riverratjody
Cadet
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2009
- Messages
- 22
I have gained so much knowledge from this site and it has saved me much headache, and money. I used the site to diagnose my boat problems and finally came to the conclusion that my batwing one-piece manifolds were rusted out, causing my engine to hydrolock. Several of the responses to my questions for help asked that I report back on my repair project, so here it is. My engine is ?98 Mercruiser 4.3L.
When I first started, I worried b/c I thought it was going to cost me over $1,300 just for the manifolds, risers, and the conversion kit, then the labor at a Mercury dealer. Then I decided to buy aftermarket manifolds and risers but the conversion kit was still $400 to $500. I bought the Sierra brand manifolds and risers from fredwarner1 on ebay ($489), since I wanted new, then I shopped on ebay till I found the elbows which included the bellows and clamps. I didn?t care that they were not new. Cost was only $36. I also used new bolts which cost about $25. These were the only parts I had to buy = about $550. I?m sure there were other costs, like shipping, permatex, etc. Spent $25 on a torque wrench, which you will need, and I replaced the water shutters while I was in there. I decided to do the job myself and it turned out to be pretty straightforward. The project was a success and I am so happy. So, if any of you need to change out your batwings, which you will most surely have to do eventually, this plan worked great for me. Thanks to all those who helped me. Any questions, please ask. And fredwarner1 was great to deal with. Great price, service, and technical help. I would highly recommend him. Here are the parts I needed for my model, but I?m not a pro, so check to make sure you get the right parts.
2 Exhaust manifold 99746A17
2 Exhaust elbow (riser) 807988A2
2 Elbow Tube 14478T01
2 Exhaust Bellow 4? Upper 32-44348T
When I first started, I worried b/c I thought it was going to cost me over $1,300 just for the manifolds, risers, and the conversion kit, then the labor at a Mercury dealer. Then I decided to buy aftermarket manifolds and risers but the conversion kit was still $400 to $500. I bought the Sierra brand manifolds and risers from fredwarner1 on ebay ($489), since I wanted new, then I shopped on ebay till I found the elbows which included the bellows and clamps. I didn?t care that they were not new. Cost was only $36. I also used new bolts which cost about $25. These were the only parts I had to buy = about $550. I?m sure there were other costs, like shipping, permatex, etc. Spent $25 on a torque wrench, which you will need, and I replaced the water shutters while I was in there. I decided to do the job myself and it turned out to be pretty straightforward. The project was a success and I am so happy. So, if any of you need to change out your batwings, which you will most surely have to do eventually, this plan worked great for me. Thanks to all those who helped me. Any questions, please ask. And fredwarner1 was great to deal with. Great price, service, and technical help. I would highly recommend him. Here are the parts I needed for my model, but I?m not a pro, so check to make sure you get the right parts.
2 Exhaust manifold 99746A17
2 Exhaust elbow (riser) 807988A2
2 Elbow Tube 14478T01
2 Exhaust Bellow 4? Upper 32-44348T
