Think starboard engine blew this weekend.....

Trying to get my order in with Michigan Motorz...I gotta say, Roger is....slow. I've had my credit card in hand, called, spoke with him....took about a day to get a contract, I had one question on the contract, still waiting for an answer 2 days later. Love to get my engine ordered!
 
Been a very long summer. Supply of "long blocks" was scarce...so I stuck with Michigan Motorz...and eventually one was delivered.

I'm very thankful that our marina was tolerant of "end user/owner" wanting to do much of the work. I had removed most of the parts of my old engine...wiring harness, intake manifold, exhaust, risers, etc. When the long block got delivered in mid July....the yard hauled my boat, removed the trans/old engine. I was able to go in and scrub my bilge!

Then they took the "reman long block" from MMz....mated it to my trans, and lowered it into the bilge, connected the shaft, mounts, etc. Dropped the boat back in the water...and let me start re-assembling the new engine. Parts like the intake manifold, brackets for accessories like water pump and alternator, thermostat housing, etc...I took and ground down with wire bit on a drill, and spray painted with ceramic engine paint. I did as much reassembly of the engine as possible, running out of steam with just 5x wireless left in the wiring harness, and the timing of the distributor (I've timed engines in the past...but that was in the 70's and 80's..I don't have a timing light anymore).

Last pic is of contents of oil pan of old engine. The connecting rod grenaded...destroyed the skirt of the piston too.

FINALLY was able to take her out this weekend to start getting break in hours. She's running great.
Hope to do the port engine in the spring..and sell her to go bigger.


StarboardBilge1.jpg
StarboardBidge2.jpg
EngineMore.jpg
EngineNearingCompletion.jpg
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EngineSideView.jpg
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YeOldeStonecat said:
Been a very long summer. Supply of "long blocks" was scarce...so I stuck with Michigan Motorz...and eventually one was delivered.

I'm very thankful that our marina was tolerant of "end user/owner" wanting to do much of the work. I had removed most of the parts of my old engine...wiring harness, intake manifold, exhaust, risers, etc. When the long block got delivered in mid July....the yard hauled my boat, removed the trans/old engine. I was able to go in and scrub my bilge!

Then they took the "reman long block" from MMz....mated it to my trans, and lowered it into the bilge, connected the shaft, mounts, etc. Dropped the boat back in the water...and let me start re-assembling the new engine. Parts like the intake manifold, brackets for accessories like water pump and alternator, thermostat housing, etc...I took and ground down with wire bit on a drill, and spray painted with ceramic engine paint. I did as much reassembly of the engine as possible, running out of steam with just 5x wireless left in the wiring harness, and the timing of the distributor (I've timed engines in the past...but that was in the 70's and 80's..I don't have a timing light anymore).

Last pic is of contents of oil pan of old engine. The connecting rod grenaded...destroyed the skirt of the piston too.

FINALLY was able to take her out this weekend to start getting break in hours. She's running great.
Hope to do the port engine in the spring..and sell her to go bigger.


View attachment 132975 View attachment 132976View attachment 132978View attachment 132979View attachment 132980 View attachment 132981 View attachment 132982
Click to expand...

Nice Job!
I'm actually pulling my starboard motor in a week. I was on my way back from Block to New haven at the end of July when I noticed the oil pressure dropping. Long story short either the pan has a hole or the dipstick tube loosened up. Luckily the motor had to come out to do the leaking dripless on that side. Looking at your pics of the bilge I know what to expect.

Did the take the motor out with the tranny attached?
 
frosh coach said:
Did the take the motor out with the tranny attached?
Click to expand...

Yes...they pulled the tranny/motor out combined...separated them in the shop.
The "boom lift" for our marina was out of commision all summer, thus they had to haul my boat and bring it into the big boat shed workshop so the overhead left could pull 'em.

I see in your details...300hp MPI engines in yours?

