Frozen engine manifold cracks and likelihood of block survival

[jamesdgreen2016]

Went to see this boat today looking to buy it. Seller is a dealership / marina. 2017 bowrider in great condition otherwise, only 85 hours. To everyone's surprise, manifolds cracked as in picture. Both sides have massive cracks, one you can pick up in your hand and put back, the metal chunk, quite large. It's been minus 20 for weeks and this is stored in unheated garage. Given both sides have such big cracks there must have been a good deal of water through the system, what are the odds the block isn't also cracked? Thoughts, prognosis? They are going to look into it and let me know the status but man that's rough. If they offer to fix should I entertain? If just manifolds damaged then do tests to confirm? Walk? If block cracked, entertain with remanufactured engine if offered?

 

[Fun Times]

What state are you in? I'd say the engine will be cracked too as it's often the case when the weather is that bad for so long.

So if the engine comes back damaged Id's say at the moment you ought to have the upper hand on your side to where I'd probably would mention I'll only have/hold the interest to still buy the boat if they install a brand-new engine and exhaust manifolds from MerCruiser vs the remanufactured (< from Merc too depending on words used as you go) version. There really nothing wrong going the remanufactured route but new is better should you get the chance/say.

If one was cracked from that dealer then a good chance most of the others on the lot are too including private sales... Also keep in mind that if the homeowner says it was stored in a heated garage, first question ought to be did you lose power when it was cold like this...< If yes, check for cracks too if it wasn't drained as we get roughly 10+ posts a year saying the boat was in a heated garage, why is the engine leaking water. ..Be extra careful buying a boat after storms like this.

Good luck.

https://sf-maritim.no/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/repowerguide_2018.pdf

 

[Scott Danforth]

since the dealer was too dumb to winterize, I would run away even if they offered a new motor because I would not trust them to swap it correctly, however that is your call

the block and heads did NOT survive. being a post 2014 mercruiser designed block, that motor is only available from mercruiser. If you entertain getting the boat from that dealer, I would want a brand new motor like funtimes mentioned.

 

[racerone]

This the start of a long list of threads I think.-----Take big steps in rapid succession.----Find another dealer!!

 

[ejnichol]

For the dealer to be suprised could be a sign of more troubling issues to come if you stay in the relationship. I'd be very wary if you chose to go forward.

 

[Grub54891]

Wow, that motor is toast. We had a customer last fall that called and asked if his boat was winterized yet. Temps had dropped to 25* for a day or so. We checked his haulout paperwork, and he had not checked any of the boxes for winterizing the motor, or water system. He was mad, said when you haulout, you winterize automatically! No, many boaters take care of that themselves. We stuffed it in the shop and let it thaw out, checked it over and got lucky, lucky for him that is. Did it up and parked it. Customers are not to good with paperwork at times.

 

[Lou C]

I agree with all of the above, I think there is zero chance the engine didn't freeze. Looking closely at it, the engine appears to be a 4.3, that might be a GM engine vs Merc only because the Merc only version was a 4.5 (but sure looks a whole lot like the old GM V6). I think GM quit making the 4.3s in 2014 or so but there may have been enough stockpiled that Merc was still using them at the time the boat was built (2017).
You can try contacting Michigan Motorz, they would know for sure. Keep in mind the cost of this refit, besides the engine itself, those cat converter exhaust manifolds are VERY expensive, and probably every plastic fitting in that easy drain system which no one apparently used, are probably cracked as well. The dealer is going to lose big on this deal and may be tempted to cut corners wherever they can!

Genuine Mercury Marine parts, large inventory, fast shipping. 4.3L MPI ALPHA/BRAVO EC 1A637496 & Up

4.3L MPI ALPHA/BRAVO EC 1A637496 & Up

www.mercruiserparts.com

looked at some parts diagrams, it looks like the GM version to me but can't be sure...
but the long block shows as NLA so I'm thinking it is the GM version. Which means you can get a much less expensive reman but don't forget about everything else, the exhaust manifolds and all the fittings in that ridiculous easy drain system.
Manifolds are $800 each and elbows vary in price depending if it has a rise or not....cheapest is $538, so the least it would cost is $2676 just for that.

 

[racerone]

Get the boat for $1000 or less and open your tool box and wallet.

 

[Scott06]

since the dealer was too dumb to winterize, I would run away even if they offered a new motor because I would not trust them to swap it correctly, however that is your call

the block and heads did NOT survive. being a post 2014 mercruiser designed block, that motor is only available from mercruiser. If you entertain getting the boat from that dealer, I would want a brand new motor like funtimes mentioned.

by the pics that is a 4.3 mpi not the merc 4.5

 

[Scott06]

Went to see this boat today looking to buy it. Seller is a dealership / marina. 2017 bowrider in great condition otherwise, only 85 hours. To everyone's surprise, manifolds cracked as in picture. Both sides have massive cracks, one you can pick up in your hand and put back, the metal chunk, quite large. It's been minus 20 for weeks and this is stored in unheated garage. Given both sides have such big cracks there must have been a good deal of water through the system, what are the odds the block isn't also cracked? Thoughts, prognosis? They are going to look into it and let me know the status but man that's rough. If they offer to fix should I entertain? If just manifolds damaged then do tests to confirm? Walk? If block cracked, entertain with remanufactured engine if offered?

Entirely possible they didn’t drain the manifolds would pressure test the block to find out. as others have said a bunch of issues. Anyone can make a mistake but if the dealer winterized it this isn’t a good first look...

have a friend who is in WI and his marine mechanic had his boat down as a OB not a 4.3 IO boat and winterized it after first freeze. Amazingly the exhaust was roached but block was fine.

again not a great look for this place. If you do buy it insist on a warranty As even if water doesn’t appear to mix with the oil now I have seen it take a couple of heat cycles to start getting water in the oil

 

[cyclops222]

YAWWNNN

 

[jamesdgreen2016]

Thanks for all the information everyone. They haven't called me with an update yet I imagine the block cracked, they would have investigated by now, probably trying to determine what they intend to do. Boat was a stingray 198lx it was lovely. If keeping the engine were an option I'd be very concerned it wasn't right even if it seemed to be. If replacing it is an option Id have to weigh the risk, is a different ballgame than buying the boat as it was before. I drove four hours to go buy it the other day too was really into the idea until we looked in at that engine. I'm in Ontario someone asked about that earlier, it gets cold here but this winter has been unusually brutal. They said they would be in touch to let me know the situation so I'll keep you all posted and perhaps there will be interesting developments who knows. I'm remembering to mentally seperate my earlier conclusion about the boat and how much I liked it from this new scenario where the engine is probably destroyed and the risk reward calculus is different.

 

[tpenfield]

No way that the engine survived this. Just walk away.