1990 4.3 Century 2000 - Floor,Transom,Stringer,Upholstery Project

[harringtondav]

Just took the outdrive off and found oil in the bellows

I looked at your pics. The oil in the bellows is from a leaking gear yoke seal. That yoke is the one closest to the drive in your third pic. Your gimbal brg. looked clean and rust free in the first pic. Although your Unis and yokes look a little rusty.

Gear lube is cheap compared to changing that gear yoke seal, unless you have the special spanner to remove the castle lock nut. Just keep it topped off, and check for water or milky lube in the drive. Give the gimbal brg. enough pumps of grease to see the clean stuff ooze.

Rust is from water entry. That may have rusted the gear yoke's sealing surface, causing the oil leak. That big, square cross section O ring seal inside the bell hsg. (which appears missing), plus the bell hsg. to O/D joint gasket can allow water entry if worn. Maybe start with those two, included in any seal kit. If you're lucky, that will keep the water out of this area. If that doesn't dry things up, time for a new drive shaft bellows.

I live mostly on the Merc. stern drive forum. So this is get-by advice. If you out drive gives you more trouble, take it to that team of pros.

 

[Chris51280]

The yoke seal was the only one I didnt change since I didnt want to take the bearing pack apart. I got new bellows and I installed the square seal. So i guess tbe yoke seal needs to be changed. The yokes came like this. The needle bearings are still good but I will change the anyways.

How do I pressure test the block?

 

[Chris51280]

She's in. Doing it alone is quite exhausting running back and forth. Will add additional supports over tge weekend

 

[Chris51280]

I can get a 86 Chevy motor with 75k miles for $250. Is it worth it to keep as a spare in case this motor goes out? Don't really see too many pre 91 engines with low mileage around anymore. I know I would have to change the cam and freeze plugs. What's your opinion?

 

[Chris51280]

Compression test on the cylinders is even at around 140psi on a cold engine.

 

[chevymaher]

For that price and mileage snap that sucker up. If it was near me I would. It be in my garage already.

 

[Chris51280]

I picked it up for 160 today. Now I found out that it has flat tappet cam. GM changed it in 1987 and my block is from 1986. My 1990 has a roller cam. I believe I have to change some things if I ever want to use my camshaft out of my current motor. I think they make conversion kits from flat tappet to roller tappets.

 

[Chris51280]

chevymaher, ever come to northern Ohio on I 75? you can pick it up. has the 4 barrel rochester quadrajet carb on it. Maybe I can sell the carb separately and get some money back. Anybody know if they sell?

 

[Chris51280]

I'm planning on a sundeck design instead of a doghouse. I will replace the back to back seats with a captains chair I already have. Can somebody send me some pictures on how the latch system works? I was looking at Baylinerchuck and MadProps for the bench and deck design. Still have no idea how to create a latch system. MadProps How is yours coming along?

 

[Chris51280]

My throttle safety push button did not work. It always stayed disengaged which is dangerous. One pictire shows the part broken off. Don't bumb the throttle while idling! So my friend John has a 3D printer and we scanned and printed another push button. The new part works like it should. If anyone should have the same problem, Hit me up. I could not find the switch anywhere else and I didn't really want to buy a $300 control unit.

 

[chevymaher]

chevymaher, ever come to northern Ohio on I 75? you can pick it up. has the 4 barrel rochester quadrajet carb on it. Maybe I can sell the carb separately and get some money back. Anybody know if they sell?

No I never do. There is a van up near you I could pick up free if i ever went that way to.

 

[Chris51280]

I scrapped it. Needed room in the garage and had no use for it. Next time a little more research needed. So I know I need a 1987 to 1991 engine. Just found out that the block is welded as well. Did not see this before since it is covered by the side seat benches. It does not leak, has no oil in the water and even compression ob all 6 cylinders. Ob a good note, got the boat basically stripped for demolition.

 

[Mad Props]

I'm planning on a sundeck design instead of a doghouse. I will replace the back to back seats with a captains chair I already have. Can somebody send me some pictures on how the latch system works? I was looking at Baylinerchuck and MadProps for the bench and deck design. Still have no idea how to create a latch system. MadProps How is yours coming along?

Sorry, just saw this... not sure what you mean by latch system.. can you elaborate what part your talking about?

 

[Chris51280]

MadProps How is your engine cover/sundeck secured to the bench? Do you have a latch system to keep it from opening up during transport? I have seen the early pictures when you took it apart that helped me visualize how I could make the bench and the hatch. Is there a safety latch/lock system?

 

[Chris51280]

Its been awhile. things in life get in the way and I still have other things to do around the house.
i picked up another engine that will replace my current one. It is cracked and after 28years a rebuild might be in order anyways. I got one from a1987 monte carlo. After pulling it, it appeared to be a rebuild one from 1992. Odometer showed 137k miles. So probably less. Not sure if I can or should post the rebuild here. I started it over in the engine section.
On the boat:
I took the steering and engine mount plate off. It's odd that the upper holes were missing. Transom still seems solid but the stringers to the side are bad.
the bow section has the "hallway" fiberglass floor lower than the deck. A wood plate with carpet was over it to make it level with the rest of the deck. I think I will cut it and attach it later to the floor with pb and glass.

 

[Mad Props]

MadProps How is your engine cover/sundeck secured to the bench? Do you have a latch system to keep it from opening up during transport? I have seen the early pictures when you took it apart that helped me visualize how I could make the bench and the hatch. Is there a safety latch/lock system?

Ahh gotcha... the factory setup was two vinyl straps attached to the cover with like rectangular metal openings in the ends... the back rest then had two matching pieces that twisted to lock them.. hard to explain lol..
nothing wrong with that system, but I actually plan to put mine back together with linear actuator lifts for no reason other than cool factor lol.

 

[Chris51280]

I got the gimbal housing off. Transom still looks halfway decent. A little delamination. I measure the transom at 2.44". the stringers don't look so good.
they put the tank on these strips that won't let any water through. Tank sits on the outside edges with the center unsupported.

 

[Chris51280]

So the demo begins. I cut the seat boxes away. I will put a bench across later with a platform on top. Started to cutaway the deck. Found little ants and spiders. I have a stepped deck and stepped stringers. I don't think I have seen this on others yet. The deck was always the same across and the center stringers going all the way through

 

[Chris51280]

More demolition and hopefully a lot over the weekend, the bow section is tricky since the floor is under the white hallway. Have to cut inside the seat boxes. The stern has a stepped deck for no reason. I think I will make it the same level.

 

[chevymaher]

I really enjoyed under the bow hallway. I took the stingers out first to do that.