I'm still trying to locate a pretty good water leak now, after every run I have fresh water in my bilge. Not sure how much, as the pumps shoot it out as it fills and I go up on plane. I can dry the bilge and it stays dry til I run again. Can't see anything at idle...so this weekend will pull the deck covers and have someone stand back there as I take her up on plane.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
Yes...they pulled the tranny/motor out combined...separated them in the shop.
The "boom lift" for our marina was out of commision all summer, thus they had to haul my boat and bring it into the big boat shed workshop so the overhead left could pull 'em.

I see in your details...300hp MPI engines in yours?

I'm still trying to locate a pretty good water leak now, after every run I have fresh water in my bilge. Not sure how much, as the pumps shoot it out as it fills and I go up on plane. I can dry the bilge and it stays dry til I run again. Can't see anything at idle...so this weekend will pull the deck covers and have someone stand back there as I take her up on plane.
Click to expand...

Yes 300 HP MPI. They were replaced in 2000 (previous owners) due to water ingestion. Merc actually warranty'd them, and change the exhaust from the side of the boat to underneath.

Def take a look at the shaft seal. That maybe the culprit.
 
When I bought my 380, it was dry as a bone, the next year I started getting water in the bilge, only when I ran on plane. I had it down to the starboard engine. I thought it was the shaft seal. Got down between them, ended up being a loose blue drain plug. When I paid one of the marinas to winterize they must of left it loose, or it got loose. Dry ever since. So check those…

YeOldeStonecat said:
Yes...they pulled the tranny/motor out combined...separated them in the shop.
The "boom lift" for our marina was out of commision all summer, thus they had to haul my boat and bring it into the big boat shed workshop so the overhead left could pull 'em.

I see in your details...300hp MPI engines in yours?

I'm still trying to locate a pretty good water leak now, after every run I have fresh water in my bilge. Not sure how much, as the pumps shoot it out as it fills and I go up on plane. I can dry the bilge and it stays dry til I run again. Can't see anything at idle...so this weekend will pull the deck covers and have someone stand back there as I take her up on plane.
Click to expand...
 
frosh coach said:
Yes 300 HP MPI. They were replaced in 2000 (previous owners) due to water ingestion. Merc actually warranty'd them, and change the exhaust from the side of the boat to underneath.

Def take a look at the shaft seal. That maybe the culprit.
Click to expand...

Wow that's nice, and extra 40hp x 2....
Different props?

New dripless shaft seals about 2 years ago...but worth checking again....
 
Chris-380 said:
... started getting water in the bilge, only when I ran on plane.... ended up being a loose blue drain plug. .... So check those…
Click to expand...

The blue drain plugs at the bottom of each exhaust manifold? I wondered about that...but then, I figured they'd be pouring out "right away"....even at idle. I don't see a thing at idle. Or...do they only get pressure behind them and would shoot out water if engines are say, spinning above 3k? Regardless, I'll reach down and feel 'em to see....certainly could have been bumped.
 
Yep, those on the bottom of the exhaust. One was loose and was dry til we went to get on plane, then a pretty steady stream

YeOldeStonecat said:
The blue drain plugs at the bottom of each exhaust manifold? I wondered about that...but then, I figured they'd be pouring out "right away"....even at idle. I don't see a thing at idle. Or...do they only get pressure behind them and would shoot out water if engines are say, spinning above 3k? Regardless, I'll reach down and feel 'em to see....certainly could have been bumped.
Click to expand...
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
Around 740 hours.
We bought her when she had around 500. We later heard from dock neighbors, that the prior 2 owners didn't care for her too well. It became apparent to me they didn't change her oil too often. For the past 4 years I've been over compensating by changing the oil twice a season, once before winter, and once a week or two after launch and a run or two. A 2 hour cruise, each engine would consume over a quart of oil. Never ran her above 4k, usually cruised 3200-3400 rpm.
Click to expand...
For longevity run them at 3000. 3200 and up is too many rpms for these engines. I got 4000 hours out of my 350s and they ran strong with no oil burn when I sold.
 
