Mercruiser engine alignment

[tkrules19]

Im dropping a 89 4.3 mercruiser into a boat that i bought with no engine...it has the front motor mounts left and then the rear mounts are on the transom bracket which was left on the boat. My question is how do i align the motor with the driveshaft. Is a boat engine much like a jet ski motor and i need to rent an engine alignment tool? or will i be able to tell if its aligned by whether the driveshaft splines slide in easy? or is there another way to do this. The front or side motor mounts have about 2 inches of thread with a nut i can move up or down to get the right alignment. Please let me know thank you all.

Tom

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Mercruiser engine alignment

It sounds like you have the right idea on how to do it, and yes you need the special alignment bar.

Here's a pic of the bar and how the rear mount spacers should be installed.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser engine alignment

or will i be able to tell if its aligned by whether the driveshaft splines slide in easy?

Nope,.....

You Absolutely need the Alignment Bar.....