Cracked block repair / questions

[Cullie140]

My luck keeps coming up empty but learning some good lessons. Marina lifted engine today to start repairs on transom replacement and sent me pictures of cracks in my block. After going through paperwork I have evidence these cracks were present since 2018. From pictures can you tell if these are repairable? What questions should i be asking mechanic to determine if repair if feasible? I drove twice in July for considerable time with no overheating

i ask because Marina does great work and reliable but they tend to want to do new parts/replacements instead of repairs. I don’t think i can afford $11,000 engine right now but can i get by a season or two while i save to do so??…..

 

[Golfman25]

Borrowed time. Best bet is a new block.

 

[Pirate Lady]

 

[scoflaw]

Grind the cracks until you get to clean metal and fill with Marinetex

 

[rumrunner]

Maybe some JB Weld applied over the area of the crack... might get you through another season or two. If the engine is out of the boat should be easy to apply.

 

[BillK2632]

Like others mentioned, JB Weld is about all you can do to "fix" it. A new block is in this boat's future - I would do the JB Weld and just run it until it doesn't run. There is no "fixing" it. It might run a long time this way - just no way of knowing. I would say at some point it was not winterized properly - looks like freeze damage.

 

[mrsrobinson]

IF you can afford to do a long or short block now, while it's out, that's what I would do to avoid those labor costs again in the future. Quick Google search for the cost (not including labor) of a long block shows ~$5000.

 

[Cullie140]

Thanks for the advice. Marina has completed compression check and was good on all cylinders, no signs of water in the oil, and had it out on the water two weekends before it hit Marina and temp never went over normal range.

considering all that i asked my shop if they could do a repair with JB weld or marinetec. Service manager was checking in with GM and will get back to me. Ive also asked them to try and source a cheaper engine. They told me $11,000 for new but quick google search i saw some reman 6.2l for around $7,000. Not sure if its a match as I’m not mechanical. I’m leaning towards just repairing and saving for a future repower. If they can make me a good deal on repower now I may consider.

 

[mrsrobinson]

IF this is a long term boat for you, like the others have said, you are on borrowed time. Again, IF you can afford it now, you will not have to pay the remove & reinstall labor 2 times, and your are (mostly) assured this will not be a future problem you are dealing with, getting towed in, end of boating season, what's the price then, how soon can they get to it, etc.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

I had to "repo" a boat I "sold" to a brother in law years ago. Long story..... Anyway, he didn't properly winterize the engine and I found a cracked water jacket when I got it back. I had the crack welded without pulling the engine. A single engine Baja. I used the boat that summer and sold it without any issues with the repaired crack.

 

[rustybronco]

The first thing you should ask is how much to R&R the engine by it's self. If big money then I would highly recommend doing the engine while it's out.
If it were mine I'd repair the crack and call it good. A good welder could repair that crack. It also might be able to be pinned. Personally if it's an open cooling system, I'd epoxy it.

 

[Scott215]

You can get a remanufactured with a warranty for about 5 grand that's what I would do whether you keep it or sell it you're not going to lose the money You make might make some money

 

[mrsrobinson]

You can get a remanufactured with a warranty for about 5 grand that's what I would do whether you keep it or sell it you're not going to lose the money You make might make some money

Right, this is what I was suggesting, a short or long block reman, like Jasper for example.

 

[Scott215]

Exactly what I would do