Re: 4.3 Mercruiser frozen
if you have water in the crank case, that would not freeze up the motor.
if, you have water leaking past your risers into your cylinders, your rings will rust solid to the cylinder walls and create a 600 lb boat anchor out of your engine.
chances are, its water intrusion through the cylinders, and not a cracked block, all be it, the result is the same,
the engine is toast. there is no fixing it.
you can pull the plugs and soak the cylinders in liquid wrench for a couple days, then put a pry bar or pull handle on the crankshaft bolt and see if that will free it up.
but even if it does, it will be short lived. you think your cylinders are leaking into oyour oil now, wait till you disolve what is left of the rusted rings with liquid wrench..........you might even get it started and your denial will kick in and tell you you can live with a little blue smoke, and milkshake colored oil.........
1988, if thats the origonal motor, then it has lived well past its life expectancy. the origonal owner probably knows it too. welcome to the bane of used boats.
fastest way to tell is pull the heads. then start looking online for a new long block, or a complete motor if your not handy with a wrench.
