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  1. Lou C

    What are the essential tools to keep on board?

    If you have a Volvo DP you need a special wrench to change those props, but if you have the standard single prop you can swap a prop on the water if the design of the boat allows it. I have been able to do it on my F/W with the OMC Cobra. If I tilt it all the way up and tie the prop wrench onto...
  2. Lou C

    Overhauling my 1988 MerCruiser 4.3 ltr. engine

    Wow that looks great!
  3. Lou C

    Converting 5.0 mpi to closed cooling

    Its things like this that make me keep the old one! Set of points & condenser and a Quadrajet rebuild kit (less than $100 parts) and there you go. The "benefits" of technology are greatly over-rated.
  4. Lou C

    What are the essential tools to keep on board?

    3 bolts and the plastic cover over the impeller comes off, 3 more bolts and the whole thing comes off of the upper gear housing. I have one all ready to install if needed.
  5. Lou C

    What are the essential tools to keep on board?

    The boat sits on a salt water mooring. If you suck up a lot of sand because you went into the shallows (only happened to me once) that can grind up an impeller. The ace in the hole is the OMC Cobra impeller design. If you tilt the drive all the way up & you’re careful you can change it with the...
  6. Lou C

    What are the essential tools to keep on board?

    Tow insurance membership. Only used it once in 20 years. Portable VHF radio to supplement the dash mount.
  7. Lou C

    What are the essential tools to keep on board?

    I have motor oil, P/S fluid (really Dexron auto trans fluid) a spare impeller kit, drive belts, set of spark plugs, spare set of plug wires, distributor cap/rotor, spare fuel filter, full tool kit, wire stripper/crimper, spare wire, spare Ancor crimp on terminals, fuses, a compact digital VOM...
  8. Lou C

    Converting 5.0 mpi to closed cooling

    At least here in Long Island (definitely salt water maybe not as salty as Fla) your block and heads will not rust through in only 10 years, when I had my engine apart in 2017 it had been used in salt more than 15 years (15 just by me, not sure about previous owners but I bought it here so it...
  9. Lou C

    Engine replacement

    If it was a failure to winterize I think you can assume the engine was full of water as well as the exhaust manifolds. So the block, heads, intake and exhaust is likely cracked. One big hunk of scrap iron. If you put in an engine that's in good condition with no internal corrosion consider...
  10. Lou C

    Can you start these in cold temperatures out of water?

    If that’s what you have those were great easy to maintain engines. Should be easy to get at drain plugs vs those on a V6 or V8. The wood rot issue really depends the climate where the boat lived all those years. If it was stored in a very dry climate like the arid southwest it could be fine...
  11. Lou C

    Milky madness

    Yep cracked!
  12. Lou C

    Engine replacement

    Lol Good one there! Yes get a manual and learn the right way. These forums are for filling in the blanks in manuals that are written for professional mechanics. You need to educate yourself first though. Otherwise you will ‘learn’ by making expensive mistakes.
  13. Lou C

    1999 Mercruiser 4.3L Fuel Pump

    Great work there glad to hear it worked out! The aftermarket is what makes running old equipment practical.
  14. Lou C

    Dry joint exhaust pros/cons

    Agreed if I could adapt it to my OMC rigged 4.3 for sure I’d use it. Definitely one of Mercs better ideas. You still have to replace the elbows and maybe the manifolds after 7 or so seasons in our LI salt water but that whole time you don’t have to worry about that gasket between the manifold &...
  15. Lou C

    Can you start these in cold temperatures out of water?

    Agreed you can run an outboard in freezing temps just make sure the motor is tilted down so it drains but any raw water cooled inboard motor MUST BE DRAINED after running in freezing temps or if freezing temps are anticipated. Thousands of people in the south just got a very expensive lesson in...
  16. Lou C

    Can you start these in cold temperatures out of water?

    If you are thinking of doing this what you need to do first is learn where all the raw water drains are on whatever engine you are working on. Sucking AF up the outdrive will not cut it because idling a cold engine on the water hose in cold weather the thermostat probably won’t open. This will...
  17. Lou C

    Need advise on bringing a 92 beretta succsess 200 back to life.

  18. Lou C

    Need advise on bringing a 92 beretta succsess 200 back to life.

    My transom & motor mount stringers are good but the stringers near the ski locker rotted out about 15 years ago. I had that fixed by a glass shop and installed a new deck myself back then (2006-2007). You might need a carb shop to get it cleaned and set up right. I can rebuild Quadrajets and...
  19. Lou C

    Milky madness

    While I’ve heard of this I never tried it, there’s a risk if you ever had fuel vapors in the bilge. Best thing you can do with these is modify what you have to in order to get at the drains to make it easier to drain. My issue with I/Os is not just putting a car engine in a boat but boat...
  20. Lou C

    The world has lost the appreciation for hard work

    I could not agree more. When friends and relatives question why I like fixing old stuff (they think I’m just cheap lol) and why I don’t buy new stuff I can obviously afford; I reply my quest is for skills and knowledge. Not just buying & acquiring stuff. People who lease new cars all the time...
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