mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

[mr300z87]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

I will continue to to prep the boat and transom assembly for the re installation of the engine as the weather permits. We have had a sting of nice days here in NJ so I hope it continues. I have lot of work ahead of me, Looks like I will need a new steering cable and possibly a steering ram. I might try and upgrade the Ram to the new style as I have a line a one local and have already pick up the high pressure hose. Will update when time permits

 

[mr300z87]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Quick update, last weekend I ran the engine to operating temp (burned about a gallon of fuel in 20 MIN) then did a another compression test to get a baseline. 145 -150 PSI on all cylinders so I am thinking all good. Then I put the plugs back in and Fogged to engine in prep for winter storage. Drained block and all hoses of water and pushed it in to the back corner of my garage.

This past week I acquired and assembled a fuel pump system to continue pumping out the 100 gallons of good fuel from the tank of the Sea Ray. I do not know when this project will be completed but I definitely do not want 100 gallons of varnish in the tank so I figured I would pump it all out. The age of the fuel in unknow but better safe than sorry (boat has not been registered since 2010) it seems ok right now. I have been mixing it with fresh fuel in my cars . So far I have pumped about 45 Gallons out of her. While the pump was filling the 5 gallon can it gave me so time to continue cleaning the bilge.

I also go a quote to have a full enclosure made with and without a camper back. I almost fell over when I opened the quote $4000 for the bimini, side panels and aft enclosure. $5800 for the full camper.

Yesterday was spent winterizing the Invader engine so no more work on the Sea Ray.

Have a great week

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

You're making good progress. Subscribed.

 

[mr300z87]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Thanks Hoosmarroos I am enjoying the good weather while it lasts. I figure that I have a few more weeks before I will cover it up for the hopefully short NJ winter.

 

[mr300z87]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Not much to report been busy with work, the days are getting shorter and last weekend was spent with my daughter up at her College, family weekend.

Today I had the day off and was able to pick up a tarp for winter storage. And when we got home the wife and I went out to the boat for some cleaning. I continued to pump gas out of the tank. 10 more gallons in the cars. :joyous: While the tank pumped I cleaned the bilge as the wife cleaned the interior. Staring to look good in both the bilge and the interior. Did not take any pics of the bilge but I will as they say no pics it didn't happen, but it did. Slow and stead win the race.

Not much time tomorrow as I have to help a friend winterize his Sundancer 250 DA. Its the friend who gave her to me. Then Sunday I want to finish off putting the Invader to bed for the winter. Engine is done just need so final clean up and lube on everything then the winter tarp :blue:. Was hoping for a fall cruise but never happened. See you all next time

Have a great evening

 

[mr300z87]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Question, today while showing the cleaned interior to my friend I found this up in the anchor locker, any ideas!!!!!!!!


It is about 2 ft long and made of 1/2 stainless, the ring is 1/4 in and the diameter is about 3 inches

 

[Speakrdude]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Only thing I can think of is a shore anchor spike, thingamajigger.....

 

[Bondo]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Only thing I can think of is a shore anchor spike, thingamajigger.....

Ayuh,.... I believe yer Right,... It's a sand anchor for tyin' up off a beach,...

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Yup

 

[yakko]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Question, today while showing the cleaned interior to my friend I found this up in the anchor locker, any ideas!!!!!!!!


It is about 2 ft long and made of 1/2 stainless, the ring is 1/4 in and the diameter is about 3 inches

Yupper! That's for a day at the beach! Anchor the stake in sand then rope the boat to it. It's in nice shape too.

 

[mr300z87]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Hi all,

A quick update although nothing to exiting. Last weekend I pumped the last of 80 gallon of good usable fuel out of her tank and into the cars and tractor it went.

Question?

Since I do not know when this project will be finished and the boat actually in the water what is the best way for me to leave the tank? Empty, full(not sure I can afford that) or with a little bit of stabilized fuel? It a 99 gallon aluminum tank.

