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  1. Lou C

    Waterproof engine compartment?

    Maybe you can fab up something from a piece of sheetmetal, to make it lower profile?
  2. Lou C

    Compression test procedures for 4.3L GXI-E

    In addition to this: 1) warm up the engine first, cold comp tests are not that accurate 2) when cranking the engine without starting your impeller is still going to be turning, so I'd keep the water on like half way just to make sure the impeller gets lubrication.
  3. Lou C

    Waterproof engine compartment?

    how about a drain gutter attached to the underside of one of the cushions that spans the gap between them, then if it dumps water in front of the engine, not behind, you should avoid getting the distributor wet etc. A piece of that plastic gutter extension stuff (you know the stuff you use to...
  4. Lou C

    OK Merc guys got a question about using a 140* stat...

    I'm posting this on the Merc board even though I have the OMC because I feel I'll get more responses and its a generic question. OK I've had the OMC for a long time, and all their engines came with a 160 stat as did most Volvo engines, whereas Merc did use a 140 stat in their older...
  5. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 cracked intake manifold

    I doubt it is loctite, it might just be gasket sealer, I'd clean it off to make sure your torque readings are accurate, anything that puts a drag on the threads can result in your inadvertently overtorquing things. When I did mine I just put a light coat of OMC gasket sealer on the threads (this...
  6. Lou C

    4.3 Mercruiser Spark knocking at high rpm

    Agreed it is a bit frightening to imagine what would happen to a 4.3 V6 with the offset crank throws at 6000 rpm! I have mine propped for 4900-5000 rpm lightly loaded, that makes it perfect with a normal load. The fact that they adjusted the timing makes me think that at least that should be...
  7. Lou C

    85 3.6 V6 OMC stringer poor or no throttle response/bog high altitude when in gear

    yep
  8. Lou C

    4.3 Mercruiser Spark knocking at high rpm

    PS both gas docks I use sell only 93 octane; I’m not saying the engines were designed for that but in all the years I’ve had this boat I have not had pinging or detonation. PPS if you have the one piece Merc manifolds on that V6 think about getting rid of them and converting over to the 2 piece...
  9. Lou C

    4.3 Mercruiser Spark knocking at high rpm

    It’s possible your fuel mix might be excessively lean; high running temps can also cause this. What do the center electrode insulators on the spark plugs look like? Before changing any parts I’d want to see what your total timing advance is at the specified rpm. Spark knock can also be due to...
  10. Lou C

    OMC 5.0 Part ID?

    It works well I have not removed that drain plug in years. Now if you pull the drive for the winter, that will naturally drain because as soon as you pull the drive away from the transom mount it drains. What I did with mine is to drill a small hole in the plastic water fitting in the pivot...
  11. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 cracked intake manifold

    Glad to help out. The 35 ft lbs is for the pre-vortec that I have. I saw that bulletin as well, I'm not sure who made the mistake (GM or Merc) but yes there was confusion about that. Its because the composition of the gasket changed, the older ones were not as sensitive to overtorquing, the new...
  12. Lou C

    1992 Mercruiser 4.3 w/ balance shaft and 1 piece rear main seal swap to newer year Vortec.

    What’s the approx weight of the boat? Even a Vortec 4.3 & an Edelbrock performer intake would be good for about 240 hp. Most would go for the Vortec because it adds 20-25 hp. However the intake manifold gaskets were a bit more prone to leaks although this should be long past by now. Personally...
  13. Lou C

    4.3l omc dist. advance weight

    Yes they are different sizes
  14. Lou C

    85 3.6 V6 OMC stringer poor or no throttle response/bog high altitude when in gear

    Do you have a Rochester Quadrajet? If so I’d go over to Cliffs High Performance and ask on their forum. Not only will he know he also sells the parts you might need. Your problem may be the fact that the air density is so much less at altitude and your fuel mix which is calibrated for sea level...
  15. Lou C

    1992 Mercruiser 4.3 w/ balance shaft and 1 piece rear main seal swap to newer year Vortec.

    Standard 5.7 is about 270 or so hp so no prob with the Alpha
  16. Lou C

    1992 Mercruiser 4.3 w/ balance shaft and 1 piece rear main seal swap to newer year Vortec.

    If you have the room in front it can be done 3.5–>4” longer. You will have to use V8 manifolds, elbows are probably the same and rejet the carb to allow for the greater displacement so the engine doesn’t run too lean. Also your top speed won’t be as high as it could be due to the 4.3 gear ratio...
  17. Lou C

    1992 Mercruiser 4.3 w/ balance shaft and 1 piece rear main seal swap to newer year Vortec.

    Rick are there any other mods to be done if you are putting Vortec heads on a non balance shaft block (but with roller cam)? Pushrods rocker arms etc? Though of doing this when I did my top end overhaul but thought there was more to it so I just replaced the old heads with reman pre Vortec heads...
  18. Lou C

    1992 Mercruiser 4.3 w/ balance shaft and 1 piece rear main seal swap to newer year Vortec.

    Yes the exhaust manifolds will work and the carb should as well, you will need a Vortec intake manifold (8 bolts vs 12).
  19. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 cracked intake manifold

    Those gaskets (Vortec style) have a plastic base and a rubber style sealing ring, they also have locator tabs that fit into holes in the cyl head so you don't need sealer for them, unless you have pitting/corrosion around the water ports on the cyl heads. I think yours looked pretty clean. On...
  20. Lou C

    4.3 GXI - 2007 blowing hoses off

    Here's a schematic of the OMC/Volvo thermostat housing design, if that bypass port clogs you can see how pressure delivered by the impeller can build up and put pressure on the hose from the impeller housing to the thermostat housing. Also if they have never been checked it may be time to check...
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