I think shes DEAD

[flyboycj84]

Hey there....was on here awhile back with some bad fuel issues after the boat sat for awhile before I bought it. Got er running good and strong and had it on the intercoastal today....great day....

UNTIL....

I got into the channel after a full day of boating, ran it up and it sounded really loud and was losing power....it quit....wouldnt crank....i pulled up the hatch.....

THE entire bottom of the boat is FULL of oil.....i dunno if its a oil pan gasket, or a rear main seal....I may be out a searay....oh yeah and the 375 for the tow!!!!

 

[JMRuth72]

Re: I think shes DEAD

What type of boat and motor? Once it starting making noise how long did it last? What type of noise did it make? About how much oil in the bilge? Does it appear to be a sudden release, or a healthy trickle that took all day and you just didn't notice? How long were you out? Was it full when you started? The more specific you can be the better. Not knowing any of those things here are my suggestions. First thing that I would examine is the oil pan drain plug. Second is the oil filter area. Third if you have a remote mount oil filter check all lines. Fourth the sides of the block. Hopefully there are no holes in it from a broken rod where it punched through the block. If there are no holes in the block I would keep inspecting until I found what appears to be the problem. I would bet on one of the first four items. As they are about the only things that I can think of to dump oil fairly quickly. I would not bet on an oil pan gasket, maybe the rear main seal, but I kind of doubt that one too. They will usualy give you some small leaking that you would notice long before full failure with even a little maintenance. The worst of the above is a hole in the block. Everything else may be fixable. Depending on what year your boat is it might have a auto shutdown, doesn't sound like though. I also think that once I found and fixed what ever caused the oil dump that I would fill it back up with oil, check the plugs to make sure that the electrodes are still all there, start it up and see what happens. If it is ruined you certainly can not do much more damage. You would already have to rebuild it anyway. Atleast by filling it up and trying it out you see if you got lucky. If you get that far and it runs and you hear a really loud knocking noise shut it down immediately as you have probably spun a rod bearing and you don't want it breaking a rod and then ruining the block. My mom blew the waterpump out on her suburban many years ago and seriously overheated it before she got home. I got home and she was telling me about it. I looked and found out that the water pump was shot. Gently but firmly chewed her for running it after she realized it was running hot, replaced the water pump, filled it and started it up and it was fine until they got rid of it about 14yrs later. Of course by then it had over 200k miles and had many other issues. I hope that you are this lucky and it is nothing major. Good luck and let us know if whe can help.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: I think shes DEAD

You might want to try pulling the plugs and seeing if the engine turns over with a wrench. If it was something internal blowing up, you'd probably find that the engine was either seized, or only able to move 1/4 turn or so. From what you've described, it could be any number of things. I'm inclined to think thrown rod, but there's also the possibility that you lost oil pressure and the lifters compressed, which will make the engine noisy for awhile and will definitely keep it from running. Whatever it is, it doesn't sound cheap.

 

[flyboycj84]

Re: I think shes DEAD

well heres the latest.....took her to the mechanic and we got the engine to crank which i thought was good news. He called me yesterday though....he filled the engine with oil, and ran it up to operating temp.. He said i gotta start looking for a new engine because there was a lot of noise from both the top and bottom end of the engine.

He is going to pull the engine and strip it this week.

I am curious:
1) do you think it can be rebuilt? or do i have to bite the bullet and buy a new engine

2) can these 4.3s be swapped with a car 4.3?

3) anyone know where I can get a 4.3 new or used that isnt the $6000 from merc that hes quoted me?


Thanks......i guess i gotta fix it, i love boating so much and am so new to it that if i dont fix it, im gonna have a nice boat payment every month with no boat to play with, and that would SUCK

 

[starsnstripers]

Re: I think shes DEAD

Hey there flyboy, I remember you. Bummer on your engine. All i can say is shop around "alot" Should be able to find a half way decent used one for less than half that amount. good luck

 

[Don S]

Re: I think shes DEAD

1) do you think it can be rebuilt? or do i have to bite the bullet and buy a new engine

Hard to say without taking it apart and looking at it. Kinda what your mechanic is doing.

2) can these 4.3s be swapped with a car 4.3?

Not exactly. Cam, gaskets, core plugs, are different, along with everything that bolts on it is marine, (Distributor, starter, wireing, alternator, etc.

3) anyone know where I can get a 4.3 new or used that isnt the $6000 from merc that hes quoted me?

Lots of places sell marine long blocks (rebuilt) for less than a third of that price.

Would also say you need to get new exhaust manifolds and risers for that engine. Or you could be buying another engine in a matter of weeks.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: I think shes DEAD

...

 

[Coors]

Re: I think shes DEAD

this is a typical symptom when when water quits flowing to the exhaust - something to check before putting a new engine in

Ouch, but likely

 

[flyboycj84]

Re: I think shes DEAD

well i appreciate all the help tonite, I did a quick search on the google machine tonite and found some of the rebuilt engines you are referring to and they seem to all be around 1800-2500bucks depending on what i get.

Now I assume that most of the parts on my engine are still good and can be transferred correct?

also, newbie question....im not quite sure of the difference between my engine and a "long-block"

thanks guys

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: I think shes DEAD

A long block is the block and the cylinder heads. Nothing else. You would tranfer over your intake manifold, carb, distributor, starter, and all engine mounted accessories. Other than Exhaust Manifolds/Risers, all your current stuff should be good.
Absolutely have the cooling system checked. What the guys are saying about "it got loud" is correct. It's stopped pumping water, and that means it quit coming out the exhaust, and that's why it got loud first.

 

[Coors]

Re: I think shes DEAD

Stop; if you don't know your way around the engine or drive, you need to learn more.
The info is in here. But don't try this if you ain't mechanical.
The info is in here, under search; good luck. And ask questions.

 

[oops!]

Re: I think shes DEAD

read don s post .....twice

 

[flyboycj84]

Re: I think shes DEAD

....I am not doing the work, it is at the mechanics.....i dont have time or tools to research and do the work myself....so i am letting the expert do it. my mechanical experience is mostly with big airplanes, not boats. I am just seeking advice here so i know whats going on....and i certainly appreciate all the advice given my all of you

 

[wca_tim]

Re: I think shes DEAD

Not sure where you're located, but I'm about to swap a 4.3 out for a 383... The 4.3 was a "new" reman marine engine from rapido late last summer, 40-50 hours now, just broken in and carb tuned right. runs great, and is coming out along with the new merc manifolds and risers, edelbrock intake and carb, roller cam, vortec heads, distributer, ignition, etc... I sent you a pm...

Hope I'm not out of line posting this... Am sure I'll be able to sell locally without a problem, just trying to help....

Tim R.

ps. I'm in Eastern North Carolina