7.4L Engine Replacement

[jdiddy127]

So I had water in the oil and now my engine is wrecked. I've accepted my loss and am ready to open my heart to a new engine. I'm in Baltimore, don't have a trailer and don't really have the resources to do a job that heavy so I'll need to have it towed to a marina and taken care of there. So, I've talked to one marina so far and they have recommended a rebuilt engine from mercruiser and warned against the poor quality of other rebuilt engines from people like Jasper etc. They quoted me a price on the engine (don't know what's included) around mid 4K+ 8hrs labor at 67.50 and hour. Does this info sound accurate? Has anyone else had experience with having an engine replaced in Baltimore? Can anyone recommend or warn against and marinas in Baltimore? The marina also quoted me at 2k to convert to FWC. It doesn't seen like a difficult job so I was thinking about doing it myself once the new engine is in......anyone have any experience with the conversion kits? Any info would be great, thanks!

 

[180shabah]

Re: 7.4L Engine Replacement

I can't comment on Baltimore marinas, but the freshwater cooling components can be purchased(as a complete kit) for $7-800. Instalation is fairly straight forward, but it needs to be done very soon after the engine is installed.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 7.4L Engine Replacement

You need to shop around. For all of this stuff. BBC/SBC? Alpha or Bravo?

If you can't do the whole job yourself you'll probably want the shop to get the engine for you since they'll be providing the warranty. $67/hr is a bargain. I know of Ford and GM dealers that charge nearly $100/hr.

YOU MUST GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. I don't know what's wrong with Jasper......It's probably one of those: "we got a bad engine from Jasper once......so they're all bad!!"

That's just not always true.

I'll get my next one from a local machine shop but I have everything here at home to do the job.

Ask them where they get their engines.




I bought a closed cooling kit from HERE for mine. nice people, fast shipping. I did it myself on an engine stand before installing the engine.

You may have to add an engine mounted raw water pump and/or a thru hull water pickup, seacock & strainer if it's an Alpha.


Good luck.



Rick

So I had water in the oil and now my engine is wrecked. I've accepted my loss and am ready to open my heart to a new engine. I'm in Baltimore, don't have a trailer and don't really have the resources to do a job that heavy so I'll need to have it towed to a marina and taken care of there. So, I've talked to one marina so far and they have recommended a rebuilt engine from mercruiser and warned against the poor quality of other rebuilt engines from people like Jasper etc. They quoted me a price on the engine (don't know what's included) around mid 4K+ 8hrs labor at 67.50 and hour. Does this info sound accurate? Has anyone else had experience with having an engine replaced in Baltimore? Can anyone recommend or warn against and marinas in Baltimore? The marina also quoted me at 2k to convert to FWC. It doesn't seen like a difficult job so I was thinking about doing it myself once the new engine is in......anyone have any experience with the conversion kits? Any info would be great, thanks!

 

[180shabah]

Re: 7.4L Engine Replacement

You may have to add an engine mounted raw water pump and/or a thru hull water pickup, seacock & strainer if it's an Alpha.

Why can't the raw water pump in an Alpha be used????

 

[jdiddy127]

Re: 7.4L Engine Replacement

Thanks for the responses! The idea of a warranty on the work is a BIG selling point for me and I've heard this particular marina is very good about standing behind their work.

It's a big block with a bravo drive. I'm pretty sure that on the bravo the water pump is in the drive and not on the engine so I would need to add an engine mounted water pump if I went to a FWC.

 

[jdiddy127]

Re: 7.4L Engine Replacement

So I talked to the marina again today and they got me the final price on the mercruiser reman....$5,384 and 20 hours labor at $67.50 with a 1 year warranty on parts and labor. Plus additional costs...shipping $175, container $175 and possibly more once they start looking at the parts that will need to be transferred from the old to new engine.

Does this sound like it's in a normal price range for the job????

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 7.4L Engine Replacement

Some people have had problems getting enough flow from the Alpha pump.

(Although I know there's BBC engines out there bolted up to Alphas with closed cooling)

I would want the most effective raw water pump I could get. I think the Bravo pump will move more water than the drive mounted pump.

My Bravo impeller was larger than the one in my King Cobra.

I don't think that price is out of line at all!

I am just finishing up replacing the engine, transom and drive and completely re-wiring my boat. I have a LOT more than 20 hrs in it.


Now, If I was only going to JUST replace the engine.......I think 20 hrs might be a "tad" on the high side.... I think it would take 2 8 hr days.


I'll bet they are estimating high at 20. I don't think it will take them that long. Someone else who is in the business can chime in here....

That price for the Mercruiser reman engine sounds about right but you can call any Mercury dealer and get the retail price of a reman engine if you're not sure.

Why can't the raw water pump in an Alpha be used????

 

[jdiddy127]

Re: 7.4L Engine Replacement

Thanks!

 

[hudman]

Re: 7.4L Engine Replacement

you might check with mercruiser on the 383 mpi motor, its a direct replacement for the 4.7 it has 325 hp at the crank, and is a nice retro fit, it also has a 2yr unlimited hours warranty, takes about 3 hours to install.