Installing a new engine - what shouldn't we leave out?

[PugetBoat75]

Hey all - Long time lurker, first time poster here. We just acquired a 1975 19' Glas Ply with a merc 120 and a mc-1 outdrive.

Long story short, it has more engine issues than make sense to tackle individually. Luckily, we found a brand new 3.0 longblock, so we're gonna start installing that next week. I just want to make sure there aren't any key items we miss when doing this job - things to look out for, or any maintenance items we should check/replace while everything is apart.

So far we've got (in no particular order):
New manifold/gasket
New riser
Carb rebuild kit
Valve cover gasket
Fuel water separator
Plug wires
Various hoses
Oem transom service kit (bellows, gimbal bearing, etc)
Oem impeller kit
Alignment tool

Obviously more things will pop up along the way, but I'd love to hear from anyone else who's gone down this road or one like it, with any possible issues that may arise in the process. I'm finding there are lots of little tips and tricks for certain jobs that I wouldn't know about unless I'd stumbled upon it in this forum somewhere...

Thanks all!

 

[biggjimm]

Welcome & congrats on your new project.
Sounds like you've got a pretty good start on what you need.
One thing I'd recommend from experience, especially if this boat has set any time at all, check/clean fuel tank & check/replace fuel line from tank & anti siphon valve. Make sure fuel vent is open & not clogged with debris or spider webs.

Good luck. I'm in the process of a restore on a 79 19' century bowrider I've recently acquired. There's a lot of knowledgeable folk on this site that are more than willing to help out if you get in a bind.
Jim

 

[kenny nunez]

Check for shaft slop at the bottom of the distributor housing, if you have a machine shop nearby take the shaft out and have a bushing installed and a new one at the top. Add a Petronics and it will run sweet.

 

[Lou C]

If in brackish water consider a closed cooling kit at least a half system. If I ever repower with a new engine there is no way I would not put in closed cooling. It will prolong the life of the engine 2x in salt water as long as the exhaust system is properly maintained.