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  1. Lou C

    Oil level too high?

    My OMC 4.3 uses that exact same dipstick tube to the banjo bolt on the pan as VP used and it never takes as much to read full as the manual lists for the oil capacity. Another oddity I noticed, the oil level on the dipstick is affected by temperature. If it’s right at full when you have the...
  2. Lou C

    Boat Cover Ribs/Braces

    I forgot how much I paid for the fiberglass bows but they basically last forever. I guess seeing as how it was 15 years ago, probably 3x what I paid, lol! I like to buy good quality and once, if possible. The Taylor Made custom cover is also 15 years old, still looks good.
  3. Lou C

    Recycled my fresh water system antifreeze .Anyone else do this???

    toxic antifreeze = ethelyene glycol non tox antifreeze = propylene glycol
  4. Lou C

    Just thought I'd share a nice photo.

    It has to be really cold for this harbor to freeze, but some years it has frozen thick enough for people to play ice hockey on it. Usually the last 2 weeks of Jan, 1st 2 weeks of Feb...
  5. Lou C

    Boat Cover Ribs/Braces

    Agreed that’s why I use PVC poles to support the ridge beams. You don’t want any weight at all on the windshield frame.
  6. Lou C

    Boat Cover Ribs/Braces

    I used a combination of 8 fiberglass bows; 2 ridge beams (wood) & 3 support poles (pvc). I tape it together with duct tape and it’s held up great to as much as a foot of snow when we have bad winters. I figure I’ve saved over 3 grand over 15 years using this & not shrink wrapping. Also I...
  7. Lou C

    Recycled my fresh water system antifreeze .Anyone else do this???

    Yep those typical Prestone testers are only for ethylene glycol. A refractometer will do EG, PG and battery water. Very useful if you use a lot of PG antifreeze. I bought one to mix my own batch of PG from Sierra concentrate. It’s about $7 a gallon cheaper than -100. I don’t really like using...
  8. Lou C

    Recycled my fresh water system antifreeze .Anyone else do this???

    Refractometer is the way to go
  9. Lou C

    4.3 Carb vs 5.7 Carb

    Even if the carbs were identical; if they came from different displacement engines the jetting, metering rods; and various other parts will be different to allow for the greater volume of air flowed by a larger displacement engine.
  10. Lou C

    The Boating Season That Wasn't

    This is one of the problems with modern technologies…yeah they are great when they work, and they are USUALLY a lot more reliable than when we had engines with points distributors and carbs. However if there is a problem you can’t find they don’t seem able to easily find it; I don’t think that...
  11. Lou C

    New Carb conversion issues 5.7

    Did you add an oil pressure switch in line with the fuel pump? If the wiring for this isn't done correctly you can have intermittent fuel pump cut out problems. Is the carb new or reman? Did you replace the fuel filter? A bit of grit in the fuel inlet could cause this.
  12. Lou C

    My winter cover solution

    was able to do this job, with the cover still on! Just peeled the cover back, removed the last 2 bows, and folded the hinged ridge beam back. brought the old cyl heads to our hot rod shop in Lindenhurst Long Island and they advised replacing them due to cracks and eroded cooling passages. To me...
  13. Lou C

    My winter cover solution

    I got the idea from looking at a West Marine catalog seeing the bows. That would hold up to rain but definitely not snow load we can get here. So I added ridge beams in the front bow area and cockpit area that are supported by 3 PVC poles. 1 pole in the bow & 2 in the cockpit area. The cockpit...
  14. Lou C

    "Christmas staff fund charge" on my marina bill?

    That is exactly why I will only have small boats, that frees me from the highway robbery of "marinas". No thanks, I'll keep doing everything myself as long as I can.
  15. Lou C

    My winter cover solution

    I’ve been using this for 15+ years. Taylor custom cover & home made support system….
  16. Lou C

    Ford 302 pinging

    I think they all have a tendency for the fuel to dry up over time. Back when all our cars had carbs, we liked them or hated them partly based on how well they started when cold, if you live in a climate that gets real winter.
  17. Lou C

    Ford 302 pinging

    Not exactly... old school carbed engines in an auto application used an auto choke and a fast idle system, that allowed the engine to keep running on the choke, it needs like 1500 rpm to keep running when cold. In an auto application this happens automatically but in a marine application an...
  18. Lou C

    Ford 302 pinging

    “Three deuces & a 4 speed & a 389…listen to her tachin’ up listen to her wind…” Know the tune?
  19. Lou C

    Ford 302 pinging

    Even with that big OMC style thermostat housing? I think they used the 4160 with the side mount fuel inlet on the 4.3s because of that. I don’t think a front fuel inlet Holley will fit on the 4.3s. Not sure with those old Buicks haven’t seen one in years.
  20. Lou C

    Can a old mercruiser motor run very well with following pressures?

    Was that a cold or hot compression test? For it to be accurate the engine should be warmed up & throttle wide open. Is this a 4.3 V6 or the old in-line 6?
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