1984 J90MLCRD='84 90 HP Johnson- No sleeves??

[rebuilt]

The engine I am working on is badly scored on the starboard bottom. The sleeve that keeps coming up anywhere on the net is by LA Sleeve. Flea bay, WSM, Wiseco, whatever. They claim it's for a 65-235 JE Crossflow. But the sleeve they all show by LA Sleeve is solid, no porting at all. How can a "Crossflow"
sleeve have no way for the gasses to "cross flow" the area inside the cylinder? Does anyone know of a vendor who can supply a ported crossflow sleeve? I haven't had this block miked yet. But I see no way to clear this level of scoring by a .040 over bore job. The piston itself broke at the wrist pin snap ring retainer flange, sending the flange places it wasn't supposed to go. Thanks in advance, Kevin

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[racerone]

The ports are machined after the sleeve is installed.----A good used block is a better option.----Your location.

 

[rebuilt]

The ports are machined after the sleeve is installed.----A good used block is a better option.----Your location.

Eastern NC. I've looked at dozens of blocks on eBay and a number of other places. I need an 0431659. It superseded 0394283 and 0397207. JE apparently used that one on a large # of different engines. From what I can find it was used on 88-90-100-110, and 115 hp from'84 to '98. I've seen some priced stupid high. Others under $250 not counting shipping. I can't find the part # casting or stamping # anywhere on my block. Not the model #. I know that one by heart. I've got my eye on a '95 88 hp J88TSLEOC that BRP parts shows uses the same part #. Sure wish I knew where on this block that actual part # is.The one I'm eyeing is only 60 miles away. I could actually see it before buying it, if I can identify the part # correctly. It seems odd that JE was using the exact same part # 11 yrs later than when mine rolled off the line. Yet BRP parts fiche shows exactly that.

 

[rebuilt]

Does anyone know where on these blocks the part # is located? There is this part #...see pic, but BRP parts search engine does not recognize it. Is this where they hid the block Part #? You would have to split the case to find it. It looked like a JE #. Apparently it is not. It's off by one digit. JE made a 394283 block that was for the 90 hp V4 crossflow. This # on mine shows a 394223. It looks like a JE part #. I sure would like to confirm the # on the '95 88 HP block I'm watching before I plunk down on a block that I would be getting ready to plow a lot of $ into.

 

[racerone]

About the only difference between an 84 block and a 95 block would be the oil recirculation set up.----And the way the throttle linkages are set up.------Your opinion may differ.----If I was stuck for a block I would use the 95.----But there should be lots of 84 blocks available.----Patience is key when using E-bay.

 

[rebuilt]

About the only difference between an 84 block and a 95 block would be the oil recirculation set up.----And the way the throttle linkages are set up.------Your opinion may differ.----If I was stuck for a block I would use the 95.----But there should be lots of 84 blocks available.----Patience is key when using E-bay.

Thanks, there are a couple, in the $300 range. There are others on the net in the $500 to $800 range. That's too steep for me. Absolute worst case is to sleeve it. The porting is the hang up. The machinist I talked to said he's done a bunch of these "back in the day". But he mentioned, "a lot of grinding" The ports on this block look to have been bored with a round bit in one pass, not ground out with a rotary file. They are perfectly cylindrical. Like a hole saw bit would do. This 95 is $200 without shipping. It's only 60 miles away. I'm going to look at it Monday. BRP shows the exact same part # for the 84 and 95, so I'm betting the throttle mounting castings are the same. I'm going to take my 84 block with me when I go look at the 95. I'm trying to get the most bang for the buck. Either way I go, 95 block or sleeve mine, I will need new pistons. The way that wrist pin flange broke puts me in doubt as to how worn the other ones are. It's like building a whole new kit motor, with mail order parts. The only thing worth anything on this 84 is the crank, rods, upper and lower crank bearing heads, which are all over eBay and the cylinder heads themselves, which are all over eBay too. Still cheaper than outright buying some one else's reman power head. Thanks for the input. I'll post up when I get back from seeing and maybe buying the 95.

