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  1. Lou C

    Cleaning Manifolds & Risers

    Those would need to be machined flatter than that for them to seal. You want to be flat enough that when you lay a mechanics straightedge across them a .002” feeler gauge won’t fit in. Otherwise you will have water leaking back in the engine via an open exhaust valve. This will lead to engine...
  2. Lou C

    Air don't freeze... RV antifreeze DOES!

    I have been recycling mine for like 30 years. I don't think I'd want a flammable substance in water drains! PG antifreeze is the way to go, just use the highest concentration you can.
  3. Lou C

    Air don't freeze... RV antifreeze DOES!

    I think it all depends on your boating environment. I bet leaf springs don't rust to crap in 4 years in fresh water, but they surely do here. So my logic, I spray the springs 2x a year with Corrosion X they last me 8-10 years, and aren't even corroded just getting flattened out so I replace...
  4. Lou C

    Air don't freeze... RV antifreeze DOES!

    This is the cheapest, and the best alternative IMHO. Good enough corrosion protection to use as engine coolant, and if you have the refractometer you can blend it to give more freeze protection....50/50 with water gives approx -26*F.
  5. Lou C

    Overheat on 5.0 with SX outdrive

    Just to give you an idea what this involves....and this is just a simple cyl head replacement. Like I said the cleaning and prep takes most of the time....
  6. Lou C

    Air don't freeze... RV antifreeze DOES!

    West Marine has a good article about this on their website, and they specifically do NOT recommend -50 or -60 for areas that get close to or below zero in winter. IMHO those are only good for very mild winter climates. Yet, that is most of what they sell. When my brother asked me to winterize...
  7. Lou C

    Air don't freeze... RV antifreeze DOES!

    But -100 won’t freeze till about -55*F and then there’s -200… The problem with the antifreezes most people use is understanding the difference between freeze point and burst point. Also when checking freeze points I think a decent quality refractometer is a must, the floating balls types tend to...
  8. Lou C

    Mercruiser ECM replacement?

    The best aftermarket is the classic Chevrolet small block enough of everything to keep them running through the next apocalypse!
  9. Lou C

    Air don't freeze... RV antifreeze DOES!

    I’ve used -100 which was totally liquid at a bit below zero in my freezer and now I’m mixing up a batch of Sierra PG antifreeze 50/50 with water that gives freeze protection down to about -30. I use a refractometer to measure the freeze point of the mixture. In fresh water you probably don’t...
  10. Lou C

    I don't think this will buff out....

    But he at least put out a fender lol
  11. Lou C

    Overheat on 5.0 with SX outdrive

    Remember you have a Ford 5 liter (302 cu in) V8, parts aren’t as common as for GM V8s but they are out there. Those engines were used for decades in FoMoCo cars abs trucks. When I bought the cyl heads for my 4.3 V6 they were $275 each, gasket set was about 120 and new cyl head bolts were about...
  12. Lou C

    1989/1990 4.3 distributor

    There is a lube wick in the distributor shaft that you can see when you take off the rotor. All you have to do, is put a few drops of motor oil on that once a season, and just a little distributor cam grease on the distributor cam, and check the points to see if they are getting burned. Very...
  13. Lou C

    Re-upholstery Job on Cruisers Yacht 338 Bowrider

    Amazing work Ted. If you ever retire imagine what you could do! And we all know how hard it is to find people who do really good work, almost at any price.
  14. Lou C

    1989/1990 4.3 distributor

    There are ones in pretty good shape that pop up on eBay or NLA marine parts, most probably only need a set of points & condenser and have the centrifugal flyweights lubed up. BTW both Merc & OMC used the same Prestolite unit, Merc’s were painted black and OMCs were grey.
  15. Lou C

    1989/1990 4.3 distributor

    You will also need to change your ESA module for one that works with an electronic distributor (CDI electronics sells them).
  16. Lou C

    Overheat on 5.0 with SX outdrive

    Top end overhaul is not tough on those old school engines I’d say it’s within the ability of an experienced do it yourselfer. I would be concerned about the condition of the cyls; how long was salt water in the cyls? I had a similar problem salt water in 2 cyls from blown HGs but not enough to...
  17. Lou C

    Mercruiser ECM replacement?

    I can see both sides of the discussion, when you start changing things the devil is in the details, however, freedom from the marketing habits of the OEMs is one of the advantages of old school I/O power. In this case money wise it might be a wash, if all that the OP needs is the ECM, vs a new...
  18. Lou C

    Submersible trailer lights

    I looked into adding the factory LED's to my son's '17 Wrangler. The price for the pair (MSRP) is $878. We decided to do a Hella H-4 conversion instead. $260 or so and bulbs are easily replacable standard H-4 bulbs you can buy anywhere. Yes the LED lights are nice though you are right! Even the...
  19. Lou C

    Winter Storage/Cover with Radar Arch . . .

    We got about 6” on Long Island. Glad I put my winter cover on about a month ago.
  20. Lou C

    Corrosion on drive

    mooring in salt water is a whole 'nother world.... a constant battle with corrosion....
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