Not sure of your docking situation, but can you run your boat at idle but in gear while tied to the dock and get down there and look?

Just have someone at the helm ready to hit the kill switches if something goes south.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
Wow that's nice, and extra 40hp x 2....
Different props?

New dripless shaft seals about 2 years ago...but worth checking again....
Click to expand...

The added HP is nice. I don't have to use the tabs at all. My old boat (94 300 with 350/260 alpha 1's) was ass heavy. I have to run her at 3600 to stay on plane even with the tabs. I love the MPI and and HP. My sweet spot seams to be 3100 at 23.5-24 knots (27/28 mph).

I'm not sure if the props were changed at repower. I'll check the numbers when I pull the boat.
 
copb8tx said:
Not sure of your docking situation, but can you run your boat at idle but in gear while tied to the dock and get down there and look?

Just have someone at the helm ready to hit the kill switches if something goes south.
Click to expand...

Yes....can put in idle or even put on a few hundge RPM and watch. This weekend will idle and just put the rev's up and look.
 
frosh coach said:
The added HP is nice. I don't have to use the tabs at all. My old boat (94 300 with 350/260 alpha 1's) was ass heavy. I have to run her at 3600 to stay on plane even with the tabs. I love the MPI and and HP. My sweet spot seams to be 3100 at 23.5-24 knots (27/28 mph).

I'm not sure if the props were changed at repower. I'll check the numbers when I pull the boat.
Click to expand...

3100 doing ~24 knots for sure your props have more pitch than mine...pretty sure mine are stock diam/pitch. At ~3100 I'm 'tween 20-21 knots.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
Been a very long summer. Supply of "long blocks" was scarce...so I stuck with Michigan Motorz...and eventually one was delivered.

I'm very thankful that our marina was tolerant of "end user/owner" wanting to do much of the work. I had removed most of the parts of my old engine...wiring harness, intake manifold, exhaust, risers, etc. When the long block got delivered in mid July....the yard hauled my boat, removed the trans/old engine. I was able to go in and scrub my bilge!

Then they took the "reman long block" from MMz....mated it to my trans, and lowered it into the bilge, connected the shaft, mounts, etc. Dropped the boat back in the water...and let me start re-assembling the new engine. Parts like the intake manifold, brackets for accessories like water pump and alternator, thermostat housing, etc...I took and ground down with wire bit on a drill, and spray painted with ceramic engine paint. I did as much reassembly of the engine as possible, running out of steam with just 5x wireless left in the wiring harness, and the timing of the distributor (I've timed engines in the past...but that was in the 70's and 80's..I don't have a timing light anymore).

Last pic is of contents of oil pan of old engine. The connecting rod grenaded...destroyed the skirt of the piston too.

FINALLY was able to take her out this weekend to start getting break in hours. She's running great.
Hope to do the port engine in the spring..and sell her to go bigger.


View attachment 132975 View attachment 132976View attachment 132978View attachment 132979View attachment 132980 View attachment 132981 View attachment 132982
Click to expand...
 
Hello,
Do you have any details of what the fix was to eliminate the water intrusion through the exhaust manifold? Apparently it’s a common problem but mercury doesn’t have a service bulletin specifically addressing this issue with the 350 mag mpi. Any details, advice, references are much appreciated..
Thanks
 
cwnewkirk said:
Hello,
Do you have any details of what the fix was to eliminate the water intrusion through the exhaust manifold? Apparently it’s a common problem but mercury doesn’t have a service bulletin specifically addressing this issue with the 350 mag mpi. Any details, advice, references are much appreciated..
Thanks
Click to expand...
Interested in hearing your whole story about this issue.
 
Had a friend that bought (2) 5.7 reman's last year and both went bad immediately. Good news is the company replaced them free. The bad news, labor is on your dime.
 
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