Someone stop me! Another 470 in the making.

[Bubba1235]

Bought a boat last week and part of the deal was that I also take a mid 80s Wellcraft away at the same time. Had a good trailer so I figured why not.

The thing is, the boats in very nice condition with one excpetion, it has the dreaded 470 and the seller said it spews water out the front of the block. Pretty much know what the problem is and that I don't want to mess with it.

Fast forward and today I get a call from a fellow wanting to get rid of his project boat and wants $400 for it. The ONLY reason I am interested is it has a completely rebuilt 470 that has had the cam sleve put in and an alternator conversion kit installed. He faxed me all the paper work on the engine and he spent almost $1400 on the engine.

So... Do I bother with it or just salvage what I can from my existing boat and not even consider putting the other 470 in? In my mind at least, the rebuilt engine should now be good for several years of trouble free use but... The 470 has such a poor reputation I may never be able to sell it.

So for arguments sake, say you are in the market for a $2000 open bow ski boat. Would YOU buy one with a rebuilt 470 in it?

 

[fishinpa]

Re: Someone stop me! Another 470 in the making.

Many will !


fish

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Someone stop me! Another 470 in the making.

^^^What he said. How many buyers really know about the 470?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Someone stop me! Another 470 in the making.

Ayuh,... You're asking the Choir,....

You just need a buyer who doesn't own a 'puter, has never owned a boat,+ who doesn't have any friends who are knowledgeable boaters...

 

[Rwebber77]

Re: Someone stop me! Another 470 in the making.

When I first joined iboats I was in the market for a boat. The two I was choosing from were a 470 and an OMC, but fellow boaters here steered me in the right direction. If it's in good shape with a running engine it will sell for 2K easy. Wait till the 4th of July when people are scrambling to find one

 

[tractoman]

Re: Someone stop me! Another 470 in the making.

Why not sell your boat to the guy with the engine. If your hull is good maybe you'll help him get out on the water.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Someone stop me! Another 470 in the making.

What is it going to cost you to get rid of an extra hull?

 

[rjwoodrome]

Re: Someone stop me! Another 470 in the making.

where do you live I might come over and take them off your hands. lol...
especially for the charging system up grade. and I have a buddy who could use the heat exchanger..

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Someone stop me! Another 470 in the making.

As I said to Bond-O, I have to be able to sleep at night so no, I would not put this on an unsuspecting buyer.

Well I admire your morality. However, I could certainly sleep at night if what I was selling was a good running boat and motor. The fact that the motor I was selling was of a "troublesome design" would not really bother me too much. Way different than knowingly selling a boat with a crack in the block or something.

 

[Robj]

Re: Someone stop me! Another 470 in the making.

I know the problems with that design. It sounds like many of the issues have been dealt with. So yes I would still buy it, if the price was right.

Have a great day

Rob.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Someone stop me! Another 470 in the making.

Now if merc could only make a closed deck all cast iron 470 with a normal water pump, a normal charging system, and hydraulic lifters instead of funky ones they may actually make a decent motor.

 

[actaeon9]

Re: Someone stop me! Another 470 in the making.

It's all in how it was taken care of.

I'd like to see the production numbers for the 470 (new and old) versus some of the other engines out there in their time. It seems like they get a bad rap, but at the same time, I wonder if it's just the law of averages, and there was just more of them. Like everyone always says about these, "It's all in how it was taken care of". Show me one economy minded inboard/outboard combo that has been abused that still runs properly after 20 years. Doesn't happen

Go For it!

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Someone stop me! Another 470 in the making.

OK lets go over this one more time: Problems with the 470 (1) alternator,FIXED, (2) cam seals, FIXED (3) head gasket, FIXED (4) 3" exchanger, mid 80's boat will have a 4" exchanger (5) parts NLA, e-bay. Advantages: good strong bottom end, good on gas, high power/low weight, and they NEVER freeze. So what is the problem? If you can get rid of the old hull take it, swap out the engines and part out he other 470. When you sell it, tell the TRUTH. In the meantime,try it out this summer, you might even LIKE it. Good luck!