Recent content by louc

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    Winterizing a 2020 4.3L duoprop

    Sounds like a pretty straightforward job. Closed cooling is the single biggest improvement you can make with any inboard boat followed by a remote oil filter.
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    Re; Broke spark plug

    PS looking at your pix it appears that the rust was from a leaky exhaust manifold to elbow gasket, are you replacing these parts? here's what they look when new....leaks from there can leak into cyls via an open exhaust valve but as you found out they can also rust up spark plugs!
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    Winterizing a 2020 4.3L duoprop

    Also, it matters if your exhaust is raw water cooled or not. If its closed cooled, the exhaust manifolds will have AF in them and don't have to be drained, but the exhaust elbows are usually raw water cooled. I have seen pix of the cat converter system on late model Volvos and they seem to have...
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    What happened to my post #s?

    I had in excess of 6,000 posts being here since 2002. What happened? I got demoted! Thoughts?
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    980 hours on engines - compression test

    I think I had something like 6,000 posts or something! And based on what I saw when I did that top end job I'd agree the blocks seem to suffer less, so replacing the cyl heads at approx 15 years or so, is a way of avoiding a bad hydrolock that could trash the rest of the engine (bent rods)...
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    980 hours on engines - compression test

    no idea! yeah I feel demoted! What I learned in my top end overhaul is that the cyl heads suffer more from raw water cooling than the block maybe because they get hotter, and after 15+ years of salt water use the cooling passages get eroded, to the point where a new HG might not seal well. So...
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    Looking for bare engine block with pistons

    lol I feel I've been demoted!
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    Sea Ray 195 vs 205

    Drive both if you can, and see which you prefer. Larger is usually better in terms of ride and stability. What boating area are you in? Do you face windy/rough conditions often? If so bigger is preferred. I have a Four Winns H-200 which is 20'9" long, I would not have a smaller boat where I am...
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    980 hours on engines - compression test

    Ted are the engines running smoothly, no misses at idle? How's the oil consumption? if no misses at idle and oil consumption is normal then I'd do a cyl leak down test to be sure. If that reveals leakage on the valves for the cyls that tested lower on the comp test, then doing a valve job...
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    Tuliped valve causes

    Yes that is the cause, laboring caused by low max rpm. That’s the main reason why you want to check that the engine will reach it’s specified maximum rpm at wide open throttle. My boat came to me with a 14.5x19 when it should have had a 15x17, that got it closer but I found that a 15.5x15 was...
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    Best Carb Rebuild kits.

    hard to say really but I think a kit I bought from BRP (for my OMC-Rochester Quadrajet) was actually made by Sierra! sometimes you can buy from several different vendors and you wind up with same thing. the biggest thing in carb rebuilds is the cleaning, you need to really take your time with...
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    Winterizing Mercruiser 4.3 question

    I think the debate about does AF really reduce corrosion in storage will go on forever just like oil threads. I do it because in a salt water region you are always dealing with corrosion, it never stops. My reasoning, it keeps out oxygen and you need oxygen for rust. Just like coating trailer...
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    Wet and Dry Joint Questions

    ping achris, I "think" he may have had some experience with HGE.
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    Looking for bare engine block with pistons

    I think Columbo drove a convertible 403. Yes older boats all need what seems to be episodes of work. You fix one big thing then it’s fine for a number of years and then some other big issue arises. Mine had the structural renovation (deck & stringers 2006-7), exterior paint (2012) and engine...
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    Winterizing Mercruiser 4.3 question

    1) if this is a Vortec V6 (intake has 8 bolts holding it to the cyl heads instead of 12) there is an additional drain plug on the front surface of the intake that needs to be removed to prevent freeze damage. This was not present on the older ones like my ‘88 4.3. 2) its not necessary to remove...
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