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  1. greg82255

    Vibration When Turning - U joints?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One. I've felt a vibration when turning hard left or right for a while now, and I figured it was due to the gimbal bearing or U-joints. I planned to replace them (or have them replaced by a pro) at the end of the year. I pulled the drive yesterday as part of...
  2. greg82255

    How Long Can You Safely Run a Mercruiser 260 at WOT

    Hello, I have a Merc 260/Alpha One with about ~800 hours. With a 21" prop the WOT RPM is about 4400 (52 mph) and with a 19" prop I also get 52mph, but at about 4800 rpm. I'm wondering how long I can safely run at WOT without damaging anything. I ask this because I am driving the boat about 23...
  3. greg82255

    3-Blade vs. 4-Blade, and What Diameter/Pitch to use?

    Hello, I currently have a 1986 Formula 206 LS with a Merc 260/Alpha One (1.5 ratio). The boat weighs 3250 lbs, and I have run 2 different props on it. First is a 14.5 x 19" Michigan Ballistic prop, and have gotten 52 mph at about 47-4800 rpm. Next is a Mercury Mirage 3-blade 14.75 x 21" and I...
  4. greg82255

    Performance Exhaust

    Just curious - Is there a noticeable difference in performance or fuel economy between the stock cast-iron exhaust manifolds and a performance set of headers like the new CMI E-top headers? If so, what is the power increase? I keep reading about how the stock manifolds are highly restrictive...
  5. greg82255

    Best Way to Clean a Carbureted Engine?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One and it's pretty dirty. There's definitely some grease all over it. I'm wondering what the best way to clean one of these engines might be. Is it OK to use a degreaser on the engine and spray it with the hose? If I put plastic bags around the distributor...
  6. greg82255

    Broken Hatch Actuator.. Options?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Formula and the hatch actuator is broken - the motor no longer works, probably because of its age. However the rest of the assembly moves freely. I've looked at replacements and they go for about 250, and I can't justify spending that much $ on an actuator. Is it possible...
  7. greg82255

    Removing Exhaust Manifolds for the Winter

    I have a 1986 Merc 260/ Alpha One and I want to take off my exhaust manifolds to paint them but don't have time to do more than remove them right now. I figure I'll get to it sometime this winter. How should I go about sealing the exhaust ports on the cylinder heads? I was thinking of drilling...
  8. greg82255

    Alpha Won't Stay In Gear When Trimmed Too High.. Is This Normal?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One. I was docking in some shallow water this weekend and therefore had to trim the drive high up to keep it off the bottom. I noticed that when the trim is up high, the engine won't shift all the way into reverse. Forward isn't as much of a problem - it...
  9. greg82255

    Merc 260 Losing Oil

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One. The engine has about 770 hours on it and I bought it last October. I was told it was always dealer serviced. I changed the oil as part of winterizing last year and checked it at the beginning of the season, and it was full. I think it took about 5...
  10. greg82255

    Play in Power Steering... and No Fluid

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One, 750 hours give or take. I bought the boat last fall and I was told it was always dealer serviced (but who knows). I was steering the boat at the dock with the hatch open and noticed some play in the power steering assembly - not the pump on the motor...
  11. greg82255

    Vibration When Turning Sharply

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One on my Formula. I've started to notice some vibration when I turn the steering wheel all the way left or right. I have only noticed this at idle because I haven't tried to turn too hard while at speed. I've done some research and it appears that the...
  12. greg82255

    How to Modify a 350, and is it Worth it at 760 hrs?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Mercruiser 350/Alpha One. I believe it's 260 HP, although who knows how much power its actually putting out now (760 hours). I have it in my Formula 206 Spider and I get about 46-47 mph @45-4600 rpm on a good day with my 19" Ballistic prop, and about 50-51 with my 21"...
  13. greg82255

    Drilled a Hole in the Wrong Place... What to Do Now?

    I think I made a mistake today. I have a 1986 Formula 206 Spider with a Merc 260/Alpha One. I was mounting some underwater LED lights and was drilling a hole through the transom to run the wires. Because my boat has one of Formula's bolt-on swim platforms, space for drilling the holes is...
  14. greg82255

    Wiring LED Cabin Lights

    So I just went out and bought 4 LED cabin lights for my Formula. They all looked great on display at West Marine so I picked the ones I wanted and went home. I can post the models if necessary. I started connecting them in series (Negative wire of one light to positive of the next, and so on)...
  15. greg82255

    Remanufactured 383 Question

    Anyone ever heard of CHS Machine Co.? They are advertising a re-manufactured 383 long block with oil pump and harmonic balancer for $2400. They claim it has 420 hp at 4500 rpm and 430 ft lbs at 3500 rpm. Looking to see if anyone has heard of them and if they are reputable.. Here's the link...
  16. greg82255

    Dad Found a Rebuilt Truck 454 for Free.. How to Marinize, or is it worth it?

    Hello, I started a thread a few weeks ago about swapping a 350 for a 454 but this topic is slightly different so I figured I'd start a new thread. My dad can get a rebuilt turn-key 454 truck motor for free. I know for a fact that I would have to change the following: -Starter -Alternator...
  17. greg82255

    How to Fix Scratches in Gelcoat?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Formula 206 Spider that has red and black gelcoat on it. I left it at the dock for a few days and my boat ended up scraping against a 2x4 that was attached to the dock (stupid me for not securing a bumper to it..). Anyways, now I have some scratches in the gelcoat and I'm...
  18. greg82255

    Small Block to Big Block Conversion

    Hello, I am looking to upgrade my motor without spending too much $ and considering a lot of options. I currently have a 1986 Merc 350/Alpha One. I found a friend with a bravo setup that he will give me really cheap. I am wondering how many parts from my 350 would bolt up to a 454 (ignition...
  19. greg82255

    Alpha One Trim Pump Works Then Doesnt

    Hello, 1986 Merc 350/Alpha One. I believe the trim pump is the original oildyne version (SAE J1171 motor with the small black reservoir underneath). I always put the drive pretty much all the way up when the boat is docked. Yesterday I got to the dock and went to put it down and I just got a...
  20. greg82255

    Rebuild Alpha One, Change Gear Ratio?

    Hello, Is it possible to change the gears in a 1986 Alpha One and convert it from 1.5 ratio to a 1.32? I've been researching and can't seem to find a definite answer. If it's possible, where could I find the parts, and how much time and $ am I looking at to do this? Thanks in advance
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