If you are still determined to replace the thermostat, it is Indmar PN: 986115 - THERMOSTAT 160 Deg GEN4 6.0L

This looks like a steal. You did buy it? I can't believe the price.

Steve B.

Greetings, all,

So, I'm in Holland MI, and have surveyed and sea trialed the Sunscape mentioned in these pages previously. (https://www.coralgablesyachts.com/boats-for-sale/2002-malibu-sunscape-21-lsv-holland-michigan-8967585/)

It was pretty much as I expected, with a couple of surprises; the first was the virtual silence of the motor starting and running. That's the good news.  Along with that, based on the pictures in the ad, the interior was in fantastic shape, with only some incipient stitching failures at the various cushions ' welting as typical of older boats, but no actual failures yet.  It came with an unadvertised Skylon as well as both ski and wakeboard lines (but no toys) and the requisite brick full of horsecollar lifejackets.

That was the good news/surprising pleasures.

The not-so-good was limited to a couple of things, one potentially gnarly:

The next was the rectangular hole in the starboard rear of the trailer frame which, I discovered, was the previous location of the bracket for the guide arm.  That same arm (without the bracket attached to it) was in the port aft locker.  The bracket and arm which had been ripped off was lying on the stern cockpit deck... The frame didn't  appear distorted, and so I'm trustful that a skillful welder can reattach that, pretty up the weld, and match the black paint which is in generally fantastic condition.

Finally,  however, and I'd love it if one of you had experienced and conquered the same issue, the Velvet Drive transmission dipstick had the screw-down part broken off and secured in the dipstick hole, leaving a small collar at the cap-end.  It may be that the screw-plug will yield to a gentle encouragement with a drift and a careful extraction, with a (hoped for) replacement easily sourced. It appears to be a dissimilar metals problem visually, with what I presume the solid screw-in having corroded to the aluminum.  It was last fluid-replaced (with no 'younger' service records indicating any later attention given to the transmission) in 2021.

On the way to the sea trial, it was noted that the left trailer tail light seemed inoperative (no blink or brake).  Maybe a dead bulb, maybe a wiring issue; the starboard worked just fine.  Small beans.

So, overall, I'm encouraged, but worried that resolution of the dipstick might generate trash into the works, which would definitely not be a good thing.

Unfortunately I'm on my laptop which doesn't seem to know how to talk to my phone, whether by bluetooth or USB, so I can't easily share, having lost my tutorial on how to fake-a-url (the boat doesn't have a fake-a-lake, but I believe I'll get one), or I'd put a couple of pix here of that dipstick issue...

I sported my TheMallibuCrew shirt for the survey and sea trial, have acquired my 2014 Jeep Cherokee with factory ClassIII tow package, and will have moved to the lake by this time next month!

L8R

Skip, nervous but excited

Water should be coming out of the air bleed fitting at all engine speeds, from idle up to wide open throttle.  If there is not a constant stream of water at the bleed fitting after running the engine for more than 60 seconds, then there is a blockage somewhere in the air bleed system.  You may need to remove and clean the crossover bleed tube and intake manifold holes where it mounts, or there could be a blockage in the hose.

This is a common issue with GM GenIV engines which use only raw seawater in the cooling system due to the high amount of corrosion and debris which occurs in that type of cooling system.

Agree with @justgary.   Decide on the price you're willing to pay and leave it to them to see how close they can get.   If they are willing to discount x dollars but know that incentives will get you to your target, they will almost certainly tell you.   The dealer relationship after also matters.   My dealer has been absolutely amazing and treats me like royalty. 

Where in the southeast? I'm in Alabama on Lake Martin and can't say enough good things about Blue Creek Marina (part of the Singleton group).