Crack found in the block

[stresspoint]

i have one up the yard cracked around the same area , we don't get freezing temps here either so i would be keen to know what conditions your engine was used in.

that being said the crack in my block was not as apparent as yours.

BTW , any patch , weld or repair to that block is never going to work out well, find a used engine from a junk yard and swap all your stuff over you will get out of it for less than a grand in gaskets , freeze plugs and any other new bits you need

 

[flashback]

Well don't beat yourself up too bad, you're probably not the only one..

I wouldn't trust any of the parts left that have coolant passages. Find an old truck engine and convert it to marine...

 

[Karl1972la]

My brother who builds engines and hot rods said it is junk now too.

 

[nola mike]

They are not the Same. Close only counts with Horseshoes, Grenades, and Nuclear Weapons

You said "plenty of differences". Please expand on that.

 

[Karl1972la]

The thing is this boat is our glue basically to our family
Many years of family fun, now I ether break it all down and replace with family (bonding moment) or buy a newer bigger boat one day

 

[nola mike]

No it was the original engine. Looked on google and all replacement engines cost that much to replace. Paid 6500 for the whole boat back 6 years ago. The motor replacement is more than the complete boat

You can do it for much cheaper depending on level of "newness" that you're after. I pulled a long block from a junk yard for $185. An '02 means you can get a late model engine and use all of your existing accessories.

 

[Karl1972la]

Here is the boat

 

[Scott Danforth]

Great…5 grand to 10 grand and I paid 6500 6 years ago for the whole thing

BS

a reman'd motor is $2800. a good running 4.3 from the local pull-your-part salvage yard is $300. add marine gaskets, core plugs, new water pump and new manifolds and thats only $1000

 

[JASinIL2006]

Can your brother help you pull this an replace the block? Lots of cheaper options than buying a whole new engine, and if the boat is well loved by the fam, well worth the work and expense...

 

[Karl1972la]

I’m not engine builder
Yes YouTube videos are a great help
Think I’m gonna cry for a while

 

[dave8311]

You're not building an engine, just bolting some parts onto it.

Not that hard, really.

Depending on your yard/garage/tree situation the hardest part maybe getting the old one out and the new one in.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I’m not engine builder
Yes YouTube videos are a great help
Think I’m gonna cry for a while

then find a gearhead near you and ask how much he would charge to swap parts.

lefty-loosy, righty-tighty

 

[flashback]

I suppose you managed to disassemble the broken motor so with some care you could probably dress a new one... best of luck..

 

[tpenfield]

Nice going . . . new block would be good for you. No good way to tell about internal cracks. . . .

Was this your doing or did you acquire the boat/engine in this condition?

 

[airshot]

Find a replacement boat....or just get a whole new motor !! Some years back, I had a 3.0 that I thought might have an issue. Checked on remans, long blocks etc. Actually could buy a brand new engine from Mercury with everything, ready to run so to speak, for only a couple hundred over a reman engine !!!!

 

[Scott06]

I live in Louisiana with usually mild winters and have never winterized the boat
In hind sight especially after taking all the parts off I didn’t realize how much water was still captive. It of course is my fault

Ok easy enough to drain going forward

No it was the original engine. Looked on google and all replacement engines cost that much to replace. Paid 6500 for the whole boat back 6 years ago. The motor replacement is more than the complete boat

That’s why I suggested getting a truck 4.3 and marinizing it. Places like Michigan motorz and rapido marine sell reman engines If the rest of the boat is worth investing in

In 2015 I bought a clean 21 ft bowrider for $3k had 37 hrs on it was in perfect shape but had a known cracked 4.3. cracked in same
Places yours did just not as severe. Spent $5 k on a new 5.0 partial engine package. Basically spent $10 k by the time I did the engine and put new surge brakes and tires on trailer, boat was about $18-20 k value so made sense.

If you are handy it’s not hard to do the work

 

[Scott06]

Hers a reman 4.3 https://www.michiganmotorz.com/4-3l-vortec-marine-engine-1996-current

Price is plus a $300 core they gave me $150 for a similar core when I bought my 5.0


Here is a bunch from summit https://www.summitracing.com/search...olet/engine-size/4-3l-262/engine-family/gm-v6

If your brother is a gear head it will be a piece of cake for him

It was so much easier to swap engines in a boat that size than in a car

 

[Scott Danforth]

I live in Louisiana with usually mild winters and have never winterized the boat
In hind sight especially after taking all the parts off I didn’t realize how much water was still captive. It of course is my fault

FWIW, there are busted blocks in Florida, Texas, Georgia, and Louisiana this winter

 

[Karl1972la]

both truck motors and boat motors came from the tonawanda ny engine plant

both truck motors and boat motors were built with the same block, heads, cranks, rods, pistons, valves, etc.

boat motors get brass or stainless core plugs
boat motors get a marine cam (no overlap)
boat motors get a marine water pump with a brass impeller
boat motors sometimes get a different oil pan

Boat motors are then shipped to the marinizer that adds the marine induction system, front engine accessories, rotating electrics, ignition, and exhaust

Just found a 4.3 truck engine 400.00 and will get it home Tuesday 3/28

 

[Karl1972la]

Nice going . . . new block would be good for you. No good way to tell about internal cracks. . . .

Was this your doing or did you acquire the boat/engine in this condition?

It just froze a couple of days and I didn’t realize how much water was still captive in the motor.