is a reason why the 10w/30 is ok for outboards but only 25/40 is recommended for inboards and I'd go with what the manufacturer says on viscosity. I think the old school inboards may shear the oil down more than the outboards do, perhaps due to more friction in the...
  7. Lou C

    I am trying to find out the weight of a 21 Ft. 1994 sun tracker trailer vin 4tm12cj1xsb001573 to register it. I can't find the specifications for it.

    I figured out a way to get an approx weight on mine carefully using a Sherline scale with a 0-5,000 meter. See my post in this forum. I found that I had approx 4650 lbs on the axle (single axle hubs/brakes 6,000 lb capacity, springs 5,700 lbs capacity, load range D tires 5040 lb capacity) & 410...
  8. Lou C

    Question about engine oil

    I have over the years used straight 30 & 40 (Delo 400) and Merc/Quicksilver 25/40. As far as automotive vs marine spec oil I have searched and searched; read many oil analysis reports, and have not been able to come to a conclusion one way or another. However, I will say this, when I had my...
  9. Lou C

    Divorced choke

    Some of those electric choke kits have a bracket that gets bolted to that same pad where the spring would have mounted.
  10. Lou C

    88 mercruiser 4.3 small crack in block and head

    Yep with that kind of HG failure you get that kind of damage, when mine went because of an overheat the heads cracked in the exhaust valve seat area but the HG blew near the coolant passage, so no fire slotting on the block, had normal compression actually but water would seep into a cyl when...
  11. Lou C

    Best carburator for 4.3 merc. Vortec

    Really depends on what intake you have as well. If it were me I’d get a 4bbl even if you have to find a pre-Vortec cast iron 12 bolt intake. Look on eBay they are out there…
  12. Lou C

    Question about engine oil

    If you’re starting with current temps in the 50s nothing to worry about. I’ve started my inboard running the same oil as cold as 45* with no problems.
  13. Lou C

    Best carburator for 4.3 merc. Vortec

    Yep most will recommend the 1409 but last I checked they like some Edelbrock manifolds are on back order, if you’re looking for new. Only other option is a Holley 4160, they were used on OMC and Volvos after Rochester quit building Quadrajets. I like the QJet but good original cores are hard to...
  14. Lou C

    Re-upholstery Job on Cruisers Yacht 338 Bowrider

    Excellent Ted you do better than factory!
  15. Lou C

    Removal / Fitting Duoprop

    Just don't forget to GREASE the prop shaft splines! Evinrude triple guard is a great water resistant grease as is Merc extreme duty grease. If done yearly when you change the gear oil you will probably never have a seized prop.
  16. Lou C

    2004 Volvo Penta 3.0 manifold and riser replacement

    Before you take it apart, just buy a new elbow to manifold gasket, if the parts are in good shape and just need some resurfacing to seal, you can do that yourself (mill bastard file, no rotary tools) and put it back together. 60 hrs in salt isn't that much, I used to run mine 5-6 seasons and...
  17. Lou C

    Volvo penta spark plugs

    I like Delco Marine plugs because they are quite corrosion resistant which is important. You want the longer reach Delco because with a 2002 you have Vortec cylinder heads. The older pre Vortec engines like mine take the shorter reach plugs.
  18. Lou C

    If you can't find a trailer scale where you are located....

    Thanks I’ll try that! There is a scrapyard/recycler local to me that I could check out. BTW I found that the recommendation for RV/Trailer tires as far as safety margin is 10-15%. With the load range D tires I have about 8-9%. If I went to load range E I’d have about 18%. I only do local towing...
  19. Lou C

    Cleaning Manifolds & Risers

  20. Lou C

    Cleaning Manifolds & Risers

    see if you can find this document....Volvo Penta Service bulletin: Group 25-1 Number 16 Version 01 this describes the sealer they want you to use.... Change to Procedure: Before installing a riser gasket, coat the mating surfaces of both the manifold and the riser with a copper-based...
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