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  1. Lou C

    Help please

    Boat looks to be in good shape. As noted the issue is parts availability and the difficulty in converting it over to a modern drivetrain (Old style Volvo, large transom cut out, won't take a modern drive system without fiberglass work). Check it all over for rot, if you find rot forget it...
  2. Lou C

    1997 5.7 Gi fuel system

    Read on the Holley forums you will see that these can be troublesome too. Learn, know and love your carb. Some of us grew up with cars that had carbs and learned how to deal with them in all kinds of weather. Every 6 years or so I take my Quadrajet apart clean it out and re assemble with a $55...
  3. Lou C

    1992 Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha One Gen II has water in oil after rebuild.

    What I would have done first: Replace the hoses that feed water from the stat housing to the exhaust manifolds with clear hose. Put the boat in the water and run it long enough to get the engine hot enough to keep the stat open. Get someone to run it above idle while you check if there are...
  4. Lou C

    1997 5.7 Gi fuel system

    Have you made sure that: The choke fully or nearly fully closes with a cold engine The choke pull off pulls the choke plate open a fraction of an inch after started The electric heated choke fully opens after a few minutes Marine carbs do not have automatic fast idle cams as you’d have in...
  5. Lou C

    350/5.7 Exhaust valve seal leak + low compression

    The heads have to come off. Both pics show evidence of water leaking in from the exhaust or other sources and you have either bad valve seals and/or guides. Here’s a pic of my old engine when I had the manifolds off to change them. At the time the engine was 23 years old used in salt approx...
  6. Lou C

    Water on top of pistons and rockers

    I can’t believe that there aren’t the holes in the Y pipe for the steel rod that the flapper pivots on. They would be under the rubber hose that connects the exhaust elbow to the Y pipe. Only thing I could think of is someone removed the flappers and filled in the holes with something like steel...
  7. Lou C

    Water on top of pistons and rockers

    here's what it looks like installed. Not saying it's the only way water gets in but I'd put them back in.
  8. Lou C

    Water on top of pistons and rockers

    not necessarily, if you slow down fast it can surge up the hoses connecting the Y pipe with the elbows. If you never had to slow down fast then it might not happen. Mercruiser never dropped their flappers. So either you have flappers in the Y pipe, or you remove the exhaust bellows and fit an...
  9. Lou C

    Water on top of pistons and rockers

    Are there holes in the Y pipe for the rod that retains the flapper to pass through? If so someone removed them at some point. As long as the holes are there you can buy the parts & reinstall. I certainly would. I’ve had this boat 18 years moored in salt water 6 months out of the year and never...
  10. Lou C

    1992 Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha One Gen II has water in oil after rebuild.

    When you said “frozen” do you mean locked up or freeze damaged?
  11. Lou C

    Water on top of pistons and rockers

    The flapper would have been installed in the Y pipe by OMC at the factory, I doubt Renken or any boat company would have changed what the factory set up on their sterndrive packages. EXHAUST & COOLING - 1991 OMC Stern Drive 5.7 574BPERGD | Crowley Marine part # 32, just like all the first run...
  12. Lou C

    Water on top of pistons and rockers

    Are the exhaust flappers intact and installed correctly? Do you see any leaks around the joint between the exhaust elbow and the exhaust manifold? does this boat sit very low in the stern? You need 13-14" between the static water line and the tops of the exhaust elbows to prevent water from...
  13. Lou C

    Temp gauge vs. laser thermometer at thermostat housing

    On my engine I got the closest to the dash gauge reading from the intake manifold right under the thermostat housing, about 10-15* lower than the dash gauge.
  14. Lou C

    Throw out the one piece manifolds and water pump?

    I had a couple of sets of the OMC version of those and that's what I did. Brought them to the scrap yard for what I could get. Wise to get rid of them before you had a hydrolock.
  15. Lou C

    Temp gauge vs. laser thermometer at thermostat housing

    Yes that’s what I have found.
  16. Lou C

    1990 marine 4.3 CAM AND LIFTERS

    Also while it may seem that the engine was locked up, if the drive is still on, it could be locked up and not allowing the engine to turn. Might want to pull the drive off first, before pulling the engine apart unless you know for sure already.
  17. Lou C

    1990 marine 4.3 CAM AND LIFTERS

    at that time the OMC model numbers would be like this: 434APRGDP (mine) this translates as 4.3 engine 4= 4bbl carb A= first run of this model P= power steering R= right hand rotation (standard) as you face the front of the engine GDP= 1988 production your model # is probably on that port side...
  18. Lou C

    Vortec or not?

    The Vortec intakes are easy to find you can get them new or used, I have a couple of spare pre Vortec ones I bought for my old pre Vortec 4.3. They can rust out if raw water cooled in salt water (right under the thermostat housing).
  19. Lou C

    Vortec or not?

    Look at your intake manifold and count the bolts holding it to the cyl heads.... 12 bolts = pre Vortec 8 bolts = Vortec
  20. Lou C

    Performance question

    There's a lot not known here. The original engine would have been a 350 with a 4bbl Quadrajet, with a Prestolite points & mechanical advance distributor. I'd start with a compression test, that will help track down lost power, what carb does it have? Get rid of the auto distributor as Scott...
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