Toasted motor

BobbyB26

BobbyB26

New Member
Sep 22, 2008
64
Sedro-Woolley, WA
Boat Info
268 Sedan Bridge
Engines
454 Mercruiser/ Bravo 2
Hey all.

I could use some input from this crowd about what happened this past weekend.

Toasted the motor. Marine mechanic has confirmed what I suspected in that a piston has gone thru a wall. Motor is a total loss. I haven't gotten over the shock yet, but I am the type that wants to start looking at options.

My boat had a 454 with a Alpha 1 outdrive. I'm told that that drive is too small for that motor and SeaRay only did it for couple of years before they got away from that setup. Non the less, if I repower, I will end up with more horsepower and that out drive will be really outmatched. Local mech says that a complete new package is in $20K range and I just don't have that kind of coin handy.

Have any of you gone thru a repower or complete repower before? Any sources for more ecconomical ways to go? Anything that would ease a brothers sitch?

A couple of Jim Beam & Cokes are going to be in order tonight.....

B
 
If money is an issue, just go with a long block. Could probably get away with it installed for $7500.
 
BobbyB26 said:
Hey all.

I could use some input from this crowd about what happened this past weekend.

Toasted the motor. Marine mechanic has confirmed what I suspected in that a piston has gone thru a wall. Motor is a total loss. I haven't gotten over the shock yet, but I am the type that wants to start looking at options.

My boat had a 454 with a Alpha 1 outdrive. I'm told that that drive is too small for that motor and SeaRay only did it for couple of years before they got away from that setup. Non the less, if I repower, I will end up with more horsepower and that out drive will be really outmatched. Local mech says that a complete new package is in $20K range and I just don't have that kind of coin handy.

Have any of you gone thru a repower or complete repower before? Any sources for more ecconomical ways to go? Anything that would ease a brothers sitch?

A couple of Jim Beam & Cokes are going to be in order tonight.....

B
Click to expand...

Bobby
Call Walt. I just spoke to him and he has a 350Magnum with the Bravo III Drive. That would be an ideal package for you. It'll include everything except the props. He said he'll sell it to you for Dealer cost. My guess it'll be closer to $15k and it's all brand new. This would be only wise if you want to keep the boat. If you only want to install a new motor ask him about that too. He has all sorts of engines/packages

Call 360-805-5320 Walt. He's in Monroe

Good luck
 
Nehalennia said:
Bobby
Call Walt. I just spoke to him and he has a 350Magnum with the Bravo III Drive. That would be an ideal package for you. It'll include everything except the props. He said he'll sell it to you for Dealer cost. My guess it'll be closer to $15k and it's all brand new. This would be only wise if you want to keep the boat. If you only want to install a new motor ask him about that too. He has all sorts of engines/packages

Call 360-805-5320 Walt. He's in Monroe

Good luck
Click to expand...

I'll give him a try. Thanks for the lead.

B
 
20K seems outrageous. I would probably go this route and just transfer all the bolt on stuff to the new block. You can ride your Alpha 1 for the rest of the season and next year buy the Sterndrive Inc. Bravo Brand new for 1400. You would need to switch the transom plate, but those go for 500 all the time on Ebay.

Just a thought.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/73-9...3268596QQptZBoatQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGear
 
Funny how that much horsepower is a "problem" with the Alpha and rears it's ugly head 20 years later! I had the same 454 magnum attached to an Alpha I. I didn't push it and was very smooth with the drive because I was afraid of the same thing happening. Granted, my 250 DA didn't weigh near as much as your boat, but I think it can last another 20 years if you baby the drive! Just make sure you go with the lower gear ratio in the Alpha and use a low pitch prop. My boat had the original engine and drive when we sold it in 2008. We had about 460 hours on the engine.
 
Taking a look for a package or just a new motor on E-bay seems like a good avanue to explore. Thanks for the leads.

The Admiral says no more money on the boat, so it looks like it will be sitting for awhile.
 
You should be able to find remans for under $2,000 - short block. A few months ago I had looked around for myself and found suppliers that do this on a daily basis. Can't remember the names of the companies off-hand, but they weren't too hard to find using google. Came with a warranty, too!

On edit: one place is perfprotech.com. They have new longblocks (454) for under $5K. I think they have remans, too. I'm positive you'll find others with remans under $2K. When I checked for myself, I found remans in the neighborhood of about $1,300 for a 350.
 
