Hotter STBD Manifold/Riser

[jhortonvt]

I know this has been WELL discussed, I've spent the last hour reading all the threads I could find. Everybody in here is so helpful I just wanted to ask about my situation:

-'02 5.0 MPI 125 hrs
-was a trailered saltwater day boat by previous owner
-new to me last fall, now a freshwater boat

So far in pre-season tune up I've changed oil, oil filter, fuel water separator, drive lube.

When I was running the engine with hose/muff before changing the oil the stbd riser/elbow was 220 deg and the port riser/elbow was 180 deg.

So I've ordered the manifold, 3" spacer, riser/elbow set, they'll be here in a few days. In the mean time I pulled off them all off, and they didn't seem bad, although I have read that there are spaces you can't see that could be blocked. And actually the port side had more visible corrosion than the stbd.

So based on that and the threads I've read, I'm not convinced that this is will solve the 50 deg difference.

Question #1-
I will certainly proceed with the changout, but my main question to y'all is...Is there something I should proactively replace while I've got the manifolds/fisers off. I'd hate to have everything reinstalled and learn I need to change something that's hard or impossible to get to with the manifolds on, when I've got good access now.

Question #2-
On the old parts which were original, in the gasket between the spacer and riser there are 4 oblong holes. In the gasket between the manifold and spacer there are only two oblong holes, with a 1/8" round hole 'poked' in the area where there would otherwise be an oblong hole. Is this normal?

Question#3 & #4-
I also have a new thermostat to put in and it sounds like I need to check that the two "spring balls" (I'm not sure what they are really called) that apparently are in the goose neck on the thermo housing. Can you tell me exactly what they are named? Should I just plan on replacing them?

Thanks

 

[FireIsland1]

? did you boat run hot in the water. Sometimes you do not get enough water through muffs to fully cool the engine. The water may be taking to path of least resistance. You may not have a problem at all.

 

[jhortonvt]

I thought I got it up to temp, the dash said about 140 deg. But I have seen a lot mentioned about hose water not feeding enough volume for the engine (I tried to keep it above 1000 rpm to keep the draw up and below 1300 to keep it from running dry).

Despite the amount of time I ran it (probably about 7-10 minutes) I was surprised to see how concentrated the coolant was when I disconnected the hose under the stbd manifold, which I did first. I would have expected to see clearer water.

 

[FireIsland1]

ok but before you spend alot of money on parts, get the boat back in the water run it up to temp and take a temp reading on each side. 5-10 degrees difference is no big deal . If it's more then that you got some work to do