Help, RePower?

[YmeHP]

Ok, I recently purchased a boat (1988 Larson Senza V22 w/ SBC) which I found anti-freeze in a cylinder and cannot get it to turn over so i'm seriously thinking of RePowering it with a long block from RapidO Marine. Does anyone have any experience with RapidO marine? If so, I would love to here your comments good or bad regarding customer service and quality of product. Do these motors turn rated HP? I would also like to swap my intake out for a 4 barrel intake and a good carb, can someone point out some good casting numbers or links to a good carb/intake combo. Also, not knowing the history of the boat and not being real familar with marine mechanics I was also considering a rebuilt outdrive off eBay at this time and installing it along with the new engine to ensure plenty of trouble free hours ahead. Now I can do the above mentioned package at a price of $2,700 with me performing all the labor. This seems so reasonable that I think this is a positive solution, correct? Is there any other things I should check out either on the engine or outdrive before I pull them and possibly list on eBay w/o a reserve so buyers have a better idea of what they are actually getting? Do you guys recommend anything other than the above mentioned package at this time to a new boater on tight budget? Can someone recommend a solid prop for a fresh water reservoir boat that will be driven recreationaly? What tools will be needed during the swap? What other parts should be replaced at this time that won't included with the long block and outdrive? Any links to tools, parts, and installtion instructions would be greatly appreciated.
-Thanks


1988 Larson Senza V22' Chevy 5.7 ltr 350 mag w/ Mercruise outdrive.

 

[QC]

Re: Help, RePower?

Wow. Long list.

A repower can be a fine solution if you like the boat and have some cash. I know nothing about that supplier. There is a whole lot of info here, but you'll need to search out some specifics. If you get a lower unit (drive) or a complete, there is still the coupler and gimbal and bellows and . . . that are part of the intermediate that could need attention and cost $. Also, the engine can need peripheral components other than just the fuel system. Manifolds, alternator, starter could all need replacing. To help you with the budget, we would need to know everything that is good or bad. Everything.

Propeller choice is based on testing with a known good engine. Actually, only your boat can tell us what propeller it needs . . .

 

[Robj]

Re: Help, RePower?

I would look into rebuilding your exixting engine. It is probably cheaper. With regards to buying a rebuilt outdrive, based on my experience with e-bay it is somewhat of a crapshoot, how are you assured of the quality? Again if your drive is otherwise OK, then I would just take it to a shop to check it over, replace seals etc. These are probably your cheapest options, worth checking out anyway.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[YmeHP]

Re: Help, RePower?

I'm from ND and we have absolutely noone locally that will even look at a boat. I also got the boat cheap enough that I can afford to stick some cash into before it's thrown way over my budget and with my budget it would be hard to buy another boat without taking out a large chunk of change from the bank. The coupler, gimbal bearing/rings and bellows are some of the additional parts i'm going to need, what else? What specialty tools will be required to install/uninstall some of these required parts? I'm guessing with the anti-freeze in the cylinder I have a cracked block, thus is the reason I'm looking for something remanufactured/rebuilt that I can just bolt my externals onto. As far as Ebay I guess I was only looking to purchase from the dealers on there and not from a private party, are these retailers legit?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Help, RePower?

Before you go out and buy a rebuilt outdrive, are you sure your's is bad? Also, what outdrive do you have? Mercruiser made several.

 

[QC]

Re: Help, RePower?

We don't know if you need any of those parts if we don't know their condition . . . You do not automatically need a coupler or a gimbal . . . Some of the retailers are good, some aren't, read their feedback info . . .

 

[180shabah]

Re: Help, RePower?

Have you done any troubleshooting yet? Have you ruled out head gasket failure?

as far as buying a used drive off of ebay, I wouldn't. You can get a brand new drive with a three year No fault warranty for about $1200.

Your engine is fresh water cooled so you can use any intake that will fit. Just remember that this is a boat and not a car, your engine will never run above 5k and you should pick parts accordingly. I would recommend you check out the Edelbrock Performer intake and 4bbl carb(carb must be the marine version).

Another thing you may want to consider are Vortec heads, they are worth an extra 30-40hp with no downside other than they require a different intake manifold then the older style heads. So if you think that this is something that you might want to do, now is the time, that way you only replace the intake once.

