A little help identifying my engine please...

[gwizzar]

I'm piggy-backing off a previous post on another board. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=555985

I just recently purchased my neighbor's 1982 Renken Bow-rider model 950. I have the hull# ID. The fuel gauge does not work and the lights on the temp gauge flickers. The boat was given to my neighbor by his father-in-law. A boat manual does not exist. My neighbor said the engine was "rebuilt," but I am thinking it is not the original motor because the wiring running from the engine to the instrument panel is a cluster-*uck. Wires were simply twisted together w/o tape, connector, nuts, etc. I want to re-run these wires properly but I need a wiring diagram. I used a couple of websites to try to determine the id using casting numbers off the engine block, cylinders, ... I found "390010GM" which I have discovered to be a 350 small block but that is about as far as that goes. I also found these numbers... 1103004737A9C29, but have no clue what they are after "googling" for hours.

Here are some pics of the engine, solenoid, and starter. Thanks to *Bubba1235 for identifying the stern-drive!!!

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

quality redneck enginering
small block GM early, bolts on edge of valve cover
custom cooling system
incorrect fuel line to carb and maybe an auto pump
auto carb

 

[Fishermark]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

You can buy a new wiring harness from various places - I have even bought them off of ebay. I'm not sure which one you have... but you can look at the pin arrangement and see if they match up. I suspect you will have to be a little creative in discovering which wire goes where. But with a new harness it should be easy to do. You can look at the DIY section at the top of the page for some links to the manuals. They will have wiring diagrams in them.

By the way - the fuel line to your carb looks to be "regular" rubber hose from the pump to the carb. You can use rubber hose, but it needs to be type A-1 marine hose. Something you ought to look into. Just saying...

 

[achris]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

That whole engine looks very 'automotive'... I'd be checking the carb, alternator, distributor and starter motor very carefully. Anything not proper marine should be trash-canned and replaced with the proper stuff....

Chris..........

 

[Don S]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

The fuel pump and carb are both automotive. The cooling system is not only custom, but I see no way for the manifolds to be cooled.
Lots of dangerous/explosive/fire hazard problems noted in only a few pictures.

Assorted plug wires from the spare parts bin :facepalm: Routing obviously designed to burn the wires.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

Yeah that's a Holley vacuum secondary AUTO carb, and the fuel pump is also auto. Can't tell from the pic, but I'd bet a 12-pack the alternator is also.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

I concur with most of the comments. that is an automotive trimmed engine. your looking at a proper re-plumb, re-wire, new carb, fuel pump, and most likely electrics.

actually, there is a vacuum advance canister on the distributor, so that is not a marine unit either.

 

[gwizzar]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

Yeah that's a Holley vacuum secondary AUTO carb, and the fuel pump is also auto. Can't tell from the pic, but I'd bet a 12-pack the alternator is also.

Geez, Thanks!!! The only thing I have replaced is the alternator which I purchased from a marine shop, but it now looks like I need a marine carb and fuel pump. Great... Glad I didn't get too giddy and rush to take my wife and daughter out. Thanks much, folks! Do I take that carb and fuel pump to the marine shop and see if they can match it or is there a way to figure out what small block 350 this beast is? Thanks!

If the spark plugs wires are wrong, how would I determine the proper ones? I really need to find out what kind of small block 350 this is... Grrrr....

 

[gwizzar]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

Thanks..glad for your feedback!

 

[gwizzar]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

Thank you, Chris! I appreciate the heads-up!

 

[gwizzar]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

A-1 marine hose...Got it! Thanks!

 

[gwizzar]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

I am feeling that now. Thanks for the info!

 

[Fishermark]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

I really need to find out what kind of small block 350 this is... Grrrr....

For the stuff that everyone is talking about - the carb, distributor, etc. You don't really need to get real specific. A small block Chevy is sufficient. They will all be the same.

 

[gwizzar]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

Thank you, FS!!!

Don, Please see the attached pic...wouldn't the manifold receive water via the route pointed out? Thanks!

 

[Don S]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

You seem to be forgetting about the cooling system comment I made. You have to cool those manifolds or you will have problems. Not sure what that thermostat housing went too, It for sure isn't a Mercruiser that I have ever seen.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

An '82 GM 350 was called a Mercruiser 260. It would have had a MC-1 outdrive. See the attached chart of different models:

Your engine looks to be of that same vintage. A 260 Mercruiser from '82 would use manual#4:

http://www.4shared.com/office/z_94xkbJ/mercruiser_service_manual_4_19.html

 

[Don S]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

The #4 manual is for the MC-1 outdrive, not the engine.

 

[gwizzar]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

I didn't forget your input, Chris. I'm wondering how my neighbor and his father-in-law ran this for so long and it never over-heated or exploded... I will not be launching this bad boy until the marine shop gives me a thumbs-up. Manifolds need cooled, got it! Thank you!

 

[gwizzar]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

Bubba1235 identified the drive is a MC-1 or sometimes called a pre-alpha. Please see attached pics.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: A little help identifying my engine please...

it looks like they painted the outdrive right before they sold it to you..... tilt rams and everything.