opinions on 83 century needed

[CTD]

I'm looking at an 83 century with 188 hp 4 cyl, I think its a mercruiser 488. I'm wondering if parts are readily available for engine and outdrive and if anyone has any experience with this setup good or bad.

 

[Walt T]

Re: opinions on 83 century needed

Do you have a serial number? It possible thats an Alpha drive for which parts are readily available.<br />The 488 is a 224 GM inline 4. If it still has the crank mopunted alternator, you'll need to buy a conversion kit to get rid of it. Other than that, parts should be pretty easy to get. I would be more concerned with the condition of the transom and stringers and floor. Check carefully for rot.

 

[geriksen]

Re: opinions on 83 century needed

This engine had a problem with the cam/water pump seals leaking. The circulation pump is under the timing cover. It is mounted right on the end of the camshaft. You have oil on one side of the seal and antifreeze on the other. The seals fail and the antifreeze starts leaking out of a weep hole the you can see on the cover. If you are looking at the fron t of the engine the hole is on the side of the front cover at about the 4:00 position. If there are signs of anything leaking out here-run! The 488 or 470 made good power but they were very noisy. The drive unit will be easy to service but that engine......... <br />I would look for another boat.

 

[beckerdg]

Re: opinions on 83 century needed

If it is the original outdrive then it is not an Alpha. Alphas came about in late 85. Parts are still available for the engine. They were fairly popular and manufactured through the late 80s. There are still folks rebuilding them. About the same weight as the 3 liter four but put out a lot more horsepower. They aren't quite a smooth or quiet as V6s and V8s. <br /><br />If the water pump is leaking out the weep hole, I would not say that is immeadiate reason for abandoning the boat. Just make sure there is no water in the oil and make sure your offer covers the cost of the repair. Ignoring the leak means eventually the secondary seal on the engine leaks and antifreeze gets in the engine where it shouldn't.<br /><br />Another thing to consider was most of these engines had a stator based generator. So you might look to see if that was converted to an alternater. That would be a plus. The stator base generator and voltage regulator are expensive to repair. Once they go most folks convert them to an alternator.<br /><br />I believe these were all closed FWC engines. Some folks convert them to raw water cooled. If it was changed I would not consider it.

 

[geriksen]

Re: opinions on 83 century needed

The problem with the weep hole thing is that if it leaks long enough it also pitts the cam. Now you are putting cam and lifters in it too. The list goes on, and on.. The drive unit is likely to be and R drive which has been re-designed on the outside but is pre-Alpha one. We all agree the drive is not an issue. The engine can certainly be fixed as parts are available. But, is it economically feasible? These engines have inherent problems,(the charging system is another one) They are noisy, they vibrate and they are costly to fix. Ususally you can find a boat with a 4.3 v-6 in it for the same price and not have these issues. Now is your chance to do that. You can restore a Pinto too, but why?

 

[Trent]

Re: opinions on 83 century needed

Hey.....I liked the Ford Pinto! Every time someone hit you in the rear end you could have a camp fire and roast winnies! <br /><br />And what was said above..Would I have one of those engines? NO!!

 

[bobmoore]

Re: opinions on 83 century needed

i don,t know if this well help ,but i had the same type of motor in my 86 wellcraft the seal was leaking at the cam .the dealer i bought it from said he couldn,t sell it because of that,so back in 93 i bought the boat from him for 3000 a 21ft wellcraft open bow 165hp.and duel axle trailer.took i home and took it apart and put a speedy seal on the end of the cam,its a very thin stainless steel sleeve .and a little lock tight on it .ran the the boat for four years and the guy that bought it from me still has it and no leak.i think the seal and everything cost me around 40.00

 

[johnkc]

Re: opinions on 83 century needed

do a compression test paying particular attention to #3 cyl , if the exhaust elbow gasket leaks it puts antifreeze into #3 and causes a tight wrist pin which makes a slight knock at idle and upon acceration .also can score the cyl. wall and other piston damage. the tell tale for this problem is a evidence of the coolant leaking from the elbow gasket , if it is leaking out,it is probably leaking in.

 

[geriksen]

Re: opinions on 83 century needed

Add the riser gasket problem to the list of reasons not to own it. I forgot about that one. <br />Tell you what, if you do buy it we will be glad to sell you all the parts you need.

 

[CTD]

Re: opinions on 83 century needed

Wow thanks for all the replies. I wrote all the good things you had to say on one side of a peice of paper (buy) and all the bad on the other (no buy) so far its a no buy. Now have to add in other plus factors, owner says it has a new floor, hull looks ok, outdrive has little corosion or signs of abuse. price $2000-2500. Has about $500 in accesories inculded. Saw it through fence at yard, talked to owner to make appt to see it. He said it has a new water pump, then added it overheated because pump was bad and coupler from exh manifold to outdrive is cracked and water runs in boat when engine is run so he dosn't want to take it out on the water. Starting to sound like junk yard material but I will look at it anyway.

 

[geriksen]

Re: opinions on 83 century needed

If it overheated enough to melt the exhaust boot. Run!<br />4.3, 4.3...........