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  1. Lou C

    Camshaft Replacement on Vortec 4.3L 262

    You can tell if your engine came off that line because the GM serial # in the front starboard side of the block will have a T for Tonawanda in the serial #… Mine did & definitely had the stainless head gaskets when I took it apart…
  2. Lou C

    4.3lx intake manifold question

    I think you’ve got something else going on there. I have a pre Vortec 4.3 with the standard cyl head design and with the 4bbl Quadrajet & a 15.5x15 prop (heavy 20’ boat) it easily pulls up to & slightly over 5,000 rpm.
  3. Lou C

    Camshaft Replacement on Vortec 4.3L 262

    Was going to add that, make sure the cam overlap won’t cause reversion. When they went to the Vortec heads in ‘96, the 4.3s were seen as more susceptible to reversion (not sure if it’s the head design or cam, Scott do you know?). V/P made a few changes to off set this, they added one way check...
  4. Lou C

    1995 5.0L Carb Replacement Options

    What???!!!! Is this a Mercarb 2 bbl? Why not remove the carb yourself & have it rebuilt at a classic car shop or do it yourself? I’d want to see the insides first… $1500 Highway robbery You can get brand new Holley or Edelbrock 4 bbls for less than that! As in, half as much
  5. Lou C

    Does this sound right? Mercruiser 4.3 Low Compression

    Agreed there is better advice here than anywhere. When I took the old 4.3 apart 5 years ago it was the first real engine repair I ever did, (even though I maintained all our vehicles since the 70s) lots of small skills to learn along the way…cleaning parts properly, cleaning out bolt hole...
  6. Lou C

    Four weens 1990 freedom throttle shifter

    Those old OMC shifters are probable NLA. I’d just get a modern one like a Teleflex (Seastar). I still have one on mine they were pretty good actually. The OMC or latter BRP ones may only work with their engines whereas the Seastar is adaptable to OMC Merc or Volvo
  7. Lou C

    Does this sound right? Mercruiser 4.3 Low Compression

    Do a leak down test, if your bottom end is good, you might be able to just do this.... Here in Long Island NY parts prices were about $750 for the reman heads, new gasket set and ARP cyl head bolts.
  8. Lou C

    SX-M Lower Gear Housing

    well, are you going to be able to set up the gears in the new housing yourself? if you've done differentials and have a Volvo manual and whatever tools you will need, maybe OK but for us typical do it yourselfers that's not practical if you want a good outcome. I would try to get a good rebuilt...
  9. Lou C

    Does this sound right? Mercruiser 4.3 Low Compression

    Agreed the shop didn't do enough diagnostic work to really say what's needed. All that might be needed is a valve job! Not that hard to do on those engines and parts are cheap.
  10. Lou C

    4.3 V6 leaks wet oil sump

    Agreed I'd want to take the time to really clean that up and try to see just where it is leaking from. May be the front cover. Ironically I have not had leaks from the old tin pan and timing cover on my ancient 1988 4.3. I've been spraying them every few years with Corrosion X to keep em from...
  11. Lou C

    Blew the coolant hose from thermostat housing to water circulator / starboard riser hotter than port side- Do I need a new riser or circulating pump?

    Make sure that you have no rust clogging the outlets in the stat housing that feed the manifolds, and that there are no impeller bits in the hoses that feed the manifolds, esp the one with the hot elbow (riser). You might try: clean the outlet ports in the stat housing, blow thru the hoses...
  12. Lou C

    Yamaha with Water in Oil

    Yes I had 2 blown HGs water in the oil & normal compression test results.
  13. Lou C

    Do you use non ethanol gas ?

    And as far as E10 I haven’t really had a problem with it in the boat (4.3 4bbl Quadrajet) outboard (Suzuki DF 2.5) and 3 four stroke & 5 two stroke yard engines. The ones with bowl style carbs I do drain when stored. The oldest 2 stroke is a 25 year old Toro snowblower with a Suzuki 2 stroke and...
  14. Lou C

    Do you use non ethanol gas ?

    A shortage to most is a lack of available supply due to various causes. Now, as in 1973/4 and 1979 there is no true shortage there was then and is now a politically caused decrease in supply. Everything that was done in this country to avoid a repeat of 1973/4 and 1979 & the ensuing years of...
  15. Lou C

    2016 Mercruiser 6.2 ECT - long beep every few minutes???

    Get your seats sewn & codes read with Ted! It rhymes lol
  16. Lou C

    2016 Mercruiser 6.2 ECT - long beep every few minutes???

    Ted, yet another business for you!
  17. Lou C

    Trailer Leafsprings Bottoming Out

    20 years same trailer with a heavy 20’ boat on a single. No failures!
  18. Lou C

    Trailer Leafsprings Bottoming Out

    My Load Rite & every other LR and Venture trailer I have ever seen is the same. When I changed the first axle years ago I had the same though as what you’re saying yet that is pretty much how it’s done. PS ever hear of a failure? My single axle has a 6000 lb axle on it and the load on it is...
  19. Lou C

    4.3 liter, the DC-10 of I/Os...

    However…. The main point of difference…the crankshaft…in the almost 20 years I’ve been on this site & others I’ve never heard of a 4.3 breaking a crank. Not once. Also one thing no one else mentioned: Unlike the SBC V8 none of the cyl head exhaust ports on the V6 are right next to each other...
  20. Lou C

    1988 omc 5.7 w/ omc outdrive rookie service

    And a GOOD CONDITION Quadrajet is far superior to a Holley. I tried the exact 4160 brand new that was set up for the 4.3s and it ran like crap. Took the time to really clean the QJet & rebuilt it with better quality parts and it ran 100 % better. The spread bore QJet when cleaned right & set up...
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