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  1. Brentathon

    Anode Continuity - a must do

    Always check continuity with a multimeter, especially when first installing. You’d be surprised how often you WON’T have a good electrical bond, without cleaning, buffing, scraping the contact surfaces. I also use a dremel and wire wheel in bolt threads. The white zinc oxide that often remains...
  2. Brentathon

    BEWARE of Faulty 87290A4 Thermostat Housing sold on Amazon!

    Here's a pic of my old GLM housing, and the new housing from Amazon which I believe is counterfeit; not just because it doesn't say "GLM" in the casting, or that it's missing the internal hole that allows the water from the drive to enter into the engine's circulation loop, but also there's...
  3. Brentathon

    BEWARE of Faulty 87290A4 Thermostat Housing sold on Amazon!

    I did have an issue one time, when I mixed GLM manifolds with Sierra elbows (or vise versa, I forget); there was a slight interference that prevented a good seal between the two, which wasn’t noticeable until I realized I couldn’t achieve the 25 ft lbs torque… instead, the bolts actually...
  4. Brentathon

    BEWARE of Faulty 87290A4 Thermostat Housing sold on Amazon!

    Yes!…me too. And the outdrive install gasket kit.
  5. Brentathon

    BEWARE of Faulty 87290A4 Thermostat Housing sold on Amazon!

    During my troubleshooting, I removed the Quicksilver thermostat and checked it on the stove (in a pot), along with a spare Sierra t-stat. The Quicksilver opened right at 140F, and the Sierra opened closer to 150F and didn’t open as wide as the Quicksilver.
  6. Brentathon

    BEWARE of Faulty 87290A4 Thermostat Housing sold on Amazon!

    I recently purchased a supposed GLM 13230 (Mecruiser # 87290A4) on Amazon, and it's missing the hidden internal hole, and caused my 5.7 to overheat! Ughhh!!!! This part also doesn't have the "GLM" letters cast into the housing, like the one I'm replacing, so it's suspect whether it's truly a...
  7. Brentathon

    5.7 Cast Iron Intake Manifold - Salt (‘raw’) Water Cooled

    Well… I just spoke to my mechanic that I’ve used off/on for the last 28 years… He said he thinks he’s only changed one cast iron intake manifold for rusting through…and thinks I can continue to run this thing. Interesting…
  8. Brentathon

    5.7 Cast Iron Intake Manifold - Salt (‘raw’) Water Cooled

    So…. I’m wondering if I should bother to replace the intake manifold…because it’s original since 1991. Can that be done with motor remaining in boat…? The block and heads were likely decent enough condition in 2007, when I got the rebuilt long block.
  9. Brentathon

    5.7 Cast Iron Intake Manifold - Salt (‘raw’) Water Cooled

    Maybe you were referring to exhaust manifolds. I was referencing intake manifolds.
  10. Brentathon

    5.7 Cast Iron Intake Manifold - Salt (‘raw’) Water Cooled

    Yep… it’s a 1991; the long block was replaced in 2007 with a rebuilt, and that’s the original intake manifold. I don’t think they make this iron manifold anymore… “pre-vortec”, and I only have 1 inch clearance under the engine cover (i.e. deck), so I’m not sure if the vortec is a “high rise”...
  11. Brentathon

    5.7 Cast Iron Intake Manifold - Salt (‘raw’) Water Cooled

    5 - 10 years??? I’ve owned this ‘91 boat since 1999, and that’s the original intake manifold. I also know someone who owned a 1991 wellctaft with the same engine, and there’s wasn’t rotted out, yet, in 2019 when they got rid of it.
  12. Brentathon

    5.7 Cast Iron Intake Manifold - Salt (‘raw’) Water Cooled

    How long do these cast iron manifolds last?…. Geez. 😬 This is saltwater cooled since 1991. I guess ya just run them until they fail….?
  13. Brentathon

    Thread repair on Bell Housing

    Ughh… I cross-threaded the brass shift cable housing part into my bell housing (Alpha One - “gen I”). I believe it’s a straight pipe thread; 1/4-18 NPS, while the shift cable housing has a tapered pipe fitting. I plan to use a NPS tap to clean up threads, and see how damaged they are. Has...
  14. Brentathon

    Shift Cable Replacement

    The answer to my question is YES. I was able to replace the lower shift cable INCLUDING the shift cable bellows, without removing the bell housing. I had to cut the bellows clamp off with a dremel, because I positioned it as they picture it throughout the merc service manual, but NOT how it’s...
  15. Brentathon

    Shift Cable Replacement

    Thanks! But I guess I was mainly wondering if I can replace the shift bellows, too… without removing the bell housing.
  16. Brentathon

    Shift Cable Replacement

    On an Alpha One (1st gen)… Can I replace the lower shift cable WITHOUT removing the Bell Housing? I really don’t feel like messing with or replacing the U-joint and Exhaust bellows….just yet. I just want to just replace the shift cable. Has anyone done this with Bell Housing not removed? Thanks!
  17. Brentathon

    I Lost Reverse

    1990 5.7 Alpha One (Gen I). Was stalling when first launched the boat in spring; I adjusted the 6” shift cable dimension with the brass barrel nut (didn’t have to adjust it much); then it shifted fine up until last time I used it. Wouldn’t go into reverse (gears chattered), or would stall. So...
  18. Brentathon

    Alpha One Stalls in Reverse only when giving gas

    I think it's fixed; will try more tomorrow. I took shift cable off of assembly, pushed the end of the cable in as I rotated/locked the prop in gear (i.e. counterclockwise); then measured the distance from brass barrel nut to end, and it was about 0.100" too short. A couple turns on the barrel...
  19. Brentathon

    Alpha One Stalls in Reverse only when giving gas

    I have an 5.7 Alpha One ("Gen 1"); and it shifts fine in forward and into reverse. But if/when I go to give it throttle in Reverse, it stalls. I can see the Lever Assy (13051A4) actuate the cut-out switch on the shift bracket. Would that be a sign of the lower shift cable being bad?.... even...
  20. Brentathon

    5.7L Vortec vs Pre-Vortec Height Dimension?

    Yes.... that’s exactly what I’m looking for.... the difference going from my Rochester Quadrajet 4-barrel to the Vortec (higher intake manifold?) and I believe they use a 2-barrel..?
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