new motor advice

[kellydee]

I have a 1996 Bayliner Cierra Express w/mercruiser 5.7L MCM and ALPHA !,Gen 2 outdrive.Saltwater in motor.I figure @ 10 yrs old and the fact that I go sometimes 40-50 miles out in the ocean I would feel much safer with a brand new motor(ALL NEW)rather than a rebuild.I guess I'm mostly looking for some opinions.I just ordered a new Merc.5.7L TKS (CARBORATED) from my local dealer.I could not get this with FACTORY fresh water cooling(I don't know why)so,I also had to order an after mkt cooling kit from SAN JUAN.Are these good quality?Also,did I make a mistake as far as going with carb vs fuel injected?I plan on owning this boat a long time so I want long term reliability,good fuel economy(my 96 5.7 carbed was pretty much a fuel sucker),and also I'm a little leary of fuel injection due to the electronics ,sensors which can leave me completely helpless if they fail on the water,whereas w a carb,there is much less to leave me(being a fair mechanic)completely stranded.Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: new motor advice

Welcome to iboats.....
The San Juans are good units.....
You will be amazed at how much longer your engine & manifolds will survive, especially in salt water.....
The fuel injecteds are better on gas, but, like you I feel more comfortable (safer) with a carb.......I'm sure there are others who will say different.....
Again, welcome! ......JK

 

[Bondo]

Re: new motor advice

Well, Kelly,......

Welcome to the forums here at iboats.........

San Juan is probably the Premier aftermarket closed cooling marketer around....
I've heard Nothing Bad about their Service, Or the Systems........

Your brand New carb.ed motor is going to Suck Fuel just like the Old 1......
If it were Me,+ the Checkbook Allowed,.....
I'd go with an Injected Engine.......
The added Fuel Mileage got Me over the Fear of Electronics......
I don't own 1 personally, but know Many who Do,.....
None to this point, have had Any Electronic related Failures.......
If you're into this hull for the Long Haul as you say,....
I'd Think that you'd get Great Returns on the Investment.......

Have you diagnosed Where the water Came from,..??.....
How Often do you swap out the Manifolds,+ Risers,..??....

 

[kellydee]

Re: new motor advice

I have never swapped manifolds or risers as I have only owned this boat a little over a year.When I bought it ,I was told it had a new top end.Obviously ,after dismantling,I realised this meant he had maybe some head problems repaired but the riser spacers were visibly corroded.I even broke a chunk off one of them.How much better is the economy with the injected?Last halibut season I traveled about 100 miles(round trip)and EMPTIED my 78 gal tank.

 

[kellydee]

Re: new motor advice

I also am in Seattle,WA

 

[kellydee]

Re: new motor advice

Well, Kelly,......

Welcome to the forums here at iboats.........

San Juan is probably the Premier aftermarket closed cooling marketer around....
I've heard Nothing Bad about their Service, Or the Systems........

Your brand New carb.ed motor is going to Suck Fuel just like the Old 1......
If it were Me,+ the Checkbook Allowed,.....
I'd go with an Injected Engine.......
The added Fuel Mileage got Me over the Fear of Electronics......
I don't own 1 personally, but know Many who Do,.....
None to this point, have had Any Electronic related Failures.......
If you're into this hull for the Long Haul as you say,....
I'd Think that you'd get Great Returns on the Investment.......

Have you diagnosed Where the water Came from,..??.....
How Often do you swap out the Manifolds,+ Risers,..??....

I have only owned this boat for a little over a year so never swapped either.Is this something that should be done often?How much better is the fuel economy with injected?Last season I covered about 100 miles and used ALL of my 78 gallons.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: new motor advice

I'd have to say that your engine was not running very well to have that sort of fuel consumption.....
What section of Seattle?......

 

[95yj]

Re: new motor advice

Talk about dejavue. I am almost finished putting my 97 2252 Cierra Express Cruiser back together. The moron who rebuilt the engine before I bought it used auto head gaskets which rusted through from a water jacket to the piston. I gernaded two pistons bad on a motor that had 30 hours on it. (The scary part is the same shop that rebuilt the motor rebuilt the Alpha One II at the same time.)

I purchased a new 5.7 non vortec long block along with the SJ cooling kit, new manifolds, spacers and risers. The guy at the shop I bought them from sent the wrong cooling kit along with some other wrong / omitted parts so I've been sitting here with a new motor that I couldn't use for the past two months. (Shipping takes forever and is expensive since I'm out of the country.)

Just dropped the motor in the boat yesterday. Need to bolt on the exhuast, cooling and outdrive and see if it starts and still floats. Hoping to have it all together by Monday.

 

[kellydee]

Re: new motor advice

I'd have to say that your engine was not running very well to have that sort of fuel consumption.....
What section of Seattle?......

Actually Buckley,I always put seattle bacause almost NOONE knows Buckley,WA

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: new motor advice

Buckley?
Yeah, I'd have to say that you are just a bit outside of the city limits .....
Is your new motor going to come with manifolds & risers?

 

[kellydee]

Re: new motor advice

Talk about dejavue. I am almost finished putting my 97 2252 Cierra Express Cruiser back together. The moron who rebuilt the engine before I bought it used auto head gaskets which rusted through from a water jacket to the piston. I gernaded two pistons bad on a motor that had 30 hours on it. (The scary part is the same shop that rebuilt the motor rebuilt the Alpha One II at the same time.)

