1987 165 4 cyl. w/alpha drive

[texaspsdx]

I'm looking at a 1987 Chaparrall 187XL 165 4 cyl. & alpha outdrive. Boat is in really great shape except owner states "Took the boat to the shop and did a compression test. The compression on first and last cylinder is @ 50% (I can't remember the exact <br />number)." He is shipping out for overseas and does not have time to mess with repairing and wants to sell. Am I asking for big trouble if I buy? Is this a 4.3?

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1987 165 4 cyl. w/alpha drive

Am I asking for big trouble if I buy? Is this a 4.3?

Short Answer,...............<br /><br />Ayuh,........ Big Trouble,...... That's an Attempt by Merc. to build their Own motors,... Loosely based on 1/2 of the 460 Ford V8,....And some Outboard motor Ideas,........It was only in production for a Few years,.... Along time Ago... The 1 you're looking at Might be 1 of the Last......<br /><br />It's a 3.7l, otherwise known as the 470......<br /><br />A 4.3l is a Chevy V6 motor......

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: 1987 165 4 cyl. w/alpha drive

Stay Away (as far as you can get)<br /><br />Rebuilding will be 'difficult'.<br /><br />Then you will have a 20 year old boat,waiting for a $550.00 charging system to go wrong.<br /><br />DHP

 

[texaspsdx]

Re: 1987 165 4 cyl. w/alpha drive

Thanks guys. Rebuilding a motor does not scare me, but trying to rebuild a piece-meal engine does. Is there a drop in replacement? If not, I'll stay away.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: 1987 165 4 cyl. w/alpha drive

NO<br /><br />and don't ask me about my 3.7 problems with<br /><br /><br />jasper<br /><br />DHP<br /><br />(do you realize you have quoted me in my first reply ?)

 

[MrBill]

Re: 1987 165 4 cyl. w/alpha drive

A certain price can make any deal right...<br />There are a lot of pro & cons re the 3.7L, lovers and haters. Fact is there are a lot more 20 year old 3.7L than 3.0 and many other models because they were built well and performed like work horses...and yes, there were major design flaws in the charging system (but the original should have been replaced with conventional generator by now - for $350) and problems with cooling (because they're all closed cooling systems) in early modles with 3" heat exchnagers, etc.<br /><br />The basic engine, block, heads, pistons, crank etc. were much more dependable than most other models....<br /><br />Back to my initial point, price can make any deal attracive and worthwhile...$1500 might make this a good opportunity, $3000 would make you a sucker

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 1987 165 4 cyl. w/alpha drive

with an open deck design it has an inherent design flaw. rebuilding this motor is one of the most difficult to do correctly ever made for US marine products. sometimes lineing up the head to the block or even finding the tool to check valve lash is difficult.wont even get into the cracking manifolds or the camshaft driven circ pump seals. all and all was a dismall failure. had a lot of head gasket failures with the open deck design. aluminium block with a cast iron head and it was failure prone.

 

[jaybirdtx]

Re: 1987 165 4 cyl. w/alpha drive

I agree with the other guys. Its no longer in production for a reason. The 4.3L is a good suitable replacement for this engine.

 

[prowlersfish]

Re: 1987 165 4 cyl. w/alpha drive

Great engine ! with that said the parts are high <br />many only from the dealer only alt is junk .but you can change that . as far as a Attempt to build a eng ,merc built outboards for years, they even build the ZR-1 eng for the corvett !