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I posted this when I 1st came on here

Before I got my Sea Ray I had a Sea Doo Jet boat (that my kids beat the He!! out of) it blew a piston & the quotes were UNREAL to replace or fix it locally (260 HP V-6) - I called these guys & spoke to the owner Dean - http://www.outboardjunkyard.com/marine.htm & I took a chance & had the motor pulled & shipped to them & they welded it & put a sleeve in the block & we used it for 5 more hard yrs & traded it for the Sea Ray

Even with the labor & shipping it cost a fraction of any other option - I was more than satisfied - I'm a tightwad & these folks were absolutely Fantastic & Honest

20 K seems outrageous to me 350 or 454 's are one of the most popular mtrs out there ......Good luck - always shop around & with the internet it is so easy today

but then some pay hundreds of dollars for a oil change :wow:
 
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Got the boat back home last night, so over the next couple of nights I'm going to drain the coolant out of the block. Then I'll start by pulling the valve covers off and testing each cylinder by airing up thru the spark plug hole with the valves in the closed position. If I get air coming out of one then I can pretty much write the motor off; but if they all hold pressure, then I'd lean towards a blown head gasket.

I'll do the work and then update you guys.

B
 
Bobby,

$20k? They are smoking crack. Marine Maxxxxx is less than that.

I just had to replace a 5.7l motor and went with a long block from Rapido Marine out of Hollywood Fl. You are looking at less than $1600 delivered with no core. They advertise that they install for $1100. My mechanic charged with parts, oil, filters and misc bs $2100 and that was higher than it needed to be.

check out their website they have a wealth of info and the owner was pretty good to work with. I ordered on a Wednesday and it showed up Monday am.

Sorry to hear about your engine, though...have another sip and get the checkbook out.

Dan
 
I bought two long blocks for 3300. for my srv 300. I went crazy with hoses, fuel pump, remote oil change, plugs, wires, cap and then some and both engines with help only cost 5500. complete. chevy350motor.com
 
I would also be looking for a new mechanic after they threw out the 20K figure! You could buy a whole boat with two good 7.4's for that!

Ridiculous!
 
Cocktail Time said:
Bobby,

$20k? They are smoking crack. Marine Maxxxxx is less than that.

I just had to replace a 5.7l motor and went with a long block from Rapido Marine out of Hollywood Fl. You are looking at less than $1600 delivered with no core. They advertise that they install for $1100. My mechanic charged with parts, oil, filters and misc bs $2100 and that was higher than it needed to be.

check out their website they have a wealth of info and the owner was pretty good to work with. I ordered on a Wednesday and it showed up Monday am.

Sorry to hear about your engine, though...have another sip and get the checkbook out.

Dan
Click to expand...

In all fairness to my mechanic, I think I need to go back and be more specific about that $20K figure. That was the number for a brand new motor and a brand new Bravo III leg....so, basically a whole new power train. As I've been chasing down some of these leads you guys have given me, I can see that there are probably more ecconomical ways to approach this. Even if $20K is on the high side for a whole new power train, I can't justify putting that kind of coin into a boat that isn't even worth that much.

First plan is assess the damage for myself, then I'll know what I'm up against.

If I have to replace the motor, then I'm leaning towards going with the same motor and getting a rebuilt.

My leg is the undersized Alpha I and I know it will lead to issues, but I like the idea of trying to nurse it along until next year so I can defer my costs out. Next spring I can look at rebuilt Bravo III or a Volvo-Penta duo prop.

What do you guys think of rebuilt motors? Also, what is your opinion on the Mercruiser vs. the V-P?
 
My knowledge is dated, but back when I was looking at repowering my 1979 260, I explored switching to Volvo. I believe you can move from Merc to Volvo but can't go back. The Volvo Penta transom cut-outs used to be different, but that was 12 years ago, things may be different now.

Volvo Penta is a nice package, but you since your boat was designed with Mercruiser package, you will most likely run into additional issues that will cause you more heartache than it is worth. For example. Fuel lines may not line up, throttle cables may be the wrong length and have the wrong ends and may not line up or not have the correct throw; your wiring harness will be different, your trim switch may need to be changed as will your trim pump and reservoir; your gauges may not be compatible, and you may have clearance issue. etc. The list goes on an on.
 
Volvo uses the same cut-out as Merc.

Going from an Alpha One to a Bravo will require not only a new engine but new transom plates, housings, gimbals, etc. $20 is a reasonable price estimate.
 
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BobbyB26 said:
Got the boat back home last night, so over the next couple of nights I'm going to drain the coolant out of the block. Then I'll start by pulling the valve covers off and testing each cylinder by airing up thru the spark plug hole with the valves in the closed position. If I get air coming out of one then I can pretty much write the motor off; but if they all hold pressure, then I'd lean towards a blown head gasket.

I'll do the work and then update you guys.

B
Click to expand...
Are you saying you aren't even sure what went wrong. There are tons o things that could have gone wrong that are repairable without a repower. I'm gonna ask this with NO p mallishous meaning. Do you know engines, and how they work? What happened to it? Was it running and BANG!!!!? Did you drain the oil? Any Metal? Pull Plugs? What did they look like? You may be chasing a minor head gasget you said. Why look for a repower when you may be totally rebuildable? Find out what went wrong first, Then panic.
 
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