All the fuel that came out was clean with no contaminates. The other milestone is we purchases a used Load Rite trailer for her. Hopefully this Sunday she will be resting on her new home. Think we need a bigger truck!!!! My Nissan frontier is not going to cut it!! Of course once complete this will not be trailered boat and will only need to travel 15 or so miles to the water and then back again for winter storage.

The not sure how much longer the good weather here in NJ will last but in the next few weeks she will be all covered up for the winter. Figures my daughters soccer season just ended. I will continue to collect parts in preparation to reinstall the engine some time in the spring.

Have a great weekend

Mike

 

[BigDog98]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Nice to hear that thing are going smoothly with the boat project. Are the stringers rotted?

 

[mr300z87]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Not to much to report as the nice fall weather in NJ has ended and we have had a couple of cold spells. Last week we were able to get the big girl on to her new mount

No I will not be towing this with the Nissan Frontier pictured. Think I am going to need a bigger truck. The trailer still need some adjustments but I will get to that. In the next couple of day she will be all covered up for the winter. At this point I will be in parts collection mode. New steering cable, probably new lower shift cable, bellow kit and gimbal bearing as well as many other parts needed to get this thing running again. Still not sure how I am going to get the engine back in but I like jasoutside's method of the chain across 2 trees which I do have in my yard.

Bigdog, that was the first think I checked as I did not want to invest any time into this project without knowing it was solid. By the overall condition of this boat I would say it has been well cared for and covered all it life. I believe it was shrink wrapped and put in dry dock back in 10 because of a bearing failure in the prop shaft of the Bravo 1 drive. Then along came Super Storm Sandy which put a nail in the coffin for the original owners. I also heard that one of the original owner had passed away. Proably wont be much to post in the winter months to come, but I will be back on this in the spring.



All have a great Hoilday Season.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Since I do not know when this project will be finished and the boat actually in the water what is the best way for me to leave the tank? Empty, full(not sure I can afford that) or with a little bit of stabilized fuel? It a 99 gallon aluminum tank.

Have a great weekend

Mike

Mike,

Looks like you're coming along pretty good!

I would just drain all the fuel out and leave it empty.

When the time comes to put fuel in it, remove the gage sender and look inside.

If necessary, pour in some (10-20 gal) fuel, slosh it around (by towing it around the block etc) jack the bow up (if the sender hole is at the back) and then siphon it out through the gage sender hole using a long piece of clear vinyl 3/4" hose with a piece of pvc pipe on the tank end and a ball valve on the other end.

If you fill the hose with fuel first (& then close the valve at the other end so the hose stays full while you're positioning the hose in the tank and down to the ground where your drain receptacle is), you can use the hose sort of like a vacuum to suck out all the debris/water in the tank.

Then remove the fuel tank pick-up so you can inspect/clean the screen and replace the anti-siphon check valve, fuel line etc.....

If you're using the existing fuel pickup to remove the fuel now, you will probably not get all the "stuff" that may still be in the tank along with any water that might be in there too....

Get a new gasket for the sender. West Marine etc has them for a few bucks.

Cheers,


Rick

 

[mr300z87]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Here we are mid January it snowing like crazy 10 to 14 in they say. The boats are all covered and I am collecting parts in preparation to put her together come spring. Still need to get bellows and gimbal bearing kits, possibly the lower shift cable, trim sender, exhaust flappers and a new steering cable. Actually I need to cut the steering cable as it is frozen in the steering ram tube which is broken off and I need it out to measure for the new one. I have a complete new style (post 1996) ram and hoses to install. Who know what else I will be needed as I go forward, oh more $$$$$. Since it was near 50 yesterday I was going to pull off the bell housing to see how thing looked in there, until I realized I needed to get in the boat to pull out the shift cable so that did not happen.

I recently order the tools to disassemble a bravo 1 drive. Since the B1 drive that came with the boat has a bad prop shaft bearing and the housing is a corroded mess I figured it would be fun to take apart and learn the inner workings of a bravo drive. We shall see how it goes.

