Re: 460 merc cruiser
Hey,
I'm a fairly new owner of a boat with a Merc 470 (3.7L), inline 4 cyl engine- I assume that's the engine you're speaking of. It uses a cast iron Ford 460 head and an aluminum block made by Mercruiser. Here's my opinion:
From what I know, the engine will require more care and attention than a standard GM V-6 or V-8. The engine was made by Mercruiser from '77 to '89, but does not make many (if any) parts for it anymore.
The engines run very warm by design and have a tendency to overheat. I see numerous posts on this site asking for suitable replacement engines because they blow up or something.
Positive aspects: good power to weight ratio, good fuel economy, might make you a marine mechanic, somewhat simple to work on
Negatives: tendency to overheat, lack of available new parts, expensive parts, cold natured, requires closer monitoring
If it were me, I would spend more money on the front-end buying a boat with a standard GM V-6 or V-8 and a Mercruiser outdrive (not OMC). It would likely be cheaper in the long run and easier to sell later.
