DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

[gixxerjim]

Okay so the Sea Ray I am thinking of buying has a 165 hp 4Cylinder, not a 6 like I thought. I apologize for the confusion. What's the verdict on this motor. 165hp from an line four from many years ago sounds like problems, heck the 4 cyl naturally aspirated cars are barely besting that now, so I am concerned this motor is poorly balanced/loud/not very durable.

What do you guys think of this engine?

 

[moterboat]

Re: DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

sounds like you have the ol inline 4 iron horse GM engine,those are hard to kill and I think are still in use today in marine applications..

 

[180shabah]

Re: DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

motorboat - the 165 4cyl is NOT a GM engine of any kind.

It was engineered and built by mercruiser. it was an aluminum block and used a cylinder head from a ford 460. it was 3.7 liters, very torquey and light weight.

BUT

It was a poor design, and has been plagued with problems. Mercruiser dropped this engine after a relatively short time.

I would pass on this even faster than I would run from an OMC at this point.

 

[tommays]

Re: DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

It would be a 170 OR 470 or and is a PROBLEM you do not want



Tommays

 

[boltonranger]

I couldn't disagree more - LOVE mine!

I couldn't disagree more - LOVE mine!

I'd like to know how many of you that knock it Own or Owned One?
Not many I'm guessing - yeah I thought so...

My boat has the 3.7 liter 4 cylinder. What a cool little motor.
Easy to work on; loads of torque. Not too noisy; very smooth.
Love the simplistic nature of the closed cooling system.
YES chevy parts will fit on it - though Be selective about WHAT you put on it.

Have I had to tear it down? no... and it's 20 years old!
It runs at 40-50 mph in my 18 ft Stingray
I'm the second owner; the 1st owner remarked to me that it was like a "sports car on the water". And after owning her for 4 years I agree.

When I bought the carb kit for it last spring; the guy at the marine store went out of his way to say what a GOOD little engine he thought it was.

At this point I agree with him. Though your experience may vary.
-br

 

[plassiter1]

Re: DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

It would be a 170 OR 470 or and is a PROBLEM you do not want



Tommays

as a former owner of this nitemare, I agree 100% with the above,

run away

 

[rodbolt]

Re: DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

never owned one.
worked on more than most posters here ever saw and most likly replaced more head gaskets than about anyone but maybe DonS.
was a good theory but a very poor execution and no, most chevy parts DONT fit.
they did use a GM carb, some used an odd varient of the 4MV rochester.
the block was a merc design using select ford 460 parts, the head was a derivitave of the 460 ford.
the later production runs had most the bugs worked out but parts are very expensive and getting very hard to find as merc is not supporting 20 year old out of production stuff anymore.
I would have to take a pass on this one. not that its bad, just that it can be expensive and most the techs that remember them have retired.

 

[boltonranger]

appreciated the info

appreciated the info

Rodbolt - that's probably the best post of the bunch.
I enjoyed reading it.
-br

 

[dcg9381]

Re: appreciated the info

Re: appreciated the info

Rodbolt - that's probably the best post of the bunch.
I enjoyed reading it.
-br

I don't know much about this motor. I know they put two of 'em in the Glastron C-something 27s in the late 70s and early 80s.

I've worked on the 3.0L (GM) motor quite a bit.

My advice is to stick with something that's based or used in an automotive platform. They're easier to find parts for, problems and solutions well documented, and long term they'll be a lot cheaper due to mass produced parts.

For me, the minimum motor is the 4.3L.. I've seen the 3.0L advertised at 130-150hp. It's a solid torquey motor, but it's hurt somewhat if you're ever going to do any recreational skiing. I'm 200lbs and I could keep the boat from plaining if I wanted to beyind the 3.0L. Several Passengers + skier = nono with the 3.0L.

Smaller boats may be fine though..

 

[gixxerjim]

Re: DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

Well guess what I bought it anyway. It's a 1987 Sea Ray Seville 19' Bowrider. Near perfect condition inside and out. I paid $3600 for it with a ShoreLand'r, skis, tube, anchor, ropes, bimini, bow and full covers.

Thanks for your posts, but I fell in love with the boat and know some old boat guys that can help me when needed.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

Well guess what I bought it anyway. It's a 1987 Sea Ray Seville 19' Bowrider. Near perfect condition inside and out. I paid $3600 for it with a ShoreLand'r, skis, tube, anchor, ropes, bimini, bow and full covers.

Thanks for your posts, but I fell in love with the boat and know some old boat guys that can help me when needed.

Good Luck with it!.....

 

[Waffle]

Re: DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

"What's the verdict on this motor. 165hp from an line four from many years ago sounds like problems, heck the 4 cyl naturally aspirated cars are barely besting that now, so I am concerned this motor is poorly balanced/loud/not very durable.

What do you guys think of this engine?"

Classic.

Had enough concerns to ask a question based on existing knowledge. Had several old salts back up concerns. Bought said boat anyway

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

"What's the verdict on this motor. 165hp from an line four from many years ago sounds like problems, heck the 4 cyl naturally aspirated cars are barely besting that now, so I am concerned this motor is poorly balanced/loud/not very durable.

What do you guys think of this engine?"

Classic.

Had enough concerns to ask a question based on existing knowledge. Had several old salts back up concerns. Bought said boat anyway

It's his money.....
We'll be here to help him fix it.....

 

[180shabah]

Re: DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

....165hp from an line four from many years ago sounds like problems, heck the 4 cyl naturally aspirated cars are barely besting that now, so I am concerned this motor is poorly balanced/loud/not very durable...

Shear displacement - It is nearly twice the size of most auto 4 cylinders today. At 3.7L it doesn't take alot of magic to get 165hp.

It is no louder or rougher than any other 4cylinder(w/o a blance shaft). It just had some "creative engineering" that proved to be less than desirable.

 

[Waffle]

Re: DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

^^^^ Not my words

 

[180shabah]

Re: DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

I thought it sounded familiar, I didn't notice your quotation marks either.

i'm on a roll today

Instead of quotation marks if you type [ quote] before, then [ /quote] after, it will out it that nice blue box, so it really stands out. Don't use any spaces inside the brackets.

 

[Big Boat Bay Buster]

Re: DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

I own an 18 foot boat with a 470. I've had it now for 1.5 seasons. I think its a good engine. Plenty of torque, good on gas. I run in salt water and appriciate the fresh water cooling. I know it has issues, but for me the trick is to not let it overheat. I would not overlook a nice boat to purchase just because it had a 470.
Chris
PS-check out this ad from the 70's! Selling points still hold true today
http://www.members.aol.com/cdrr61/470.jpg

 

[boltonranger]

Re: DO OVER: whaddya know about the 165hp 4 Cyl?

Well.. good for you Jim..
I hope you have as good luck with yours as I have with mine...
Similar to you, I bought mine because I loved the boat.
I was interested to see the posts from the experienced fellows regarding the motor build.

You might take some comfort in the fact that it's an 87 model year.
They did say that merc. addressed the problems by the time the later model years were built. I was under the impression that 87-89 was the "later years"

Enjoy it. Be safe.
-br