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  1. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    On to my trim system. I found milk in the pump meaning we have a leak for sure. I opened up one of the XD cylinders and the little fluid that was in there was definitely contaminated, maybe not as milky as I saw in the pump, but the rams definitely need to be re-sealed. I am about to order...
  2. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    I was out for a week, had some eye surgery done and will get more done next week. But in the meantime I tried to get as much information about the white/green shift interrupt connection as I could and I guess we can put this matter to rest now. I contacted Mercruiser several times on different...
  3. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    I don't get it. Of all the boaters in the country who surf the iboats forum there must be 100s that have a 1988 or 89 boat with a 4.3 engine with TB IV ignition and a new style distributor (3 molded in place wires). If you do, would you please take a look at your boat and see where the...
  4. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    Everybody talks about the terminal block but has yet to tell me where it is. The grey wire from the ignition amp goes to the (-) coil, so does another grey wire from the harness. The purple wire from the ignition amp goes to the (+) coil, so does another purple wire from the harness. A...
  5. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    Maybe, maybe NOT. This is crazy and I will get to the bottom of this issue. I looked at the Sierra 18-5438 coil and it says the following to describe the coil: Fits GM V-6 and V-8 engines with HEI Thunderbolt IV and V ignitions. Printed on the coil itself it says: USE OF EXTERNAL RESISTOR...
  6. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    Ok, here it is. I finally found a picture of my engine before I took it out of the boat on my old camera rather than my iphone and thank God it actually shows the coil. Unbelievable, what luck. But that doesn't make me feel any more confident, because there is always Murphy's Law and I will heed...
  7. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    achris, I just came across one of your postings from 6-24-2016 "Mercruiser Thunderbolt Ignition Systems" which is really illuminating and helpful. Especially intriguing was one sentence "For troubleshooting I always remove the tacho feed wire and the white/green to the shift interrupt switch...
  8. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    Nola Mike, I don't know where the terminal block is. The white/green wire that goes to the distributor comes from the ignition amplifier and that is all. The other white/green wire comes from one side of the shift interrupter switch and has a round connector on it (see picture). So it could not...
  9. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    I am still utterly confused about this one wire. I am going to be specific so we are all on the same page. This is from Service Manual #7 1) page 4E-1 - V6 engine (earlier models) wiring with starter motor fuse. I don't think I have that motor. If I am not mistaken this has a breaker point...
  10. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    On mine the white/red and white/green wires are coming from the TB IV ignition amplifier and go the distributor, then there is a purple and grey wire coming from the ignition amplifier and going respectively to the + and - poles on the coil. Then there is one more wire coming from the ignition...
  11. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    No, it's actually a T-bolt IV with the ignition module mounted to the port header knee, the pointless distributor and a proud sign on the carburetor breather cap
  12. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    When I removed the wiring harness, I labeled everything carefully just to make sure that everything goes back the way it came apart, but unfortunately some of the labels got soiled badly to the point where I have a hard time reading them. Most of them I was able to recognize but there is one...
  13. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    Thanks alldodge, I am clear now on the shift cable. I am going to pull it out and will put it back because it is in excellent shape as a teaching experience. I learn best by doing it. Btw. should these cables be lubed as part of maintenance or is it better not to. Also I think we mix up the 'in...
  14. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    Also when I removed the Y pipe at first I thought there was a bolt missing, Then I realized that one of the holes don't line up. Somebody goofed, I guess. As I am preparing for the worst (corrosion beyond repair in both bell and gimbal housings) and I was looking on ebay to see what is coming at...
  15. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    Please forgive me if I have no clue or conception of how the lower cable actually works, since I am totally new to the Alpha One world. Engines are a bit more generic and I am familiar with most aspects of that technology. Also I am pretty engineering savvy and usually have no problem...
  16. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 Alpha One Drive Train

    ............continued from "Overhauling my 1988 Mercruiser 4.3 ltr engine" I am about to start cleaning up and restoring the bilge of my 1988 Sylvan bow rider and going over the transom assembly I started with a thorough clean up of the inside of bellows, bell housing, gimbal housing, inner...
  17. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 MerCruiser 4.3 ltr. engine

    Well. this thread is coming to a close. The engine is done. I still have to install the pullies, alternator, starter (both on order), power steering pump and carburetor, which I will do in the next couple of days, except for the carburetor which will be installed after engine is back in the boat...
  18. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 MerCruiser 4.3 ltr. engine

    The stuck one is the good one actually, nice, shiny and clean but stuck. But no longer a problem. I unstuck it already. So if all fails I will be able to make one good carb out of the 2. The one with the broken spring will be my next experiment or challenge so to speak. I will try to remove the...
  19. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 MerCruiser 4.3 ltr. engine

    Thanks Kenny and Lou. Looks like all is good! Next thing, the distributor and the thermostat housing go back on. Both have been serviced and are good to go. Btw. those of you who said I should take a closer look inside the carburetor were absolutely correct. What a mess! I am overhauling both...
  20. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 MerCruiser 4.3 ltr. engine

    The heads I did some time ago but I used Permatex 2B sealer on the bolts. I hope that was ok. If not, I can do the head bolts over again without having to take anything apart, thank God!
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