454 service

[jaxnjil]

hi guys; my boat is stored 130 miles away so i cant give any serial numbers but its the "88" searay weekender 230 with the 7.4 and alpha one we just bought.
i will want to change oil first and all i have to go by is the pictures i have. it looks like in the pic that te oil filter is remote mounted on the front port corner on the engine? is this what you guys see? then the on the lower starboard corner a fuel water seprater filter.
the 99 doller question i have, and i full well realize this will be a guess on your part. how will i drain the oil? is this a set up that i'll need to get a pump and pump out the pan or is there a chance there is a drain or some other system i cant see in the pic? i UNDERESTAND that more info is needed i'm just looking too try and have everything i can with me before i drive 130 mi to work on it and hope some one will be able to give me more insight so i dont waste a trip. the previous owner ran Mobile 1 so i'll plan on sticking with that. allso on a 20 year old boat i'm planing on plugs+ wires distributor cap and rotor.will have to look at carb and go from there on it.
i can see this is going to be a much more difficult job than working on my old 165 that you can get all around.
any hints tips and advice or criticism welcome. link for motor pic
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2568754820103006965Akndvz

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 454 service

Yes, you warm up the engine & suck it out through the dipstick....
Ya can get an electric pump for like $30....
One thing though, if you truly have an Alpha one behind that 454, go easy on the throttle, the Alphas are only rated to 300HP, the 454 will push 330.....​

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: 454 service

Oil done as stated above.

In regards to the 454/Alpha combo, don't hammer the throttle wide open from standstill. That hurts them and causes them to wear out. Also, under no circumstances, get the boat airborne or close to it. If you hit waves big enough to let your prop overrev (And don't cut the throttle mid air) and you come back down, you could break it instantly.
There is a reason that the Bravo series drive was developed and your boat and the others in the two years right around it are why. I have seen a 454/Alpha combo last on a Sea Ray 268 cruiser, but it was babied.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: 454 service

tks guys; we have a good selection of pumps here on i-boats for sale. i just need to pick on and get it coming
the hp and alpha drive have been pointed out but this enforces what we were first told
this boat was used a higher elevation so i am hoping the loss of horse power will compensate for the over hp in the first place

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 454 service

As long as you are aware of it, fine.....
Just make sure your WOT stays within specs, & that may mean a prop change as 'lugging' is bad for the engine.....
I agree with Tilliamwe, the worst (hardest) part would be hammering from a dead stop & should be avoided....

 

[mkast]

Re: 454 service

You might want to obtain the correct Mercruiser maintenance manual, it'll make working on this boat a lot easier, lots of pictures in the manual.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 454 service

That would be merc #9......​

 

[bekosh]

Re: 454 service

That looks just like mine, but with more room to work on it.
Just go easy on the throttle and that Alpha will be just fine. The older BBC's were rated at 295-300hp. Proped right that should run mid-50's easy. Edit: Maybe low 50's. That's a big tank of a boat.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: 454 service

That would be merc #9......​

tks hautmedoc; i intend on getting a manual but wasn't sure which one i needed so was waiting till i got the serial number. this way i wont have to wait.

bekosh; when i first glanced at yur pic i thought you found a way to post mine from the link. then i did a double take and the cover on mine says searay then it hit me daa differnt pic.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 454 service

bekosh; when i first glanced at yur pic i thought you found a way to post mine from the link. then i did a double take and the cover on mine says searay then it hit me daa differnt pic.

Ayuh,........

This 1 is Your's......

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: 454 service

Ayuh,........

This 1 is Your's......

how in the heck do you guys do that? i tryed and tryed when i posted and gave up and added the link

 

[Bondo]

Re: 454 service

Ayuh,....

Basically,...
You can right click on Any picture on the internet,+ Copy the url from the dialog box,...
Then post it in the dialog box here on the forum......

Any Picture.....

I just couldn't resize it,+ had to use the properties of the thumbnail.....

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: 454 service

ok i was trying to attach files out of my computer and it wasnt having any of it

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 454 service

picture almost looked good. until I saw the silly cone on the Tstat gasket. who did that and what page of the manual did that sealant comefrom?
and the little hose on the port side fwd in that pic is an oil drain, why I dunno its desined to get sucked out the dipstick but either one will work.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: 454 service

picture almost looked good. until I saw the silly cone on the Tstat gasket. who did that and what page of the manual did that sealant comefrom?
and the little hose on the port side fwd in that pic is an oil drain, why I dunno its desined to get sucked out the dipstick but either one will work.

thats not my motor. you have to click on this link to see mine

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2568754820103006965Akndvz