Before the holidays I did pick up a used Bimini top from another Sea Ray Sandy victim this boat had tons of good parts including a bravo 1 drive and a 7.4L plus lots of little bits am pieces inside. But he was not ready to let me pick at it just yet but I am going to check back in the spring. Not much else to report.


Have a great night

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Since you've got to get the motor so high to get it over the transom, you might need a local crane company to drop it in. Many have small cranes are not that expensive if used for just a short time. Medium and large wreckers have swing booms that could possibly drop the engine into place.

I certainly suggest you change all rubber on the rear end--over the driveshaft, exhaust and cables.

If you've never dealt with replacing bellows, etc., take it to a professional marine mechanic for final assembly. Mercruiser really should have put a more pronounced lip on the bellows where the big hose clamps go. A professional can get the job done quickly and do it right. They can also get the engine aligned properly quickly and easily.

I have never been successful at installing bellows, and getting them sealed properly. A leaky bellows can damage your gimbal and driveshaft, etc. and water can get through your transom and sink your boat if left in the water. (Don't ask how I know.) And if the engine is not properly aligned, the engine can shift and eat the coupler. (Again, don't ask how I know.)

 

[mr300z87]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Bamaman, I have been going over the install of the engine in my head a million times and have a few ideas, including building a gantry, using some large trees in my front yard (we do have trees in NJ) or possibly as you mentioned hiring a crane or wrecker. My neighbor has a large back hoe that we used to get the old engine out but his machine is really old ans sloppy and I think in will need a bit more finesse then out. (it was scary coming out)

Since there is almost a foot of snow on the ground I have some time. LOL

As for the Bellows I did them on the Bravo drive on my Invader with no problem, dry as a bone. Did a lot of reading on the subject before I took on the project which made it seem more complicated than it really was. I have been working on cars as a hobby for 30 years and boats are not any different (when is was in HS all I wanted to do was be a boat mechanic but my parents had other plans). I hate paying mechanics to do work that I can do just a good if not better. Just take my time, pay attention to the details and do it right the first time. BTW there is a bit more room in a Bravo transom assembly than an Alpha. I plan to replace the drive shaft, shift cable and exhaust bellows as well as the water hose and what ever else is needed. Things are easy to access from the inside with the engine out.

Not much going on these days but here is some boat porn for you all



Now it is time get my butt in gear and head out side to clear the drive way :blue: and it is cooooold out maybe 10*:blue::blue::blue:

have a wonderful day

 

[Mud Puppy]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

One Day The Sun Will Shine My Friend...

and then we will all be scrambling to get our boats finished so we can get back on the water!

Real NICE looking boat!

 

[dannys2004glastron175mx]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Its good to see some else fixing a sandy boat , I got my Glastron on New Jersey Copart salvage auction, I buy a lot of cars from Copart
Good luck with your rebuild

 

[mr300z87]

Re: mercruiser 7.4L engine replacement project

Quick update, last Saturday we had some 60 degree weather and most of the snow has melted although my drive way was a mud puddle, so I decided to start disassembling the transom housing to assess what I need prior to installation of the engine. All went OK until i realized the shift cable was frozen in the bell housing . I then pulled the cable out with the bell housing to I could get it on the bench. After some fighting/cutting/banging/drilling and of course lots of cursing it finally came out without any damage to the bell housing. Since it is an older bravo drive I will need to drill out the shift cable hole in the bell housing to accept the new style shift cable. I then used the new slide hammer puller set that my wife bought me form my B-day to remove the frozen gimbal bearing. So at this point I am ready to start cleaning in preparation to re assemble. I do need everything shift cable, all 3 bellows, trim senders, bearing, water hose ect... as well as a steering cable. My plan is to get the cable bearing trim senders and steering cable in before that HUGE 7.4 L chunk of cast iron is in the way. Anybody know how long the steering cable on a 90 Sea Ray Sundancer is? she is still all cover over and have not had a chance to remove it yet. Will try and post some pics of next time. Have a great day and think SPRING.