merc 470 anybody have anything good to say

[dbass100]

I just bought a boat with this engine and then as I researched found a lot of bad things about this engine. It has the altinator and heat exchanger upgrades, but I do know the previous owner did replace the head gasket prior to me buying. Has anyone have a positive experience or should I try to sell this boat.

 

[newbster]

Re: merc 470 anybody have anything good to say

You already paid for it, why not enjoy it?

There are several known issues with 470's that have been worked through as far as I know. I would like to hear the 470 haters chime in and be fair. In all honesty, I have not worked on any but my own. Its very easy to work on and is quite simple. It is also much lighter than its contemporary, the 4.3 thus a superior power to weight ratio which helps on fuel. It seems to be at least as fuel efficient from common consensus. I'm kinda in the same boat as you. I bought one then hear the love fest on this board but no one seems to deny that the problems are known and pretty straight forward to work around. I keep telling myself a 4.3 is the upgrade path but the thing weighs 300lbs more for similar HP. If I do, I'll probably go with the 305 instead.

Are you guys capable of having an honest conversation about the 470 compared to the 4.3? I hear plenty of issues on it as well.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: merc 470 anybody have anything good to say

They do not survive an over heat well at all, and there are issues with cam seals wearing and allowing coolant into the oil. FWIW

 

[Bondo]

Re: merc 470 anybody have anything good to say

or should I try to sell this boat.

Ayuh,.....That's what I would do....

Unless you're Into self-inflected Pain, Grief, Agony,+ Frustration,.......

I would like to hear the 470 haters chime in and be fair.

Being a Mechanic,.... My life is All about Common Sense,.....
Parts just Might possible fit together more than 1 way,...
But,.. Only 1 way is the Right way....

Common Sense also says that it's a Fool's Folley to buy something that Had Known Issues,+ has been Out of Production for about 20 years now....

It's Not about being a 470 Hater,....
I Help fella's all the time with 470s,.. On their Drives anyways,....
Just like OMCs,.... I Don't Hate'm,.... I try to Help owners of them,...
But if somebody Asks if it's a Good Buy,..... I tell the Truth,.....
And,....
If Brutal Honesty,+ Common Sense Hurts,........
I'm Sorry,... That's just Life....

 

[newbster]

Re: merc 470 anybody have anything good to say

Bondo..

Agreed that it had issues but have they not been addressed?

You missed the point... no one is asking whether or not to buy a 470 vs a 4.3. If you had not already noticed, the guy already has it. I would have advised the guy to buy a 4.3 over the 470 if that was the deciding factor as well. If I needed a rebuild it would make sense to just punt the out of production model in favor of current models. The question on the table is whether or not keeping the 470 is worth it vs a repower or selling the whole boat.

The 470 is known to be less tolerant of overheating due to dissimilar metals. Therefore replace that fresh water pump or better yet get a water pressure gauge so you know what its doing. Proper maintainance. No doubt, it will fail more dramatically if not done. As a mechanic, is the motor a lost cause or does it do fine if you know what to keep after? What should a mechanically astute owner be looking for on this motor as part of maintainance? I would love to know the answer to those questions myself. It would be quite helpful.

 

[Bondo]

Re: merc 470 anybody have anything good to say

You missed the point... no one is asking whether or not to buy a 470 vs a 4.3. If you had not already noticed, the guy already has it.

Ayuh,... I was answering the quote from Dean,+ that was the Right answer... He said Nothing about a love for the hull...

As for the rest of it,....
I believe it might have been Your thread that I told of buying a Donor Boat, if there Is in fact a Great Love of the Hull......
Few hulls are worth a Brand New drop-in bobtail motor,....
But many fine hulls are Well Worth refitting with updated components from a Boned out Donor Boat....

If you need advise on making a 470 Last abit longer,...
There are a few Owners that post here,+ I believe there's a forum dedicated to the 470s....
Like OMCs,... I don't do'em,+ can't really Help.....