Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

[AtlasTraveler]

The boat is a mid 60's Atlas made by Traveler Boat Div - Stanray Corp. It started it's life as a life boat aboard a bigger boat. Bought it in the US and brought it to CAN. Owned it for 17 years now, driven for 12 seasons since bought trouble free other then floor rot.

Just spent a grand in a new floor.. gave it a front to back clean-up, new seats, battery, etc, etc.. so we can't stop now,..

It's an in/outboard not the outboard model, has an inline 4cyl GM block (8849448 - CUE159 (2.5L?? -Please confirm-)) rated for 120hp, looks like a chevette block to me but I can't figure out the displacement as of yet, can't find any info on it. ANyway, it has an external hairline crack 6 inches long under manifold 1.5 inches below block deck, across cyl 2 and 3. That didn't scare me, it was the milkshake in the pan from the internal crack that did.. I pulled the mani and head, no way to see inside the jacket. I know it froze, no question about it, she sat for 4 or 5 years untouched, and although I know it was flushed, like every season, the block is cracked none the less..

BIG QUESTION:

Can I swap a chevette bottom end and RUNNN!!!?

The bell housing looks like it would take any GM 4 or 6 cyl block, but flywheel and coupling would most likely be different.

OH! and how does an in/out board couple together from flywheel to drive? Is it a spline coupler or are there bolts to remove? I can't separate the engine from the drive no how...

Cheers!

 

[oops!]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

if i remember correctly....it was a 181 out of an olds omega.

the coupler is bolted to the flywheel...its a spline shaft in a hard rubber casing.

remove the drive form the back of the boat......6 bolts and the rams. if you cant easillly pull the drive out.....you might need to put a 2x4 between the bell and the drive
or turn the motor by hand.....after the 6 bolts and the ram.....there is nothing to hold it

remove the motor......mount up front and the two pins in the back from the bell housing to the transom plate.

out it comes. coupler is on the fly wheel

lol....love how easy it is to call bondo...

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

Chevette, no.

Old 68 or so Chevy II with the 153 CI 4cyl, yes. But good luck finding one of those. Probably much easier to find a 120HP Mercruiser. Actually, why not stick in a 140HP? It will bolt right up and give you an extra 20HP.

You need to remove the drive, before removing the engine,

 

[Bondo]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

Chevette, no.

Old 68 or so Chevy II with the 153 CI 4cyl, yes. But good luck finding one of those. Probably much easier to find a 120HP Mercruiser. Actually, why not stick in a 140HP? It will bolt right up and give you an extra 20HP.

You need to remove the drive, before removing the engine,

Ayuh,... Exactly,... An automotive motor, yer Not gonna find...

How 'bout some Pictures,..??

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

Ayuh,... Exactly,... An automotive motor, yer Not gonna find...

How 'bout some Pictures,..??

Gotta agree. Drive back roads and look for boats with trees growing up through them and offer to take the right one off the owners hands. Cars don't stay in junk yards for 40 or more years before they are crused. Hopefuly you have enough property to hide the remains after salvaging the motor.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

^^^ For something like that...

Hook the donor boat up to your truck, drive home, cut big U shaped cut around drive with Sawzall, unbolt front of engine, lift engine and drive out of boat, head to dump, THEN,,, unhitch the trailer

 

[AtlasTraveler]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

Thanks for the responses, I was hoping for a lot I guess..

I will get a bunch of pictures here within a week, the boat is 2h drive from where I live and I won't be looking at it again till next tues/wed.

Cheers.

 

[AtlasTraveler]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

Here's some pictures, I have more but the uploader program won't accept them all..



Cheers.

 

[AtlasTraveler]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

Oh, and any more good info on this boat would be very appreciated!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

Oh, and any more good info on this boat would be very appreciated!

Ayuh,... It appears yer I/O is a 400 Stringer drive...

So,... I don't see anymore Good news comin'...


Btw,... You put Ayuh, in yer title,...
Are ya a Downeastah,.. Maineiac,..??

 

[AtlasTraveler]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

Well, we went the way of the JB weld. I repaired the internal crack and have the block halve re-assembled, today it will be back in the boat and hopefully it will last for a few seasons, lol.

Cheers.

PS, I put the 'Ayuh' in my title to get your attention Bond-o, being a mod I figured you would have a good idea on what I could do for this old boat.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

Well, we went the way of the JB weld. I repaired the internal crack and have the block halve re-assembled, today it will be back in the boat and hopefully it will last for a few seasons, lol.

Cheers.

PS, I put the 'Ayuh' in my title to get your attention Bond-o, being a mod I figured you would have a good idea on what I could do for this old boat.

Ayuh,... Ya snookered me,...

Sorry man, Good luck with yer endeavor...

 

[proshadetree]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

Buddy of mine has had JB Weld on his mill for 6 years with no issues. But it is outside the block.

 

[AtlasTraveler]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

Well its done, and it looks like it did the trick, runs fine and no leaks. Goin out for a ride tomorrow morning, hope she holds!

Cheers.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

Ayuh,... Seein's ya called Me out,...

I've used epoxy on blocks before, on the Outside...
Never had any luck on oil soaked cast iron on the inside though....

 

[AtlasTraveler]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

Brake clean the whole block, torch and die grinder to remove the top layer and prep area for the JB, dry as a bone.

 

[AtlasTraveler]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

It worked!! 4 hours out on the lake, 1.5 hours wide open throttle in total. No milky oil, no leaks of any kind, ran like a top! Started to develop a vibration after 30 minutes in, more so around 1000rpm and less as we went faster. Don't know if it's the timing is correct, no idea what it should be, anyone know?

Cheers.

 

[AtlasTraveler]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

You need to remove the drive, before removing the engine,

Well that was half correct. For the record, if the drive shaft isn't rusted into the flywheel hub, you can pull the engine without touching the drive at all. We ended up pulling off the drive unit and then proceeded to press the drive shaft out with the engine, then separated the rusty shaft from the hub and now it slides like it should.

2nd trip out! Went to Balsam lake for a troll, spent a couple hours puttering about, still no problems other then a minor carb cleaning, she likes to drop in RPM if we hit the throttle hard or hit the large waves, but then comes back to life in about 2 seconds.

Cheers!

 

[AtlasTraveler]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

Anyone know if there is an EFI kit for the 153cu GM?

 

[proshadetree]

Re: Cracked block... Ayuh... Calling old schoolers

For what stand alone efi kits cost you could find a later model boat and re power you rig.