Rookie I/O

[Phish555]

New here, and just got home with my first I/O. I bought an 88 Fabuglas Jamaican 19' and it has a 4.3L v6 in it with an out drive. I need several things. The boat is imaculate inside and out. But I would like to obtain specs for the motor/drive, and also find out how to identify both, ie. fuel injected, alpha drive, ect.
I have had outboards before, but have NO experiance with I/Os.
Thanks in advance,
Phish555

 

[Don S]

Re: Rookie I/O

Just above the starter is a metal tag with the Mercruiser serial number on it. Usually starts with a 0 and a letter followed by 6 more numbers.
What is that serial number.
In 88, there were no fuel injected 4.3's, the Alpha drive is a Mercruiser.

 

[Phish555]

Re: Rookie I/O

Hi Don,
the numbers I found are Mercruiser transom assembly 0C310306 (on valve cover).
It is carburated like you said. Alpha one is the drive. I will look through the forum to find info like maint, ect...
Thanks for any more info you can give me.
Phish555

 

[Phish555]

Re: Rookie I/O

BTW, I bought the boat on ebay, and just did a NADA value on it. What are water injectected headers??
I selected the hydraulic steering option (single),
got a value of average retail of just over 6k, but the boat is so clean and in such good shape, I am sure it is worth a bit more than that.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Rookie I/O

Phish, The outdrive is an Alpha 1, generation 1, if it is original. Check the carborator. if it is a 4 barrel, then the model of the mercruiser is 4.3LX, and it will have 205HP. I think the two barrel carbs are 190HP.

That Mercruiser will also have water cooled manifolds and risers, if it doesn't have fresh water cooling (FWC). If you see a tubular heat exchanger with a cap that looks like a automobile radiator cap, it is likely FWC.

When you go for parts, the parts place will likely ask you if the P/S bracket is stamped steel or cast. For some reason, this makes a difference.

 

[John_S]

Re: Rookie I/O

The ebay auction number is 260209161573. A link was posted earlier. It looks to be in great shape for the year and I am partial to the older straight lines of a classic bowrider. The vynel looks to be new. The soft spot repair looks like it was just forward of gas tank, behind ski locker. Welcome to the world of boat ownership. Enjoy!

 

[Phish555]

Re: Rookie I/O

Wow guys, thanks for all the info. Chris, I believe it is a 2bbl carb, though I have not had the breather cover off yet. I did find the engine id plate on the other valve cover, and it states 175hp.
John, I had another link up earlier but I edited it out because it gave too much personal info.
It is as described in the auction. I had to do the buy it now feature because I knew it would go for that. The vinyl is new in Dec06, and same with the carpet.
I need to find an owners manuel for both the boat and the engine/drive. I am also looking into a custom fit cover.

 

[Phish555]

Re: Rookie I/O

One more thing. I have been reading the sticky "how to winterize". I know that the previous owner said all he had done was take off the top 2 hoses and pour antifreez into them.
Now, while I don't know what most of the stuff in the above document mean, I do know that being not winterized properly isn't good. What are a few simple things I can do right now to help prevent problems?
If the drive is down, will most of the water be drained out?
What is the approximate cost of having it winterized?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Rookie I/O

What are a few simple things I can do right now to help prevent problems?

Ayuh,......

It's probably abit Too Late,....
But,....
You can open the Block Drains,+ the Manifold Drains,+ See if antifreeze comes out or not.....

If Not,+ Water does come out,....
Open,+ Remove All the drains,........Also stick a nail or wire up into them to knock out any debris.....

Lowering the Drive,.... Only protects the Drive itself......

 

[Phish555]

Re: Rookie I/O

Took out the manifold drain plugs (2), and just a little bit dribbled out from them. It did smell and feel like it had some antifreez mixed with it.
Found 2 pitcock type valves on each side of the oil pan, opened them, and water is coming out of both. The previous owner said the boat was always garaged, and that may be very good for me considering how much water came out.

