3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

[solar7647]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

Very nice work. I had a 3.7 that I worked on. I wish I had that kind of access to those darn starter bolts!

You will have a real reliable engine to play with!

Yea I have had to pull the starter while it was in the boat and it was a pain. I had to change the sylinoid on it cause the plastic cover on the end heated up and shattered. I dont think it was the right sylinoiod though cause it was much smaller then the one that was on the factory starter. I just pulled if off the old starter and slapped on the new one and was good to go.

I know the engine has a bad rap but as long as it well kept they work fine. The only reason I had to rebuild was cyclinder ware and every engine will get that over time, considering the engine was 95% factory I think it got a nice long life.

 

[solar7647]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

Great information 7647. I have a 1984 470 170hp 3.7L in my boat. Great information to have for a future winter project. Thanks.

Thats why I decided to make a thread for it. I know its not in a great amount of detail but it gives a general idea of what to expect and the level of difficulty.
I searched high and low on the internet and found nothing of any real value when it came to rebuilds of this engine. I was lucky in my indever because I have a local marine Mech that runs a mom&pop marine store and has years and years of know how and really knows this motor in and out so he has been a great deal of help in finding thing and getting explanation on changes to make and changes not to make!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

It's refreshing to see some 470 love in the forum for a change! Yes, I had replaced my starter with a rebuilt, my manifolds, I had the fuel pump fail 45 miles from the launch site...... however when the 470 was up and running it was strong!!

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

The sad thing about these engines is Mercury discontinuing parts support just as people are starting to need them. I have always liked them despite their minor warts and pimples

 

[badkins50]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

I agree nutcase. I just had my carb rebuilt and it was nearly impossible to find the correct gasket kit. I looked at 10 different web sites and got 10 different part numbers and kits. I ended up just taking it to the local marina and let them deal with it. That's why this is such a great thread. Keep up the awesome work 7647.

 

[DJ]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

Nice work! Thanks for sharing. There are a lot of those engines still out there.

Your pic's and descriptions go a long way in describing how eveything works.

Please, keep it going.

 

[Eagleridge5]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

I wish I had this kind of info a few years ago. I rebuilt my 470 but didn't know about the oil pump alignment tool. It stripped the distributor gear the first day on my long awaited Lake Powell trip. I got frustrated after it did it again when I got back home and traded the rebuilt engine in for an old salvage motor. So far it runs ok but I don't push it too hard.

 

[solar7647]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

I am on track to try and fire her up this weekend. I just started getting the wiring harness hooked up! I need to get out and get some new plugs, oil, coolant and oil filter also.

I have a few new photos, I finished getting the hoses hooked up. The only ones that were left were the ones that go from the riser to the intake along the back of the engine and from the intake to the cerculation pump in front.

You can also see that the valve cover is on, but not bolted on, that is because I am waiting for the new spacer. The roller rockers need about an extra 1/4 of space and I dont want to reuse the home made one that I wipped up last season.

I am glad to you guys like the thread! I will take a Video of the engine running to post also!

 

[pcmpete]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

Good work, looking forward to the video

 

[DJ]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

I'm not sure about the flames on the valve cover. May be a bad omen!

I do like the paint scheme though. It's nice to see something that isn't just a hunk of black.

I like opening the engine covers and looking at red Volvo's. You can actually see stuff on those.

 

[solar7647]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

I'm not sure about the flames on the valve cover. May be a bad omen!

I do like the paint scheme though. It's nice to see something that isn't just a hunk of black.

I like opening the engine covers and looking at red Volvo's. You can actually see stuff on those.

The story behind the color and stickers:
When I bought the boats the valve cover was broke and missing a large peice in the back. I looked all over for a replacment but it is one of those parts that arnt made anymore so I ended up at the salvage yard and all they had where 470 covers so thats what I got.
Well since I had a 3.7L 180hp it never sat right with me that the cover wasnt right (I know for the most part they are the same). So at the begining of last year I had to do some engine repairs because of a lifter that had gone bad, I decided to get some color on it since my stickers where all mis match it didnt make any sence to keep them.
I wanted to go with something that would say mercruiser thus the black and red, but what should be what color? I started to think about how i could never tell where a leak was coming from or if I even had leak in the first place, thus I decided that I needed to try to make it so no two parts that where attached to one another where the same color if they had potential for a leak. So the the scheme really made it self.
Once it was all back together it looked good but it was missing something, everything was just black or red, so one night walking through WalMart the stickers jump out at me when I was walking through the Auto section and I figured they where pretty cool so I got them. I put them on with no real plan on where to put them and totally figured the glue whould melt and fall off but surprising they have yet to peel and they have been on those parts for a hole year of use with no signs of comeing off anytime soon.

As far the flames being a bad omen....all i know is with all the work I am putting in the motor and the boat.......... (check out the resto thread in my sig).......if anything goes wrongs with it.....it better go down in a flaming glory cause anything less will just P*ss me off when I have to fix it!

