88 spl.... what did i miss

[boredindaboro]

OK, took on boat sitting for 3 plus years and Never ran right before that as long as I can remember. I resurfaced the heads, rest of rotating mass seems OK. 120 psi across all for cylinders, new water deflectors, serviced lower unit, ordered the following. 1 thermostat kit, 2 carb rebuild kits, 1 fuel pump rebuild kit, 1 water pump kit. Will flush the fuel tank and put new bulb and line on, check all coils, new plugs and wires, new battery. Anything major I missed? Trying to resurrect this old girl. Let me know what parts or steps I may have missed. Thank you all.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Id pull the flywheel and check wirings ok, no bolts a lose especially the base plate ones.
Probably change top seal

 

[boredindaboro]

If I have spark and it idles then I will check the seal pull flywheel and such. I will inspect the wires visually until then. Just found out I need 1000 in dental work and tonight my car threw a check engine light so my budget is TIGHT!! Will idle with a bad top seal hurt it just to run more diagnostics? Goal is in the water buy the new year. I plan on checking all cylinders for spark. I know with it sitting it will need seals but I do not want to just change all the parts. I've been very strategic in my so called rebuild. The wires are probably in the factory position as the previous owner doesn't know what maintenance is.. lol

 

[Bosunsmate]

$1000 i bet that doesnt get you much too.
I dont have sugar much anymore as my mate who drunk a lot of fizz needed 28 fillings, thatd bankrupt me.
Just blow some oil into the top cylinder and spin it a couple of times, in case it does run dry from a bad seal.
Check engine lights are handy, my old nissan use to just crap out whenever/wherever without giving any warning.
You can normally read the code for that yourself without going to the dealer- depending on your car its often just the 02 sensor and some contact cleaner often fixs that

 

[boredindaboro]

Would a bad top seal cause it to run dry on oil or coolant? Little confused? The car is the problem I thought it was. Plugged egr passage. I have to pull and clean all the intake passages. Just wanted to check the code to be 100% sure. Car has 234000 on it and this is the first sensor issue cel. Known Honda issues. The boat is my concern now. Anyway to check that top seal while running? Any sign to look for? Thanks

 

[Bosunsmate]

If the top seal wears, it will suck air in and that cylinder runs lean so less oil and hotter. That seal doesnt go often but its bad when it does so i always change it in any motor im rebuilding as they normally a only a few dollars especially if you get the old one matched up at a engineering shop or find the size on line.
Often the ID and OD are provided in some part listings.

Symptoms of a leaking top seal are that you get an occassional backfire at idle, the plug is lighter than the others, occassionally it will throw fuel out the top and you will see it dribble under the flywheel and down the side

Ive heard of that plug the egr trick, never quite followed it but some people swear by it