Mercruiser 5.7 Chevy Engine Installation

K

KenPickle

Cadet
Joined
Jul 3, 2011
Messages
7
How much trouble is removing and replacing a 5.7 Chevy motor in a late 90's Mercury I'O boat? I have replaced (Literally) hundred's of automobile motors in my 40yrs as a mechanic ,but never a boat.Is there anything "tricky" about splitting the engine from the drive unit? Are any special tools required? Any precautions I need to know about? Aprox. how much time is involved and what's it cost (more or less!) at a boat shop?Thank-you for any input KenPickle
 
smokeonthewater

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: Mercruiser 5.7 Chevy Engine Installation

You are in for a treat! this will be the single easiest engine you will ever pull! First put shifter in forward gear. then remove outdrive (generally optional but will make the job MUCH easier for a first timer), unbolt front engine mounts, two rear engine mount bolts, fuel hose, water inlet hose (behind engine on transom) hose clamps on exhaust boots on risers, shift/throttle cables, battery cables, and main engine harness. There should be at least one ground strap on the back of the engine to the transom assy and i you have power trim it will possibly be hooked to the engine block and the started battery lug.

my record time pulling one from start to finish including parking the boat under a tree, pulling engine, moving boat, and lowering engine to the ground (although I didn't remove the drive) was 17 minutes.... the boat had been on the water 30 minutes earlier and I actually won $50 by betting my bud who was on the water with me that "this engine will be on the ground in under an hour"
 
Faztbullet

Faztbullet

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 2, 2008
Messages
15,938
Re: Mercruiser 5.7 Chevy Engine Installation

Very easy compared to a auto/truck install, will will need alignment tool to align engine after installation.
 
tpenfield

tpenfield

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
19,034
Re: Mercruiser 5.7 Chevy Engine Installation

KenPickle said:
How much trouble is removing and replacing a 5.7 Chevy motor in a late 90's Mercury I'O boat? I have replaced (Literally) hundred's of automobile motors in my 40yrs as a mechanic ,but never a boat.Is there anything "tricky" about splitting the engine from the drive unit? Are any special tools required? Any precautions I need to know about? Aprox. how much time is involved and what's it cost (more or less!) at a boat shop?Thank-you for any input KenPickle
Click to expand...

A boat shop will typically charge $1000 - $2000 for pulling and re-installing an engine.

Here are a couple of links to some of my work on pulling the outdrive (takes about 10 minutes) and pulling the engine (takes maybe a couple hours or less). SAE tools straight through, nothing tricky. The engine has 4 mounting points; 2 rear/flywheel. 2 engine block. The outdrive has 6 bolts attaching it to the bell housing and 2 bolts attaching the trim hydraulics.

Pulling the outdrive (video): [video]http://home.comcast.net/~tpenfield/removingtheoutdrive.mov[/video]

Pulling the engine (Web Pages): http://home.comcast.net/~tpenfield/Web_Page/My_Power_Boat/Pulling_The_Engine.html
 
Bondo

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,413
Re: Mercruiser 5.7 Chevy Engine Installation

smokeonthewater said:
You are in for a treat! this will be the single easiest engine you will ever pull! First put shifter in forward gear. then remove outdrive (generally optional but will make the job MUCH easier for a first timer), unbolt front engine mounts, two rear engine mount bolts, fuel hose, water inlet hose (behind engine on transom) hose clamps on exhaust boots on risers, shift/throttle cables, battery cables, and main engine harness. There should be at least one ground strap on the back of the engine to the transom assy and i you have power trim it will possibly be hooked to the engine block and the started battery lug.

my record time pulling one from start to finish including parking the boat under a tree, pulling engine, moving boat, and lowering engine to the ground (although I didn't remove the drive) was 17 minutes.... the boat had been on the water 30 minutes earlier and I actually won $50 by betting my bud who was on the water with me that "this engine will be on the ground in under an hour"
Click to expand...

Ayuh,.... Smoke is got it pretty close,.... except that pullin' the drive is Not optional...

The motor HAS to be aligned after reinstallation....
So,.... Get the drive outa yer way, Before ya start....
It's only 6 or 8 nuts, 'n a $6.00 gasket set to put it back on...

You also will never get the rear motor mounts put back together Right if the drive is still on,....
The motor needs to be dropped Straight down onto the mounts, not slid backwards onto the drive's shaft...
 
Fishermark

Fishermark

Vice Admiral
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Messages
5,627
Re: Mercruiser 5.7 Chevy Engine Installation

smokeonthewater said:
First put shifter in forward gear. then remove outdrive
Click to expand...

Isn't that true only if it is an Alpha? Unless I missed it, which is possible, I don't see where the original poster said what drive he had. A little more info is needed.
 
Fishermark

Fishermark

Vice Admiral
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Messages
5,627
Re: Mercruiser 5.7 Chevy Engine Installation

Bubba - I wasn't saying the drive doesn't need to come off. I was referring to the instructions of putting the drive in forward gear. I am merely pointing out that different drives will have different instructions on how to remove them. That's all. ;)
 
K

KenPickle

Cadet
Joined
Jul 3, 2011
Messages
7
Re: Mercruiser 5.7 Chevy Engine Installation

thanks for all the info.. realy helpfull!
 
L

littlebookworm

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 30, 2007
Messages
574
Re: Mercruiser 5.7 Chevy Engine Installation

Ken: You've gotten all the info you need to pull the engine; much easier than any car engine you've ever pulled. I do suggest you get a manual for the engine and a manual for the drive. (Try 4shared.com for free ones.) The phots will make getting everything back together and doing the alignement much easier to understand. I recommend that, while you've got it out, add a remote oil filter mount. It's not very expensive and will make oil filter changes a breeze rather than a physical pain in the neck. Good luck. Hy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top