 

[Don S]

Re: Rookie I/O

Pouring antifreeze on top of the water doesn't mix it. When people pour AF in the hoses like that, they are supposed to drain the system completel FIRST, then pour in the AF.

PS, here is a link to the FREE online OEM service manual for your outdrive, sorry, nothing like that for the engine anymore.

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf

 

[Phish555]

Re: Rookie I/O

Don, thank you very much!
I don't know if I got all the drain plugs, (2 manifold, and 2 block), but Im sure the ones I did get will help.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Rookie I/O

If t's got Powersteering,.... The Cooler will also have Water in it,....

Pull 1 of the Big hoses off it,... Either 1....

I also pull the Big hose off the motors circulating pump too,.... It'll hold about a quart....

 

[Caveman Charlie]

Re: Rookie I/O

You should get yourself a shop service manual. It will show you all the drain locations and other things you need to know.

 

[Phish555]

Re: Rookie I/O

If t's got Powersteering,.... The Cooler will also have Water in it,....

Pull 1 of the Big hoses off it,... Either 1....

I also pull the Big hose off the motors circulating pump too,.... It'll hold about a quart....

"Cooler"??? Sorry guys, Im working on getting a manual, I just got home with the boat on Sunday night, and boat shops around here were closed on Monday. I will get one today hopefully. Now, the big hoses I know what you are talking about, but what is the "Cooler"??

 

[Bondo]

Re: Rookie I/O

but what is the "Cooler"??

Ayuh,.... If you have power steering,......

Somewhere on the In-coming waterline from the Outdrive, there'll be a little round canister, about 2"X 8", with 2 Big hoses(water),+ 2 Little hoses(oil)......
Remove either of the larger hoses to drain it,......
Otherwise,....
You'll have Water in the P/S system, or Oil in the water......

 

[oops!]

Re: Rookie I/O

Ayuh,......
It's probably abit Too Late,....

anybody wanna break the news to him?......or do we just wait till we get an oil in the water question?

 

[Phish555]

Re: Rookie I/O

anybody wanna break the news to him?......or do we just wait till we get an oil in the water question?

Ha, no oil in water just yet. At least not in the motor. I got the block drained in time, I was able to get the WP drained today, (it got into the 40s), I also got one of the large hoses off the cooler, and it was iced up, but not draining any oil. I did go ahead and price a new cooler today at 120$. Like I said before, the boat was garaged in KY, and that may be my saving grace for the engine, the cooler may very well be shot.

BTW, ordered manual for it today.

 

[oops!]

Re: Rookie I/O

phish......

i very truly hope everythings ok......

i feel like a jerk bringing up any negitive....i share your joy of a great new to u boat......

but if it wasnt winterized and the temp dropped to 32...(freezing) ......your block is most likely toast....at least the manifolds.....don's is right pouring antifreeze in the hoses...isnt winterizing.

man i hope you got lucky.

oil in the water wont show up till you run the engine......

did you say it got down to 40 the other night?....check and see if it got colder...at any time this winter....you allready saw ice in the lines.....

lets hope that garage saved you......
good luck my friend...

cheers'
oops

 

[Phish555]

Re: Rookie I/O

OK guys. It was 55 degrees here today. So, I got out the earmuffs and the garden hose. Shot water into the PS cooler to melt any ice left in it, same with the WP. I loosened the belts on the WP, to see if I could turn it. It was fine. Put every thing back togeather, put all the drain plugs back in, checked the oil, turned on the hose, and started the moter. It fired of on the first crank. With in about 2 or 3 minutes, water started coming out the exhaust holes on each side of the outdrive where it mounts into the transom, (gimble??). I kept a close eye on that exhaust water, and also on the motor. No leaks on the inside, and no oil in the water coming out the exhaust. I got the motor good and warm, probable 25 minutes worth of running. Shut her down and checked the oil in the pan. No water. Checked the PS fluid, no water. I then let her cool off, took out all the drain plugs, undid the WP and cooler hoses, and drained her completly.
I think shes fine,,,whew.
It ran and idled great, but should i do anything with the idle mixture screw bring it from 1500 elevation, to 6500 elevation?