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    Closed cooling upgrade?

    Re-powering both engines..... 4.3 Vortec 4 barrel... Alpha 1 gen 2.... My question is it worth doing a closed cooling upgrade considering I am installing new manifolds, risers, and new engines? Not sure if the outdrives have an effect on closed cooling.... Never had closed cooling, but if I am...
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    Initial start for 4.3 mercruiser ??

    So I am still a bit away from this, but I am trying to get all my ducks in order..... Buttoning up swapping over all the accessories to my new 4.3's.... (1998 4v carbs)... Upon initial start on the hard on muffs, how long should I run it? I am thinking I will set initial timing after it warms up...
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    How to clean stainless props

    I have some residual marine growth on my stainless props.... I looks like white spots that was left over from scrapping barnacles off. Any advice as to how to remove this stuff.... it's pretty tough to get off..... Also should I paint them with antifoul to avoid this issue next year?
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    Rear mounts?

    Alpha 1 gen 2..... Is there a surefire way to determine if the rear mounts are good.... I have both 4.3's out, and want to be sure they are ok before I reinstall them... Thanks
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    Alpha gen 2 water leak???

    So I still have not nailed down where the water was coming from... All bellows look okay..... I was now thinking possibly the steering shaft pin..... How can I determine if this is the source of my leak, and secondly how do I change it if so.... I have drives off, and engine out.... (for the...
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    Hot water heater.....??

    So I am going to replace my hot water heater..... I do not have the lines that run from the engine to heat the water when I do not have shore power hooked up.... my question is which lines do I run to the heat exchanger so I can have hot water from the engine? Thanks
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    4.3 engine ???

    So I pulled both engines...I broke down all the accessories off both, and once I got done I just wanted to see if there was anything amiss.... Not sure if this is ok...(I don't think so)..... I put compressed air in the spark plug holes.... first 2 were not very exciting.... 3rd one (number 5...
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    Pulled engines & can't identify leak?

    So I pulled my twin 4.3's yesterday from my Searay 290 DA..... I was not sure what I would find regarding a water leak behind the port motor... And of course I could find no evidence of where the leak is coming from.... Definitely something leaking, but not really sure where from, and how to...
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    Remanned engine break-in ??

    Installing 2 remanned engines.... So they will be on the hard for a while.... Is it ok to run them on the muffs to dial them in? I realize that it is better to break in under a load. Not sure how long I can run on muffs prior to putting her in the water in the spring?? TIA
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    Noise from Alpha when turning driveshaft

    I pulled the drives on my Searay 290DA... Noticed a little noise when turning the u-joint drive shaft.... Not associated with u-joints, but sounds like a rubbing noise on a dry seal or something like that.... Prop shaft turns nice and smooth This happens on both drives. I don't remember it from...
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    Barr manifold kit

    Anyone have any experience with the Barr manifold, risers, and spacers? I am changing engines, and might as well change everything..... Thanks
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    Removing 4.3 from Searay

    Gonna pull the engines out of my 290 DA.... Any advice is greatly appreciated....
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    Removing 4.3 Port engine ?

    So it looks as if I will be removing the port engine on my Searay 290 DA.... After I pull the drive how involved is this procedure.... I see fuel lines, power steering, risers, etc.... then 2 bolts in the rear, and 2 mounts on the stringers.... The electrical, is that just the one big connector...
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    RPM & Speed effected by barnacles ?

    So I have been fighting more than one issue evidently.. Got my port motor running finally, and went out this morning. Ran fine except it wouldn't rev over 3800. Stbd revved to 4200. So I decided to check props..... Trailered up the alpha's and I found moderate growth of barnacles on both...
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    Water leaking into bilge?? Searay 290 DA

    So I have had an annoying problem all year... Today I decided to try to figure out what the reason that I have 1.5 inches of water in my bilge.... I know rain etc. but I vacuumed out the water and started port engine, and I can see water trickling down the back of the transom... I cannot really...
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    Thunderbolt 4 or 5

    I think I have a 4, but I do see a purple/white wire. Not sure how to proceed.
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    4.3 vortec timing marks?

    So I wanted to check the timing on my port engine to verify that it is indeed set correctly.... I look at the front cover, and see that there is one "tab" with a notch in it. I assume that this is the mark that is used to determine the timing. I look at the harmonic balancer and see only on...
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    4.3 cut out while on plane?

    So I was out today to try to figure out if I have an issue.... I was out last week and I seemed to loose rpm, and speed (about 200 rpm, and 2 mph). It was rough out, and I had a load on, so I thought that may be the issue. Fast forward.... I went out, and found that she was still a bit...
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    Loss of RPM and speed??

    1998 Searay 290 DA.... Twin 4.3's.... Alpha 1 gen 2.... Out in some nasty seas with a heavier than normal load (probably 400 extra pounds)... On the way back noticed that it took a bit longer to get on plane. I had to pin the throttles (which I normally don't have to do to get on plane). I also...
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    4.3 spin on water seperator

    I am going to change the water separators on my 4.3's.... I am thinking I may have a problem re-priming the fuel system with such a large empty filter... Is it necessary, and appropriate to fill them prior to installing them? I don't want to burn out a starter trying to fill the filters???
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