As far as Rapid-O's reputation, I have never used them, but many on this board(and others) have, and I have never heard a negative word about them. Do his engines make advertised hp? Yup. There are very few cam choices on marine engines so the outcome is not as variable as in a car.

Good luck

 

[YmeHP]

Re: Help, RePower?

Have you done any troubleshooting yet? Have you ruled out head gasket failure?

as far as buying a used drive off of ebay, I wouldn't. You can get a brand new drive with a three year No fault warranty for about $1200.

Your engine is fresh water cooled so you can use any intake that will fit. Just remember that this is a boat and not a car, your engine will never run above 5k and you should pick parts accordingly. I would recommend you check out the Edelbrock Performer intake and 4bbl carb(carb must be the marine version).

Another thing you may want to consider are Vortec heads, they are worth an extra 30-40hp with no downside other than they require a different intake manifold then the older style heads. So if you think that this is something that you might want to do, now is the time, that way you only replace the intake once.

As far as Rapid-O's reputation, I have never used them, but many on this board(and others) have, and I have never heard a negative word about them. Do his engines make advertised hp? Yup. There are very few cam choices on marine engines so the outcome is not as variable as in a car.

Good luck

The rebuilt outdrives off eBay are $1,200. Where can I get the $1,200 outdrive with 3 year warranty from that you know of? I plan on buying a motor from RapidO and adding the 4 barrel intake and carb. The heads sound like another easy bolt on HP option. Where can I buy the Vortec heads, an intake, and the carb. online at a reasonable rate?
-Thank

 

[Don S]

Re: Help, RePower?

http://www.sterndrive.cc/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=106AUC

 

[mtnrat]

Re: Help, RePower?

The rebuilt outdrives off eBay are $1,200. Where can I get the $1,200 outdrive with 3 year warranty from that you know of? I plan on buying a motor from RapidO and adding the 4 barrel intake and carb. The heads sound like another easy bolt on HP option. Where can I buy the Vortec heads, an intake, and the carb. online at a reasonable rate?
-Thank

You can get those of of ebay, jegs, summit racing etc. Just make sure the carb is for marine applications or you could go BOOM.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Help, RePower?

I think your easiest/cheapest way to get Vortecs would be to have Raul install them before he ships you the engine.

 

[YmeHP]

Re: Help, RePower?

I think your easiest/cheapest way to get Vortecs would be to have Raul install them before he ships you the engine.

Thanks, I sent him an email this afternoon about setting me up with a set of vortec heads with the motors. Any specifics I should have installed in the heads? Once I hear back from him I will probally order the motor. I also went and surfed Summit Racing and there are tons of choices intake wise in the idle-6,500 rpm range. What intake and finish will be best for my marine engine? Also, should I be going with a 750 cfm carb or someting else? Edelbrock's carb. and intake seem to be the most popular stuff from Summit.

 

[YmeHP]

Re: Help, RePower?

Ok, today I got in contact with a guy who is willing to pressure test the block for me. How much pressure should be used to ensure a good block? If the block holds pressure, how do I got about checking for a bad head gasket? Lastly, what can I check on my outdrive to figure out if it's good or not?
-Thanks

 

[180shabah]

Re: Help, RePower?

Thanks, I sent him an email this afternoon about setting me up with a set of vortec heads with the motors. Any specifics I should have installed in the heads? Once I hear back from him I will probally order the motor. I also went and surfed Summit Racing and there are tons of choices intake wise in the idle-6,500 rpm range. What intake and finish will be best for my marine engine? Also, should I be going with a 750 cfm carb or someting else? Edelbrock's carb. and intake seem to be the most popular stuff from Summit.

Edelbrock 1409 should do you just fine



600 cfm, Electric Choke
CALIBRATED FOR PERFORMANCE
Designed and calibrated for optimum marine performance in small-block V8 engines with a variety of manifolds that include Edelbrock Performer, Performer RPM, RPM Air-Gap, Torker II and other brands of similar design. Also ideal for Chevy 4.3L V6 engines with a Performer manifold (see Manifolds) and Calibration Kit #1485. Comes with: Metering Jets ? Primary .098, Secondary .101; Metering Rods ? .068 x .047; Step-Up Spring ? orange (5" Hg).