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  1. Lou C

    Proper Engine Oil Level

    It depends on the oil pan design, if the plug is at the very bottom it will get more, if on the side it may leave a bit, but still in all that really doesn't matter as long as you are doing regular oil changes. I've always been surprised at the lack of sludge in my old engine, with 1x a year oil...
  2. Lou C

    Flapper valve

    Yes even with a closed system you have raw water coming the cooling system to cool the heat exchanger and that raw water has to exit. The flapper is there to keep water from backing up the exhaust into the cyls. The water level in your Y pipe might be as high as the top of it when the boat is in...
  3. Lou C

    RPM's surging, think I fixed the problem

    Thought so, watched your vid on the bellows replacement again. Nice Job! on my old 4.3 I use a set of older plugs when I fog it in the fall. Then I start it up and after the fogging oil burns off I use a set of clean plugs for the season. I have a Prestolite points distributor in mine with...
  4. Lou C

    RPM's surging, think I fixed the problem

    Are those the original plugs, what's on the body of the plugs, paint overspray or rust? I agree you might want to get in the habit of changing those caps every season, start with a new one.
  5. Lou C

    1988 Merc 5.0XL with alpha drives engine replacement suggestions

    Hey Charlie my first tearing down of an engine was this job. I figured I had nothing to lose. I used SK Speed's machine shop, I know you're in Long Island correct? The hard part is keeping dirt out of the engine keeping all the parts labeled and clean and organized. I didn't lose or break one...
  6. Lou C

    Hydrolock, swim platform, riser height and static water line question

    Try to find a local VP dealer who will order parts for you. Might cost a bit more but worth it. My shop can order V/P, BRP, Merc, Sierra, Barr etc and get them in a day or 2 and I never pay shipping. He also gives me a discount. I just hope he stays in business! Luckily he's right next to a big...
  7. Lou C

    Hydrolock, swim platform, riser height and static water line question

    This is where I'd say that OE is not always better than aftermarket. The Barr exhaust I bought was packed with styrofoam and bubble wrap and showed up in perfect condition. Also, I bought through a dealer local to me and he would inspect parts before you take them to make sure they were good, no...
  8. Lou C

    Hydrolock, swim platform, riser height and static water line question

    looks like this was dropped after machining, I see a chunk taken out and some dings in the sealing surface...I'd send that back.
  9. Lou C

    Proper Engine Oil Level

    And going back to the first post if you do not run and warm up the engine before changing you will NEVER get all the old oil out. When I do mine I warm it up and using the garden hose adapter it sucks the pan dry at the end it’s sucking air. The OMC/Volvo drain system actually has the drain tube...
  10. Lou C

    1988 Merc 5.0XL with alpha drives engine replacement suggestions

    Charlie why not do some diagnostics and see if you can figure out the source of water intrusion. If the water has not been in the oil a long time you might be able to do repairs depending on the situation. If your boat is not covered with 6-12” of snow that is! 4 years ago I had water in a cyl...
  11. Lou C

    Hydrolock, swim platform, riser height and static water line question

    I would not use that, those are Volvo OE?
  12. Lou C

    When to change bellows on a SX-A drive?

    I would pull the drive and inspect the gimble bearing and u joints. If they are grease-able I'd grease them but these newer boats usually have permanently lubed gimble bearings and u joints. For the bellows, with the drive off tilt up the pivot housing and look in the folds closely with a bright...
  13. Lou C

    Volvo Penta 5.7Gi Closed Cooling Question

    Usually what will happen is that some trapped air will exit when the thermostat fully opens, and it may have if you ran it at 3000 rpm in neutral a the dock. Does your heat exchanger have a removable cap on it? If not then the way you did it is probably fine. If it does have a cap I'd let it...
  14. Lou C

    Volvo Penta 5.7Gi Closed Cooling Question

    Honestly I don’t think it will make much difference. One thing I’d suggest is: Before running it up on plane make sure to bleed all the air out of the heat exchanger. I like the Lisle radiator funnel, this gadget makes it easy to bleed cooling systems without spilling antifreeze all over the...
  15. Lou C

    Overhauling my 1988 MerCruiser 4.3 ltr. engine

    That's an electric choke model, no need for the choke heat tube but as noted you might want to evaluate the condition of both carbs, see which one is in better condition. Getting old neglected carbs clean can be very difficult, an ultrasonic cleaner might be the only way.
  16. Lou C

    Red engine motor year mystery

    here are some pix, this is the OMC Charcoal Grey, in the last pic the exhaust is Barr black, in the last pic you can see how under certain lighting conditions the grey and black look similar but are not the same. I would not worry too much about the engine change, because if you look at sellers...
  17. Lou C

    Please help looking at a boat tomorrow

    Quite honestly I wouldn’t buy an old Merc I/O here either the transom mounts fall apart in salt water. The Cobra transom assembly holds up better by far. No leaks no rotted steering arms no play in the hinge pins. I have not had to replace any major component in the drive since I bought it in...
  18. Lou C

    Red engine motor year mystery

    Om my engine when I did the top end overhaul I painted the new heads etc with OMC charcoal grey and the new Barr exhaust I just left black. You can definitely see the difference. That said they might have used different shades of the charcoal grey.
  19. Lou C

    Red engine motor year mystery

    The Volvos weren’t black they were a charcoal grey just like my OMC. However Mercrusiers and new and reman GM marine engines were black.
  20. Lou C

    First time buyer

    And if you like buying 5 years old knock off 15-20k!
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