 

[Faztbullet]

Just make sure crank bearing journals are same as the V-4 over the years had small and large center and upper mains.

 

[racerone]

All the V-4 blocks had the same big center bearing and upper bearing from 79 to 98 I believe.

 

[rebuilt]

Thanks for the input guys. I've got the specs from an authentic JE service manual. Upper main journal 41.158", large center 55.563", lower 35.001".
On another note. I've loaded a pic of the culprit piston. The one that killed this motor. What caused this? Ideas? I ask because one of the blocks I found has the exact same symptoms mine has. Severe scoring starboard bottom. Mine also had a stuck ring port top. He's cheap selling it cuz it needs a sleeve. I'm wondering if the piston flange broke on that block too. Or maybe just a broken ring ruined that one. I had an old (my age) JE Yoda tell me broken rings weren't that uncommon on very worn engines. He's been doing JE for 30 yrs. Owned a dealership at one point. I'm going all in on this rebuild. (my username) If it rubs, spins or seals on this build it'll be new parts. Except the crank and center bearing race. I'm wondering... did the PO run it hot? The whole cooling system was crudded up with sand, shells and corrosion. I've read extensively on this engine. Reading not limited to a 90 HP. I'm studying A V4 90 degree crossflow in particular. From what I can find, history shows this was a very dependable long running engine. Then they went with the looper configuration. I've got an '89 60 HP JE inline 3 I absolutely love. It sank at the dock in a storm, causing a complete overhaul. It taught me a lot about a Johnson. I'll be a fan as long as I can ramp a boat. It screams. I ramble some. I'd love some input on your ideas as to what caused this piston to break where it did. Thanks

 

[racerone]

Are you sure you wrote those dimension correctly ??-----As 41.158" seems like a big journal.----Every one of these V-4 blocks will suffer that fate of broken rings.-----If an owner does not maintain a motor , cheap oil , check VRO output , wrong prop , leave impeller in too long etc they will have issues !!-----It is the design of the top ring that is the problem.----I have no idea why they went with that design up to 1998 , as it caused issues some 40 years ago !

 

[rebuilt]

I got this one as a "project boat" It hadn't been in the water in 11 yrs. It's the right #'s. My compression rings didn't break. That itty bitty flange that holds the wrist pin snap ring in place broke. I was just saying according to Mr. Hayes, our local old time JE guru, compression rings would break before anything else. I'm careful with my engines. I pre mix at a hair richer than their 50 to 1. I warm them up, before putting in gear, run them hard, stay in tune with pee hole output, and rinse-flush every time. I'm saltwater out this way. I did with this VRO what I did with the one off my '89 60 hp. It went away. This engine was VRO dependent until I converted it. I am 100% pre-mix. Just plain side thrust wear caused this, I'm guessing. I miked the rod journals and upper and lower mains last night. I don't have a 2-3" mike, so the center didn't get measured. The upper and lower mains are spot on. The rod journals are only .0005" under with even wear on all four. 1.3757" is what JE says is the lower end of acceptable wear. Mine are at 1.3751-2" I'll go with that. Kinda have to, unless I roll the dice on someone else's used crank.I haven't seen an Ebay seller list journal specs when they list a crank. Yet. What's crazy to me is that this engine ran, starboard lower busted up and with frozen rings in top port. I had it running, it sounded good, (on muffs everything sounds good. Good and loud) and was about ready to put it in the water when I got a nagging feeling that I ought to run a compression check. That's when I knew it wasn't really healthy at all. That's when I found the deep scoring. Glad I didn't put it out for use. Might have been calling SeaTow.

 

[racerone]

One more time-----I see broken rings all the time.----And often on more than 1 cylinder.-----That means most folks think " the motor runs , so what could be wrong " !!-----Note ----I rebuilt the first one with broken rings in about 1981.-----And many more since.