1999 454 Mag MPI just quits - videos

I am exhausted just reading and following your saga................ Good luck with everything.
 
Prognosis.......
The deeper we got, the deeper we had to go....
Found a nice blue spun bearing on the main crank. As the engine heated up, I'm sure it created enough friction to drag the engine down. It also answers a couple of years of intermittent issues. (hard to crank when hot, etc.) Bottom line, everything hopped around enough to trash the block too. B.O.A.T.T.
On order, block sometime in April, then put it back together with new where needed.
Meanwhile, bought a 5th Wheel in a great park, so I'll be on the RV forums for a while...
 
Glad to hear you have the prognosis and headed to fixing her!

370Dancer said:
Prognosis.......
The deeper we got, the deeper we had to go....
Found a nice blue spun bearing on the main crank. As the engine heated up, I'm sure it created enough friction to drag the engine down. It also answers a couple of years of intermittent issues. (hard to crank when hot, etc.) Bottom line, everything hopped around enough to trash the block too. B.O.A.T.T.
On order, block sometime in April, then put it back together with new where needed.
Meanwhile, bought a 5th Wheel in a great park, so I'll be on the RV forums for a while...
Click to expand...
 
Yeah, I should probably update. Let's just say that I got great gas mileage this year on Beach House. 1Million mpg.
They tried to put the block back together with new bearings, and the block was too out of spec for them to move ahead. The crank, ironically, was fine.

So, we ordered a new block $$ in February. Came in around July. Meanwhile, I bought a 5th Wheel in a RV park in Punta Gorda, that scoflaw has never seen, although we threatened. He was dealing with the 496 stuff, and I with the remodel of this old park queen, in a perfect spot.
So perfect, that IAN decided to make it the center of the eye. Cantore was dancing in and out of the garage 1/2 mile away. Good news, hardly any damage, but lots of attention, and helping fellow owners, up to now. We were just far enough up the top of Charlotte Harbor, and I'll say close enough to the eye, that we never got the surge. If so, it would have been all gone.

So, the long story short, life happens. The block is wrapped, and in a good dark dry place until I can get past all the daily bs. I am now considering having someone else put it all back together. Innovation Marine built the block back up to basically a short block with all of my new parts, and their expertise. I can't afford them for the whole rebuild though. It would be a 30k engine. Meanwhile the Catamaran got out from under us, and sank at the dock. V150 VMax 2 stroke gone, F115 4 stroke takes her place (weight, timing, and cost). Picked that up today. I won't be the fastest 20 footer, but I bet I'll be the most reliable, with 4x improvement in fuel economy.

What I need most is a shop where I can do the work, without having to reset every day. If you'd like to come bolt it back together, I've got a place for you to stay, and endless flow of whatever.
 
Well good and bad news I guess. There has to be a ton of reliable builders in your area who will assemble a basic engine under $1k I would think.
 
It's all sorted. And, so we begin. Heads on tomorrow, and maybe the valve train. Perfect little spot 1/4 mile from the house. I can just about run a golf cart there. Got a couple of old hot rodders there to keep me honest. Brought an extra chair or 2 in case @scoflaw gets bored and wants to take a ride..........
build shop 1.jpeg
build shop 2.jpeg
build shop 3.jpeg
head inspection.jpeg
 
He had a pretty good old guy trick you all probably already know about. Instead of pinching fingers trying to line up the head on the block, put two bolts on each end of the head and use them as handles to position much easier. 2 people, 2 seconds.
 
I did this job, Virginia diesel did long block for me.
 

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Oh baby. That's money right there.
 
Getting closer. Did a bunch of housekeeping behind the engines while it's easy to get in and out of there. Added oil pressure sender to the genset (outboard back side of course), and wired gauges at the helm for pressure and water temp. The Westerbeke gave me fits for a couple of days troubleshooting intermittent shutdown upon release of the bypass switch. Turned out to be corroded connectors on the oil pressure switch, not any of the sensors. Replaced all the bonding wires that were snapped at the fittings, or the wire was hard. Replacing the manifolds and risers on the Stbd engine right now, along with replacing the raw water pump. Oil change for that block, and some hand cranks, and probably an oil pressure spin up before starting it. It has sat for a year, and I'm sure is dry as a bone on the top end. Gonna need the Stbd engine working to get to the crane barge that will drop the port engine in. That is all sorted and waiting for me. Weather hasn't been the best either for uncovered engine rooms. Once it's in, then I still have to bolt the top end on from intake to ECM. THEN, we'll see if I should have taken up golf instead.
 
So, how do you feel about this:
Stbd engine. checking timing chain by rotating the engine normal rotation by hand, and then rotating the other way, and watching the rotor on the distributor. Looking like 1/8 to 1/4" "play" before it starts moving the other direction. Turn up the radio, and forge ahead?
 
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