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  1. Blueghost924

    1986 Mercruiser V-8 5.7L - overheating issue??

    Hi, I have a 1986 Mercruiser V8 5.7L that I have an overheating issue, even at idle. When I first start up the engine, it will come up to about 150. When I then bring it up to about 1100 RPM, the temp will rise to about 180, and when I bring it back down to idle it continues to climb until I...
  2. Blueghost924

    1988 Mercruiser Alpha 1 Gen 1 - stuck going on last inch

    I have a 1988 Mercruiser Alpha 1 Gen 1, and am having trouble getting it on the last inch (as shown in the picture). I've followed the AChris video and other guides exact to the point for installing, and can't see to get it in the last bit. The shifter is in fwd, the stern drive is in forward...
  3. Blueghost924

    1988 Alpha one 1 Gen 1: Install u-joint bellows first or shift cable bellows first?

    Hi- I have a 1988 Alpha 1 Gen 1 transom assembly, and I'm in the re-assembly process. I'm at the point where I'm ready to install and set in place both the u-joint bellows and the shift cable bellows. The bell housing water hose is already installed, as is the lower shift cable. I have the...
  4. Blueghost924

    Alpha 1 Gen 1 - shift cable retaining nut: How to remove w/out cable spinning

    I know this is probably a dumb question, but I've gotten my shift cable retaining nut to start to move (come off). The problem is that the shift cable is moving with the nut as I turn it counter clockwise. Is it as simple as holding the shift cable still? I am using a homemade 9/16" shift...
  5. Blueghost924

    1987 Mercruiser 5.7 Alpha 1 - clank clank clank going in reverse

    Hi- I have a 1987 Mercruiser 5.7 L V8 with the Alpha 1 sterndrive setup. Earlier this year (around June), I adjusted the upper and lower shift cables to the specifications in the book. Going into forward, it shifts just fine, but it's always been "problematic" going into reverse. Up until...
  6. Blueghost924

    Old banged up prop - ok for temp use?

    I'm helping out my brother in law with trying out a couple of prop size options - he's currently overpropped. I have a spare prop that's banged up. But at looking at the pics, do you think it's ok to put my banged up prop on there for a once time run just to see if the RPMs approach the...
  7. Blueghost924

    1986 Alpha 1 - hole in bottom corner?!

    I haven't taken out the boat out this season because of injuries but will this weekend. Walking around the boat I noticed this hole in the bottom of my Alpha 1. I've started up and ran the engine each month and have engaged the sterndrive. I haven't noticed any oil leakage from this area on...
  8. Blueghost924

    Regal Ambassador 255XL - weird DC load issue with accessories while on shore power

    Hi, I have a 1986 Regal Ambassador 255XL. I have a very weird problem occuring when on shore power (my garage extension cord plugged into the shore power connection). I have a 25W Marine VHF radio, a cigarette lighter and a Garmin GPS wired into the DC bus inside the electrical cabinet behind...
  9. Blueghost924

    Wiring my West Marine VHF 480 to my Garmin Echomap 70 GPS using NMEA 0830

    Well, I bought this nice Garmen Echomap 74 GPs with internal antenna, and now want to wire it to my West Marine VHF 480 marine radio. Especially for the red button automatic distress call feature. I've tried to wire the harness from the Garmen to the wire harness of my VHF radio in several...
  10. Blueghost924

    1987 Mercruiser 260 5.7L 350 - will this San Juan closed cooling system work?

    Hi, a guy is selling a San Juan Engineering fresh water cooling system on a local ad. He gives little info, except that it should work on most Mercruiser systems. The other tidbit is that the local marine repair shop said it should work on most Mercruiser systems and they can install it (of...
  11. Blueghost924

    1986 Regal Ambassador 255XL - missing holding tanks

    Hi, I bought my Regal Ambassador a while back knowing that it's missing sanitation holding tanks and the toilet. Now, I'm ready to install that system. The original equipment called for a 15 gallon sanitation tank. A local shop has 2 spare 6 gallon holding tanks (new) for almost free. In...
  12. Blueghost924

    1987 Mercruiser 260 5.7L - purpose of thermostat sleeve

    After carefully rebuilding the top end of my 1986 Mercruiser 260, it purrs like a kitten. During rebuilding, I replaced the lower thermostat housing with a new one with all new internal parts and thermostat. The old lower housing (which was there from the previous owner) didn't have a solid...
  13. Blueghost924

    5.7L 260 with 4 barrel Roch - replaced intake, now carb fuel line isn't lining up

    I removed the old crappy aluminum intake manifold off my 1986 V8 350 5,7L with a 4 barrel Rochester. In putting everything back together and using the same carb (it's practically new), I'm finding the metal fuel line isn't quite lining up. Looks like the carb is now sitting back an inch or 2...
  14. Blueghost924

    1996 5.7L 260 - swapping intake and marking distributor for removal

    After waiting way too long, I'm going to remove the darn aluminum intake from my 1986 350 and replace it with a carbon steel one. I plan on rotating the engine by hand and aligning the balancer mark with timing mark at #1 TDC. In following the shop manual, it talks about marking the...
  15. Blueghost924

    1986 5.7L 260 V-8 - lack of timing marks...how to time it?

    Before I drop my boat back in the water (and after getting the stern drive water impeller changed), I'd like to check timing. A couple of folks may remember a posting I made about a month ago about how I couldn't tell what the serial number is on my engine. After a couple of pics, Achris said...
  16. Blueghost924

    Alpha One Gen 1 - remove from boat or not in order to replace water impeller

    I need to replace the water impeller from my Alpha 1 Gen 1, and the sterndrive is still installed. I've heard of people removing the entire sterndrive to get to the lower unit for the impeller replacement, and I've seen where folks raise the sterndrive and simply remove the lower unit (while...
  17. Blueghost924

    Gotta run new brakes lines - suggestions?

    I bought my 26 foot boat on a Load Master dual axle trailer with the complete intention of replacing anything that needed to be replaced (it's a 1989). It came with a Dico / Titan Model 10 disc hydraulic brake system with flex brake hose. I rebuilt and replaced the main parts of the hydraulic...
  18. Blueghost924

    Mercruiser 5.7L 260 - what's the real or entire serial number?

    Hi, I can't quite read all the letters/numbers off my Mercruiser 5.7L / 260 Alpha One. I have a 1987 Regal Ambassador 255XL, but since we (boat owners) tend to swap out motors, I can't attest to this being a 1987 5.7L as well. I know the attached pic of what I can see of the serial plate isn't...
  19. Blueghost924

    Marval Mystery oil - is it really good for unsticking valves?

    I got into a discussion with a former Mercruiser tech concerning sticking valves in the Mercruiser engines. He stated that he always tried filling up each cylinder through the spark plug hole with Marval Mystery oil (like he would have done with my 350 5.7L) and let it sit for a week. Thoughts...
  20. Blueghost924

    1988 Mercruiser 5.7 260 - which are intake and which are exhaust valves on the head

    Hi, I have a 1988 Mercruiser 5.7 260 Alpha 1, and was going to follow the shop manual with the valve adjustment. I removed the spark plugs and have rotated the engine by hand to the #1 cylinder TDC. This is where I paused, because the Mercruiser manual discusses adjusting certain intake and...
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