Rage

Yes Ray, that is correct along with replacing the Crane rocker arm studs with ARP studs and replacing the old Comp Cam 929 springs with new Comp Cam 929 springs at the same time. I will try changing the oil flow direction back to the original direction through the oil cooler.

Thanks,

Bill

TWIN-SPINS

maybe its just a couple bad lifters????

Rage

Hey Jon,

I believe my original setup had the oil in on the thermostat end. Now it is the reverse.

I had previously discussed with Hardin Marine how their thermostatically controlled 3x18 oil cooler functioned. The oil flow through the 3x18 heat exchanger section is never impeaded. The thermostatically controlled section actually only bypasses the 3x18 heat exchanger section so that when the oil is <190F the thermostat is open so that some of the warming oil is allowed to bypass the 3x18 heat exchanger section to speed its warm up while the rest still flows through the 3x18 HE. When the oil reaches 190F+ the thermostat closes and all the heated oil must then pass through the 3x18 heat exchanger section. Hardin did say oil in at the thermostat side was the prefered connection but that the reverse would also work. Even with this 3x18 oil cooler the previous parallel oil & cooling sea water flow would alow oil temp to exceed 280F after 10 min WOT with this Mercruiser closed cooling set up. Counter flow in the oil cooler is theoretically more efficient and worth a try to see if it could control my oil temp to an acceptable level for long hard runs.

Regardless I will try switching it back and see if that has any effect on the lifter noise from those few of the left bank lifters

Rage

That would be a blessing and is my hope.