I purchased a new 5.7 non vortec long block along with the SJ cooling kit, new manifolds, spacers and risers. The guy at the shop I bought them from sent the wrong cooling kit along with some other wrong / omitted parts so I've been sitting here with a new motor that I couldn't use for the past two months. (Shipping takes forever and is expensive since I'm out of the country.)

Just dropped the motor in the boat yesterday. Need to bolt on the exhuast, cooling and outdrive and see if it starts and still floats. Hoping to have it all together by Monday.

It never ceases to amaze me,TOTAL INCOMPETENCE by so-called PROFESSIONALS.Hope all goes well for you.What type of fuel consumptoin do/were you getting?I would probably use a little more as mine is a 2452 but,...Were you anywhere near this poor mileage/consumtion?

 

[kellydee]

Re: new motor advice

Buckley?
Yeah, I'd have to say that you are just a bit outside of the city limits .....
Is your new motor going to come with manifolds & risers?

Yes,it comes complete with the exception of the cooling kit which I have to install myself.Also,sorry it takes me so long to reply as I did not realize I needed to keep refreshing my page to see your replies.Plus,I'm a 2 finger typer.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: new motor advice

That's OK......
What did you pay for your new engine, if I might inquire?

 

[kellydee]

Re: new motor advice

Buckley?
Yeah, I'd have to say that you are just a bit outside of the city limits .....
Is your new motor going to come with manifolds & risers?

Yes,it comes complete with the exception of the cooling kit which I have to install myself.Also,sorry it takes me so long to reply as I did not realize I needed to keep refreshing my page to see your replies.Plus,I'm a 2 finger typer.

I actually bought a new motor out of state over the phone.Kind of a mistake.I didn't do enough homework 1st,just listened to what I was being told by the shop selling it.It is a Bravo verses my Alpha.Also the angle on the risers is different from mine and I need the spacer blocks.He also told me that I could not put a Fuel injected on my alpha because the motor needed to "comunicate"with the outdrive,this carbed model is what I would have to install to match up and this motor would bolt right in.I think he saw an easy sale as I was serious about getting my boat back on the water right away.After purchaceing and realizing what needed to be done,I said the heck with it ,Ill try to sell it to someone who needs a bravo model.this week I ordered one and then THIS MORNING someone told me the guy was totally full of ---- and that I could put an injected one in with my alpha ,no problem.This is just killin me.I dont even want to say how much I.ve invested.2NEW MOTORS?? Thats what you get for trying to save a buck and buying stuff you find online and not local.As for the 2nd one I was only going on what I was told as far as not being able to use injected motor.WHOOPS,wrong guy to listen to,HE'S SELLING A CARBED ONE.HELLO!!!

 

[kellydee]

Re: new motor advice

That's OK......
What did you pay for your new engine, if I might inquire?

$7,600 +TX with cooling kit which I must install.Oh yeah,got a call yesterday saying I had to now further purchace two gaskets for the cooling kit for it to work with this engine.I think he said $80 each.Maybe that was for both but,I dont think so.What a bunch of BS.Another Professional.Quoted me at $7,600. for the motor and cooling kit."ALL I NEEDED". I ordered itand payed for it.Then he calls me and says I need two more gaskets.Then two days later,I get a message on my cell,the cooling kit is in and he needs me to come in and pick it up as they dont have room to store it.My motor is to arrive there in another 10 days.??

 

[kellydee]

Re: new motor advice

That's OK......
What did you pay for your new engine, if I might inquire?

$7,600 +TX with cooling kit which I must install.Oh yeah,got a call yesterday saying I had to now further purchace two gaskets for the cooling kit for it to work with this engine.I think he said $80 each.Maybe that was for both but,I dont think so.What a bunch of BS.Another Professional.Quoted me at $7,600. for the motor and cooling kit."ALL I NEEDED". I ordered itand payed for it.Then he calls me and says I need two more gaskets.Then two days later,I get a message on my cell,the cooling kit is in and he needs me to come in and pick it up as they dont have room to store it.My motor is to arrive there in another 10 days.??

Is this an OK price? I think maybe so maybe not.too late anyways,already paid.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: new motor advice

I think I might have shopped more.....
I'm not completely familiar with your set up, but $80.00 gaskets don't sound right.......:%

 

[kellydee]

Re: new motor advice

I think I might have shopped more.....
I'm not completely familiar with your set up, but $80.00 gaskets don't sound right.......:%

This is just the gaskets for the spacer blocks.Doesn't really sound right to me especially since he already quoted me and accepted payment for the package.

 

[kellydee]

Re: new motor advice

I think I might have shopped more.....
I'm not completely familiar with your set up, but $80.00 gaskets don't sound right.......:%

I really tried to do my homework on this and shop it out.It seems that whenever I found a great price,it was out of state and I was told that they were tirritory controlled by Merc and they couldn"t skip to me in WA.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: new motor advice

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/COMP...tegoryZ50442QQihZ015QQitemZ250087925140QQrdZ1
I would think ebasic power would have some good deals, too......