Water leak from manifold 2.3 OMC

[Kurt V]

1989 Bayliner with 2.3 OMC engine. I am not the original owner. Has run great all summer long including a 20 mile ride yesterday. Brought the boat home to winterize it. Fogged the cylinders and went to open the drain plugs and I see water dripping (about a drop a second) from underneath the exhaust manifold. I look underneath and it is obvious that someone, sometime in the past, used JB weld to fix a crack in the water jacket of the exhaust manifold. The water is seeping from underneath the JB weld. I was even able to pry a flake of the JB weld off. These manifolds are very, very expensive, when you can even find one for sale. The crack must only be on the outside of the manifold and the engine runs great and there is no water in the cylinders or in the oil. Am I completely foolish to just pull the manifold, grind out the JB weld and re-JB weld it again? Anyone know where to find a relatively inexpensive 2.3 OMC manifold? Thanks!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Water leak from manifold 2.3 OMC

Am I completely foolish to just pull the manifold, grind out the JB weld and re-JB weld it again?

No, you probably aren't if it's not leaking internally.......

YES you are if it is........... and you'll probably find out next Spring when a cyl is frozen because water leaked into an open exhaust valve and you have to buy a complete long-block AND new manifold.

Anyone know where to find a relatively inexpensive 2.3 OMC manifold? Thanks!

There are NO relatively inexpensive manifolds for a 2.3L OMC Cobra engine.

You can go here http://www.marinemanifold.com/barrmanifolds/Barr56.aspx

If it were me, If the boat is worth it, I would start looking for a complete 3.0L engine to replace it with. They're pretty well supported.

Your other choice might be to wait until Spring (if you're in a FREEZE area) find another DONOR boat to pick up a complete Mercruiser (3.0L) engine and drive THEN do a long block replacement of the (probably) cracked block. ANY of these suggested options are going to cost a fair amount of money in the long run...... but at least you'll have an engine and drive that will be well supported into the future.

You can part out your engine and drive to help defray the costs.

Just buying a manifold for your 2.3L engine may be impossible since they are so rare.


Sorry about that....

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water leak from manifold 2.3 OMC

Am I completely foolish to just pull the manifold, grind out the JB weld and re-JB weld it again?

Ayuh,... With that manifold, Ya, go for it,...
Easier than brazin', 'n lasts 'bout as long...

Look it over real Good, 'n hopefully you'll get another lap or 2 outa it....

 

[Kurt V]

Re: Water leak from manifold 2.3 OMC

Thanks for the support and advice. Pulled the manifold today. Took the angle grinder and cleaned out the old JB Weld. The previous owner had just smeared it along the crack. I used the angle grinder to cut a groove along the crack and then drilled a small hole at either end of the crack to stop migration of the crack. Got the JB Weld setting up now. Of course I won't know if it works until next spring, but as the water is not really under any pressure, I suspect I might get another year or two out of this fix.