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  1. Lou C

    Looking for bare engine block with pistons

    Hey Westie man glad you got it! I had this very same problem like 19 years ago when we bought this boat. At the time I knew Chevy engines and Rochester carbs but was not familiar with marine fuel systems. My mechanic found it and explained that the boat manufacturers use a cheap aluminum one...
  2. Lou C

    Starting mercruiser 350 after boat almost sinks

    And keep changing the oil and filter. Might take 3 times or more, but getting it good and hot is the main thing. One year I had a cooling hose on the back side of the engine pop off and I had seawater up to the pulleys. I would up replacing the starter and alternator, but the rest of the...
  3. Lou C

    Impeller challenged...?

    try to extend the shift cable guide all the way out and clean out all the crud that is behind it and the bellcrank. This is after sitting on a salt water mooring for 6 months each year. What I described above will get it working well and keep it working well. If you look really closely you can...
  4. Lou C

    Impeller challenged...?

    The other thing that can cause that is water deposits building up around the shift cable bellcrank in the pivot housing. This happens because the gasket may not seal 100% in that area. So first try cleaning any dried up crud there, lube the bellcrank with shaft with motor oil and get it moving...
  5. Lou C

    Rollet trailer....controlling during launch

    I do the same exact thing works well!
  6. Lou C

    Electric fuel pump

    Exactly. I have replaced exactly three (3) mechanical pumps in 49 years of driving and 19 years of boating. In fact if I repower this boat I really want to find an engine that can use a more reliable mechanical pump. Probably will have to go with a reman 4.3
  7. Lou C

    1988 4.3 OMC Cobra guidance

    Interesting pix. Wonder what caused the HG to blow? On mine it was different, the fire rings had slits in them which allowed water into the front cyls on each side. Not enough to hydro but enough to put water in the cyls and oil. While running I don't think water was getting in but when shut...
  8. Lou C

    1979 Mercruiser 5.7L 260 Overheating at 220?

    yes and yes it depends on how much water, when it gets really hot the crack you can't see might open up more and leak more water. The only way to tell for sure is pull the spark plugs ground the coil lead and crank it over. Does water shoot out of the cyls? Are the spark plugs showing rust on...
  9. Lou C

    Should I get this FREE project boat?

    Honestly save your money till you can afford a late model boat 20' range with a 4 stroke outboard. That "project" is likely to have the effect of causing you to HATE boats and boating. Just about garanteed.
  10. Lou C

    1979 Mercruiser 5.7L 260 Overheating at 220?

    Sounds like you still might have bad manifolds, you can take them off and test for water leaks, but in any case I would not risk ruining an engine with a rusted and welded manifold! That might be why the engine locked up, hydrolock because there could be a crack internally where you can't see it.
  11. Lou C

    1994 OMC Cobra 5.8 only 75% power

    Consider checking the fuel tank vent and the anti siphon valve on the gas tank.
  12. Lou C

    Should I get this FREE project boat?

    No
  13. Lou C

    1988 4.3 OMC Cobra guidance

    This is what you can convert to after the engine is repaired. Costs approx $720 for the Barr exhaust and for the Volvo stuff, another $500 or so, the parts are not cheap. But then its one and done, no leaks, bad fitment etc. Either that or take your chances with cheaper aftermarket. First 3 pix...
  14. Lou C

    1988 4.3 OMC Cobra guidance

    The only way to narrow it down the cause is to do a leakdown test; this will tell you if it’s valves not seating vs a blown HG between #1 & 3 cyls. I had the batwings on my engine till 2017, I had 3 sets, the original, replaced in 2004, then again in 2011. I’m in salt water and have to change...
  15. Lou C

    Possible boat purchase!

    The Volvo SX is a development of the OMC Cobra where during the joint venture between OMC and Volvo the Cobra drive was re-designed from dog clutch shifting to cone clutch shifting and identical models were sold from '94 to '98 under both brand names, after '98 Volvo bought out the rest of OMC's...
  16. Lou C

    Impeller challenged...?

    That way of installing the impeller is not really necessary, because you can use a sticky marine grease like Evinrude triple guard to hold the o ring in the impeller housing slot and it will not move out of place when you have to twist the housing to get the impeller on. I like to lube up the...
  17. Lou C

    1986 Mercruiser V-8 5.7L - overheating issue??

    Those holes are blind on GM cast iron intakes. What I’d do is put the boat in the water and bring a 5 gallon bucket. Look up Mercs test for the volume of water that impeller should pump in a set amount of time. That will tell you if the impeller is supplying enough water. However for a complete...
  18. Lou C

    Won't shift into gears. somethings seems stuck.

    Yes that is correct. What happens is that the notches or 'dogs' in the fwd and rev gears are cut in such a way that they stay engaged under power, since those small gears have to transfer all the power of the engine to the prop. So when you want it to disengage, its going to resist that and...
  19. Lou C

    Won't shift into gears. somethings seems stuck.

    No it does not shift gears like a car just Fwd Neutral and Reverse
  20. Lou C

    Won't shift into gears. somethings seems stuck.

    That will cause starting problems but not usually running problems. I’d go thru everything on this boat esp bellows, cable, ESA function and battery cables. Stock boat battery cables are usually crap. Remember the ESA lowers engine idle when shifting from in gear (Fwd & rev) to neutral, not...
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