Re: Engine Change from Volvo (Chevy) 305 to 350
Here is what's happened starting last season. The motor wasn't running good so changed the plugs to start and noted the plug to be fouled with rust. Oonce apart it was found that the valves in the #7 cylinder were siezed and that cylinder was not running. The even side cylinders were fine and the odd side head was cleaned and the exhaust manifold was found to havea gasket leak between the manifold and riser. This was all corrected and but back together. ran the boat and then lost oil pressure. Opened up engine and found the #7 valves were not sealing. This caused the main bearing to spin. The cause was then due to one side of the motor having stronger heads and the damage was done.
The motor was stripped down, the short block went to a shop NC to have the bearing changed and block freshened up. In the mean time, I had both heads re-conditioned to make them equally strong and the manifolds on both sides had signs of wear and deterioration, they wear replaced or both sides. Every thing ran well after that and boat was put away till this season. Completed normal un-wintering, chaged the plugs and found water evidence on the #7 plug, brought it to the shop. This was caught early enough and there was no severe damage and the gasket was found to be the culprit on the #7 side again. This was corrected. And plugs checked, no more water.
A couple months ago the motor started "hunting" when placed in idle and would go from 800-600 rpm occasionally and not repaeatable. Could not find a problem or cause, had shop run codes and found nothing. They thought it was the electrical system and said the altenator was the problem. Bought new one as it was the original and the out put was a little lower than used to be but the new one didn't fix anyhting. I took apart the wire harness of the engine, which looked fine but some of the pins shifted when I took them apart, nothing broke from the wires just moved from teh plu connection. I cleaned it up and put a small amount of conductive grease in the reciever and the problem was gone and the motor was strong and smooth. I took it out and Dad commented that the boats running nice and smooth. The next day we went out and the motor started to sound funny with a loss of power 3/4 of way home. Shut it down and was towed in. Did a compression check on the motor and had nothing in the #7 cylinder, brought to shop. I hear now, haven't spoke to them yet, the motor is apart and out of the boat. #7 piston is melted and am not sure the condition of the head. I do not run the boat WOT and rarely above 4000 rpm.
So now I am just looking at options. I do not know what they will say or do for me yet at the shop. I have access to a long block 400 (with heads) and a short block 350(without heads) if I don't hear anything positive from the shop. The guys at the shop are family owned and friends or mine for several years. I have sent friends and family there and they have bought boats. I don't know.
