1977 Rinker 18ft inboard?

[dr_bowtie]

Hi

I am new to the forums. I was refered her by a friend who has used these forums to help with his issues...

I have just came into a 1977 Rinker boat with a mercury 888 inboard..this is a 302 ford engine as you all probably know...

I have been scouring the site looking and trying toi find out all I can but I have to tell you all I havent ever owned a boat nor do I know anything about one...

But, I do know cars like the back of my hand due to my racing stuff...I have been an avid engine builder for years and I have been into drag racing for a very long time (20 years or more) and I figure if I can drive a car I can drive a boat no..?

Mainly I figured I need a change of pace...with the economy in the toliet and me having alot of free time I decided to get back into fishing..I cam across this boat for 600.00 and towed it home...

Now it does need work as I thought it was going to be one of those pull and goe but after closer inspection it is going to need a little work...

I am not sure what model it is as I dont have the title just yet..I worked a deal with the prior owner and put half down and towed the boat home (lady friend of mine and she just wanted it gone)...

I pulled the plugs and I found water in the two from cylinders on the right side looking at the engine...(ooposite side of the starter) which would be cylinders 5 and 6 the cover had been off and I am sure this was because all the rain we have gotten ran in the air cleaner and this must have been the cylinders the valves were either open or close to being open...

this boat has not been started in a year and 6 months so any water in the engine from last run would have been long gone...so I am sure it was rain water...

The distributor also has oxidation on the outside and the cap is severely weathered with alot of cracks in it...I pulled the cap and the points were rusted and there is oxidation inside as well mostly on the outer edge where the gasket has failed...

I also found 3 of the 6 freeze plugs laying under the engine 1 was the original while the other 2 were the brass temp expandable type...so they had pushed out before...I plan to use the rubber type for replacement..

engine cranks fine although I had to jump the solenoid as it looks like water has gotten on that and it will not roll over by the key...I havent used a test light to check it yet but I will soon...

I did crank it over by had to listen for scraping in the cylinder wall from the water and I heard none and it felt smooth...I also put a mixture of ATX and Marvel Mystery Oil and squirted that in all cylinders and rolled it over...

now what I need is some information...I see I can order parts through here for some things...

I need to know what cap and rotor I need..I went to the local marina and they said it was a Mallory Distributor and the cap they showed me looked like mine..

So I need...

1) cap and rotor

2) service manual...?

3) Pertronix conversion (if available to convert to electronic ignition)

I also need to know the correct way to get this boat ready for water...like how am I suposed to fill the block with water so it dont overheat when I fire it...

I bought the muffs to run it while out of the water but will using the muffs correctly prefill the block with water and burp it? I am not sure if this has a thermostat like a car and if so I thought about pulling it just to fire it and then replace it with a 160deg one if it is suposed to have one...

please excuse any ignorance this is my 1st boat and I am trying to learn...

thank you..

 

[cooter2506]

Re: 1977 Rinker 18ft inboard?

First thing I would do is remove the exhaust manifolds and risers and look at the block for cracks. With the "freeze plugs" blown out I bet block is cracked from not being winterized.

 

[dr_bowtie]

Re: 1977 Rinker 18ft inboard?

I figure instead of pulling them I would just pressurize it and see if I get any water anywhere...

the lower water pump hose was removed to partially drain the water..and some of the freeze plugs were replaced with temp plugs so it has happened before..

hopefully this is the original marine block with the higher nickle content...they dont crack as easily as production blocks...

it didnt get very cold last winter so I am hoping...I know there was only water in the lower block...nothing should have been in the manifolds with the lower water pump hose disconnected...

but like I said I am unsure...?

 

[dr_bowtie]

Re: 1977 Rinker 18ft inboard?

how do I tell which distributor I have...?

Mine has clips on the side like a normal points type but those clips screw down to the base of the unit and I can take them off...?

all the cap kits look alike..I will try to post a picture later today....

and where would the serial numbers be...? thanks