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  1. Lou C

    Restoring a trailer vs replacing a trailer

    For both axles that my trailer has had (3500 & later upgraded to 6,000) I kept on hand spare bearings & seals. Good to have just in case.
  2. Lou C

    Bought my first boat to cut, gut and rebuild from bow to stern, including engine. Killed my back and suffered the wrath of the fiberglass demons

    I did the tyvec suit taped the sleeved & gloves etc. That was 17 years ago I’m now 68 years old I still do a lot of mechanical work on the cars & boats but glass work I will GLADLY pay for. Like bottom paint no way would I ever lay under a boat & sand it for bottom painting.
  3. Lou C

    Bought my first boat to cut, gut and rebuild from bow to stern, including engine. Killed my back and suffered the wrath of the fiberglass demons

    That's exactly why I will never do another major resto on an old fiberglass boat. Minor repairs that don't involve a lot of grinding, ok but a gut out like that, no way. Just not worth it in terms of the payoff and health risks.
  4. Lou C

    Gas and Ethanol

    If you run the carb dry you won’t likely have problems. I have used Stabil or Marine Stabil not sure that it’s necessary but I’ve done that for years. I’ve have used fuel up to 2 years old without problems in the boat (4.3 Quadrajet) or any of the 8 small engines that I maintain including 4 & 2...
  5. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

    Nice work! I looked thru my OMC Cobra shop manual for the torque spec on the nuts that hold the coupler on the studs in the flywheel and they give 40-45 ft lbs. You can see 3 advantages that the Ford engines had over the GM engines... 1) oil filter up front don't need the complication of a...
  6. Lou C

    Honda BF75 "Making Oil" – Need Help with Thermostat in Cold Climate

    Because of the so called deposit build up in the cooling passages I actually tried a 140 stat one year & didn’t like it. Engine took forever to warm up and I had condensation in the exhaust system so went back to the 160*.
  7. Lou C

    Honda BF75 "Making Oil" – Need Help with Thermostat in Cold Climate

    If you do an oil analysis you may be able to tell if it’s fuel dilution, condensation or both. I wonder if Honda makes an optional thermostat for cold climates? I have used a 160 in my Chevy/OMC 4.3. This was the standard one used in many OMCs and Volvos. People say that in salt water you need...
  8. Lou C

    Bought my first boat to cut, gut and rebuild from bow to stern, including engine. Killed my back and suffered the wrath of the fiberglass demons

    I had mine gelcoated in non skid gelcoat. I will not have carpet in an open boat, plywood cored deck, in a coastal region, with constant moisture in the air. That, and the non-sealing of screw holes, is what kills decks and boat structure. All the rot in my original deck started right under the...
  9. Lou C

    Honda BF75 "Making Oil" – Need Help with Thermostat in Cold Climate

    I like to test thermostats even new ones, to make sure they open at the rated temp, but also that they close 100%. I have found that in salt water, with a raw water cooled engine, sticky thermostats are common. When that happens the engine will never fully warm up unless you keep it on plane for...
  10. Lou C

    Honda BF75 "Making Oil" – Need Help with Thermostat in Cold Climate

    Many OBs use a 140 stat you might need a 160 but not sure if Honda offers that.
  11. Lou C

    Mercruiser 3.0 Leaking Water On Top of Manifold

    Yep probing the drains is very important.
  12. Lou C

    Restoring a trailer vs replacing a trailer

    Take a look at Eastern Marines website they have info on the sizes of trailer bearings given the size of your spindle. I did the modify/restore trailer thing with my galvanized Load Rite over the years. The final version: Longest tongue I could get from Load Rite Longer roller bars, added more...
  13. Lou C

    2006 Trophy 2052WA 4.3 merc I/O

    One year I had a bit of oxidation on the tabs in the old style fuse box & glass fuses. Had me guessing for a while. Fuse had continuity not blown but the oxidation prevented current from flowing across the tabs.
  14. Lou C

    2006 Trophy 2052WA 4.3 merc I/O

    Do the gauges power up when you turn on the ignition to the first notch? If not check the fuse for the ignition in the fuse box.
  15. Lou C

    Easiest Conversion

    A 4.3 will need side mounts in front just like a V8 except 3.5” shorter. If the engine compartment is wide enough for the V6 it would be a very good power source for a boat that size. Shorter but wider than the 4 cyl but with much more low end torque.
  16. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

    Agreed I use triple guard on the D/S splines & use Lucas Marine grease on the gimble bearing & ujoints. Triple guard also on the prop shaft splines.
  17. Lou C

    Moving outdrive with engine off?

    Old style Cobra with the Bendix style actuator can be moved side to side from the drive end. Older Merc & OMC both used the same Bendix style actuator which was also used on cars back in the 60s and 70s (Corvettes and unit body Fords). Thats' why you can still get parts to rebuild the actuator.
  18. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

    Don't know if you can source it where you are, but the best grease I have found for driveshaft splines is the Evinrude Triple Guard grease, it is sticky and clings on like crazy. When I pull it at the end of the season, there is still grease on them. However, if someone was to run one of these...
  19. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

    I think that delamination would happen from bad alignment, sagging engine mounts, etc but spline wear I think is more so due to people never pulling the drive and greasing the splines. That is a regular maintenance item, that many people ignore. Merc at least put grease fittings on theirs, now...
  20. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

    What seems to make couplers last a long time: Proper alignment Pulling the drive regularly and using a good grease like OMC/Evinrude Triple Guard on the splines. My 1988 Cobra still has the original coupler.
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