 

[solar7647]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

Ok....

I decided to rebuild and properly wrap the wire harness for the motor...figured It would be smart....easy just time consuming...you always want the wires on the motor hooked up right and out of the way so the dont get hooked on anything. So to the parts store I went and got some cheap wire wrap and the fluids....also got an oil filter...Now I put on a Fram filter because I have to drain this oil after the motor has been run and heated to operating temp the first time because its full of lube and stuff from the re-machining so I didnt want to wast the $18 a marine filter cost only the $3 the Fram cost..its a PH5 Fram if anyone is wondering.

I also installed the fuel line from pump to carb.

The wires (starter side)

The wires and filter (intake side)

 

[DJ]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

Solar,

You have a PM.

 

[DJ]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

Solar,

Nice work. Keep us posted.

 

[solar7647]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

I had to install the oil dip stick also to wrap things up...but theres a twist!

I am one of the lucky people (as I am sure many of you are to) that had to pump the oil out of the dip stick to change it, because I could not reach the oil plug that is welded into the pan!

To fix this I made my own drain tube and I am going to share how.....

Head to local Hard ware store or Home Disappointment and pick up the following... Be sure to check size against the elbow for your dip stick....

1 - 3/8 pipe thread Tee
1 - 3/8 pipe thread to 1/2 flare fitting
1 - 3/8 to 3/8 pipe close fitting
1 - 3/8 pipe thread to hose barb fitting
1- length of hose that will fit barb fitting
1- shut off valve that can have the hose clamped to it.

I used a brass T handled fitting for ice machines because the threaded ends fit into the hose.

1) Assemble the parts so that the flare fitting is at the top of the pipe Tee, this is what the dip stick threads onto.

2) The barb fitting is at the bottom of the Tee, this is what the hose clamps to.

3) The 3/8 close fitting is in the center of the Tee, this goes to the oil pan.

As you can see, there is a size difference so the dip stick will be taller then with the original elbow.

Once assembled and next to original elbow

With hose and valve

Installed in oil pan

I will mount the handle to the side of the bilge for easy reach and put in a clip to hold the hose after the valve to the inside of the transom, then when I change my oil I just slide the hose out the drain hole of the bilge and into my oil bucket and open the valve. No more pumping or spilling the oil in the boat!

 

[solar7647]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

I had some issues trying to start the engine so no video today.

I filled the engine with fluid and hooked up the wire harness, Gauges and key switch. I hooked these up because I also re-built them and wanted the entire system hooked up and tested before installing into the boat.

I then connected a battery. Once the battery was hooked up I turned the Key and turned the motor over with no spark plugs so that I could verify that there was no binding any place and to make sure everything spun freely. I also did this to help "prime" the oil system a little.

The key worked, gauges worked, and the starter spun the motor no problem. I then installed the spark plugs, wires and supplied some gas. I turned the key and it would only turn over really slow as if the battery was dead so I changed the battery figuring I drained it turning the engine over with out plugs but I got the same result.

Now the way I see it I have one of two issues.
1) Both battery are no good or need charged
2) The starter cant turn the engine under compression and thus I need a new starter.

I was just to tired to go any further, so I am going to look more into with in the next few days. I have a new starter for the engine in my garage so thats not a big deal if it is the starter, I will just have to swap the solenoid because the one on the other starter has a busted wire connection.

So I will investigate more and see what I come up with. I think I will post a help thread for Ideas from every one to see what you think it is.

 

[DJ]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

Solar,

90%, or better, of starting issues are CONNECTIONS related.

I suspect that your connections may NOT be 100%, if you are "testing".

I would NOT condemn anything until you have known 100% perfect connections.

I just went through this with a 50 HP John., on a stand, a BRAND NEW set of jumpers would NOT turn it over. I broke out my ancient set and she spun over like a champ.

 

[solar7647]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

Solar,

90%, or better, of starting issues are CONNECTIONS related.

I suspect that your connections may NOT be 100%, if you are "testing".

I would NOT condemn anything until you have known 100% perfect connections.

I thought the same thing and checked, everything seemed good. But it was very late and its been a long day so I will have to give it another once over after getting some rest.

I posted a help thread to get as much input as possible before going at it again.

Thanks!

 

[solar7647]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

Well I tried a newer starter and it rotates the engine a lot better but still lacks the power to turn it over and get it fired up. I am going to get new battery wires and try a new battery next. I really want to get this thing fired up before this week end, because I had planed to be installing it this weekend.

wish me luck!

Well the good news is at least O know everything moves properly and the engine rotates fine!

 

[natemoore]

Re: 3.7L 180HP rebuild with pics!

It's refreshing to see some 470 love in the forum for a change! Yes, I had replaced my starter with a rebuilt, my manifolds, I had the fuel pump fail 45 miles from the launch site...... however when the 470 was up and running it was strong!!

Yes. I have reported this website to the government "hate speech" hotline several times. Apparently, the black suits have been doing some "re-educating."