Official 390 E.C. Thread

Is there a certain spark plug that has been used to help the 454 engines run better. There are a lot of plugs out there and all say they have the better one. Checking to see if there is a plug that has proven to perform better that all agree on.
 
new problem!!!!

starboard motor shifter has to be wiggled, jiggled and bumped to allow me to start the motor. I believe there is a neutral safety switch somewhere that could be the culprit. Any idea where it is and if I can find a replacement for it?

thanks!
 
denjb@yahoo.com said:
new problem!!!!

starboard motor shifter has to be wiggled, jiggled and bumped to allow me to start the motor. I believe there is a neutral safety switch somewhere that could be the culprit. Any idea where it is and if I can find a replacement for it?

thanks!
Click to expand...

Under the console on the shifter. Microswitch.
20130805_092428.jpg
 
Finally had the chance to put a few hours on our 390 this weekend and had a blast. Weather was cool, but at least it never rained. The cruising sweet spot was 3000 rpm running a tic over 21mph with 3/4 fuel, full water and 4 adults worth of weekend gear. I didnt think that was to bad for this boat. I installed (fixed) Bennett tabs between the prop pockets and added 3" drop fins to the outside of my original tabs. The boat ran very level at cruise. All smiles. Thanks everyone for all of the tips.
 
Just think about all of the wonderful things that could happen by accidentally starting your boat in gear. :smt021 I can just imagine the looks that I would get from the Admiral after I fish out of the water after she loses her balance from the boat lunging forward. If all she got was wet, that wouldn't be too bad, but I am sure that far worse injuries would occur from such a faux pas. It may be OK for some, but it is not my cup of tea. I have enough things to try and remember each day.
 
electricaldoctor said:
Just think about all of the wonderful things that could happen by accidentally starting your boat in gear. :smt021 I can just imagine the looks that I would get from the Admiral after I fish out of the water after she loses her balance from the boat lunging forward. If all she got was wet, that wouldn't be too bad, but I am sure that far worse injuries would occur from such a faux pas. It may be OK for some, but it is not my cup of tea. I have enough things to try and remember each day.
Click to expand...

I whole heartly agree that starting the thing up in gear would not be a smart thing to do! My wife would not like it, the boat next to me would not like or nor the boat in front of me! And I think it would scare the sea water out of me too!

and maybe I am not describing the symptoms well enough either. For me, if I don't wiggle and jiggle the shift lever, when I turn the key I get absolutely nothing, no oil pressure warning that I normally get, just silence. Jiggling the lever I will ultimately be able to start it which made me think it would be that neutral safety switch!
 
I have a 1988 390 EC that I just bought this past November. A couple of weeks ago I noticed water in the storage area where the water holding tank is located. I siphoned the water out (about 5 gallons), I checked 4 days later and siphoned out another 1/4 gallon. I have read through most of this thread and have seen references to pitting problems with the Aluminum tank. Is there any way to verify that the water is coming from the tank and not some other source, like the aft Air condition unit or somewhere else.

Thanks
:huh:
 
scotter12 said:
I have a 1988 390 EC that I just bought this past November. A couple of weeks ago I noticed water in the storage area where the water holding tank is located. I siphoned the water out (about 5 gallons), I checked 4 days later and siphoned out another 1/4 gallon. I have read through most of this thread and have seen references to pitting problems with the Aluminum tank. Is there any way to verify that the water is coming from the tank and not some other source, like the aft Air condition unit or somewhere else.

Thanks
:huh:
Click to expand...

Water gets in to that area from the following:

Side windows
Windshield where wiper motor wires feed in to cabin
Refrigerator drain
Leaking galley sink
A/C coolant lines
AC condensate drain. On mine the was no secondary drain so if the A/C pan rots out - and it probably is rotted, the water drains to the tank.

This is a major problem because the tank is very thin and the aluminum is probably corroded due to crevice corrosion(Google it). My tank looked like a piece of swiss cheese on the bottom. See my photo gallery. When I replaced all the stringers and floor under the tank I built a sump with a 3/4" bilge pump hose running to it. That way I can vacuum any water out and not have it lay under the tank.

My new tank is 3/16" 5052 aluminum alodized and coated with coal tar epoxy.
 
From what you say it looks like it's the water tank. The a/c condensation goes into the bilge...so I do not belive it's the culprit here.
 
Let's hope it's not the side windows. After heavy rain, touch the wall below the windows and at the corners of the windows. If the fabric feels/looks moist, there is a good chance your windows are leaking into the area.

Our water tank had been replaced with a bladder type tank by someone. I found fresh water under it, about the same volume as you did. Initially we thought the tank or the hose connections are leaking, but in the end it turned out to be the side windows. We had removed the water tank but the area kept getting wet, although not very quickly. After re-bedding the windows the it remained dry.

In any case, your stringers are at risk if there is water in under the tank - there may be water between the hull and the tank area floor as well.
 
electricaldoctor said:
That's what it is alright. Just bypass it temporarily to prove it, then go by another one if nothing proves to be loose and cannot be adjusted to work properly.
Click to expand...

Ok..so this weekend I finally get a chance to look at the shifter underneath the panel that's above the sink and refrig. Apparently the owner before me changed the shifter out. At the helm it says its a Morse shifter. when I look underneath, there is a big red sticker that says " this does NOT comply with the USCG rule of preventing the boat from being started in gear"! ( paraphrased it a bit!) So now that has me worried but I still have the problem of having to jiggle the shifter to start it.

when I was talking with a parts dealer, he asked of the neutral safety switch was on the shifter or the transmission. based on the info I had, I assumed it was on the shifter but I guess not. So I am at a bit of a loss here and dont like the idea of starting in gear which I dont think I can really do but will have to give it a try safely? Any suggestions or thoughts?
 
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