Replace or Rebuild

[Choppie]

I have a 455 olds combined with an American turbine jet. The jet is near new. I have spent over 2k on the engine replacing gaskets, having the heads cleaned, a valve job, and replacing fuel lines. The block is not cracked, but the oil keeps getting water in it. I replaced the intake gasket when I got the heads machined and a valve job, and then the oil was normal. After 4 runs, the oil got water in it again. The first 3 runs I had no problems. I am tired of worrying about the engine every time I go out. The engine has a ticking noise(like air is coming out somewhere), maybe a gasket not sealed properly. I have put so much money in the engine already. Would it be better to rebuild or replace the engine. Does it have to be a 455 or can I put a cheaper more reliable engine? Thanks for any advice!

 

[etracer68]

Re: Replace or Rebuild

Im an chevy guy, but your ticking noise may be an exhust leak. Check around where the exhust bolts to the heads. Im not sure but is there a way to check the cooling system, by pressure check. If so, it may rule out a cracked block. Were the heads checked for cracks? Like I siad, im a chevy guy, and dont know how the water goes through the heads on a olds. Maybe take the valve covers off, and see if theres any water on top, and getting into the oil system.

How much water are we talking about?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Replace or Rebuild

I have a 455 olds combined with an American turbine jet. The jet is near new. I have spent over 2k on the engine replacing gaskets, having the heads cleaned, a valve job, and replacing fuel lines. The block is not cracked, but the oil keeps getting water in it. I replaced the intake gasket when I got the heads machined and a valve job, and then the oil was normal. After 4 runs, the oil got water in it again. The first 3 runs I had no problems. I am tired of worrying about the engine every time I go out. The engine has a ticking noise(like air is coming out somewhere), maybe a gasket not sealed properly. I have put so much money in the engine already. Would it be better to rebuild or replace the engine. Does it have to be a 455 or can I put a cheaper more reliable engine? Thanks for any advice!

Ayuh,.... The cooling water on jets, needs to be restricted, or you'll blow water into the motor,...

How's yer's plumbed up,..?? you've gotta be able to reduce the Pressure on it...

 

[Choppie]

Re: Replace or Rebuild

Ayuh,.... The cooling water on jets, needs to be restricted, or you'll blow water into the motor,...

How's yer's plumbed up,..?? you've gotta be able to reduce the Pressure on it...

I am not sure how it's plumbed. I have a 455 olds with an American turbine jet. I am not a DIY when it comes to the engine. The oil pressure runs Round 60 when at an idle and up to 80 at around 2500 rpms. The rpms never pass 3500 even at WOT. Just kinda feels that there should be more power that's it just not going as fast as it should. There is water coming from the back of the engine down towards the bottom. I think it's around the flywheel at the bottom? There is none or very little water when I first go out, it seems the longer I am out and the faster I go, more water gets in the bilge. There is also oil in the bilge, but I can't tell if it has been there or if more oil is getting there when I take it out. After I checked the heads and replaced the gaskets the oil seemed to maintain at proper levels until the last time I took it out and got the water back in the oil.

Call me crazy, but originally the engine had no Dipstick and I had one added. I am thinking when it got the water in the , 3 inches, the water may have went through where the Dipstick tube meets the block. Everyone I spoke with said that wouldn't happen. Is it possible to get water in the engine like that, or is it more likely I blew the intake gasket that was just replaced?

 

[Choppie]

Re: Replace or Rebuild

Actually I looked at a diagram of the engine. It's not the flywheel where the water is coming out of, it's the timing cover. The water sprays out a little the faster I go. The last time there was like 3 inches of water and was at the bottom of the timing cover and as it was turning the water at the bottom was sloshing around in the bilge because it looked like it was in contact with the timing chain. Would this cause the water to get in the oil?

 

[Choppie]

Re: Replace or Rebuild

Or it may be the Bell housing where the water is coming from. In think the diagram was backwards of how the engine sits in the boat. Does the bell housing make more sense of where the water would be coming from?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Replace or Rebuild

I am not a DIY when it comes to the engine.

Ayuh,..... yer in way, Way over yer head,... You need to find a Mechanic, that knows jet driven boats...

and,.... Get a bilge pump into that thing, before ya sink it....

 

[Choppie]

Re: Replace or Rebuild

Here is a pic of the engine. You can't see it, but the water seems to be coming from the back. Like I said, i think its around the bell housing, but not 100 pecent sure

 

[etracer68]

Re: Replace or Rebuild

First, I agree with Bond-o, you need to get a mechanic. If you cant tell, the timming cover from the bell housing, you need help. If the timming gear was exposed, where is the timming cover? Seems you have a leak, somewhere?