Determining the condition of the lower end of an OMC 5.8

[symanarts]

Hello! First time posting, so PLEASE excuse any mistakes/impropriaties I may make....OK.. here goes...I just bought a 1994 Four Winns Vista 238 with an OMC 5.8 351 Ford motor. The previous owner (who I do NOT know, nor have any way to contact) had already started to remove both cracked exhaust manifolds (they are way beyond even attempting to weld)...however, in checking the oil, it appears like new...golden and clear, NOT black, or milky grey/white indicating a cracked block. Hence, my question...BEFORE I spring for a new engine, is there ANY way to determine if this engine has a cracked block/ bad bottom end AS IS...in other words, I'd LOVE to just buy and install new exhaust manifolds and risers, but I don't even want to do that if the bottom end is bad...Someone told me to run the engine as is (off of a hose) for a few minutes and recheck the oil to see if indeed water is getting into the oil...but I'm not really sure that's possible.....ANY suggestions? Thanks in advance!! Jeff

 

[Bondo]

Hello! First time posting, so PLEASE excuse any mistakes/impropriaties I may make....OK.. here goes...I just bought a 1994 Four Winns Vista 238 with an OMC 5.8 351 Ford motor. The previous owner (who I do NOT know, nor have any way to contact) had already started to remove both cracked exhaust manifolds (they are way beyond even attempting to weld)...however, in checking the oil, it appears like new...golden and clear, NOT black, or milky grey/white indicating a cracked block. Hence, my question...BEFORE I spring for a new engine, is there ANY way to determine if this engine has a cracked block/ bad bottom end AS IS...in other words, I'd LOVE to just buy and install new exhaust manifolds and risers, but I don't even want to do that if the bottom end is bad...Someone told me to run the engine as is (off of a hose) for a few minutes and recheck the oil to see if indeed water is getting into the oil...but I'm not really sure that's possible.....ANY suggestions? Thanks in advance!! Jeff

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... You'd have to put the new manifolds on it to run it,.....
I'd run it, as in, on the floor, not in the hull, too much Fire hazard,...

Is the oil Level at the proper point,..??
Is the block Drained,..?? drain plugs in, or out,..??

You can do an air pressure test, as it is,....
Isolate the block's coolin' passages, 'n pressurize with air, 'bout 15 psi,...
If there's any Cracks, you hear the Hissin' from whichever various Holes into the motor,...