Big Queston

[KellyC]

Ok, now that I am tearing everything apart I have another question. This is an old boat (67) as you all know and I am thinking about the motor. Now should I just try the engine and see how it goes or should I do an all out rebuild on it? And no I have not done a compression check on the old motor either, just started tearing things apart beofore I thought about it.:redface: Just trying to get some ideas on what to do, it is an inline 4 (120). Would be way cool to put in a V6 like Jas is doing, but they seem pretty scarce around here as I have been checking.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Big Queston

Yah dude! I'd say pull the plugs out turn her by hand to see if anything silly is happening. If she moves well, put the plugs back in, hook up some water and crank to see how she runs!

Well, how about you tell us what you know about the motor before you do all that thought first, eh.

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Big Queston

Switching to the 4.3 is not an easy job. I have been contemplating it for a while myself. I did some research on the subject and here is a link to what I figured out.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=367853
You might as well test out your current engine, you never know, it might have low hours.
Have you checked on the side of the block, near the freeze plugs under the intake / exhaust manifolds for cracks? That is the most common place for freeze cracks from my experience.
My Mercruiser sat for 8 years before I got it. Here is a link showing the steps I went through to revive it. It's a long read, I got alot of useful info from others on here, it might be helpful. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=347131
Since you have already removed the outdrive, hooking up some cooling water is more of a challenge. I have attached a pic showing an option to bypass the outdrive and run water directly to the engine. You remove the black hose coming from the outdrive water pump circled at the top of the pic. Cut the end off a 5/8 garden hose and hook it to the engine where the second red circle is lower on the pic. Hook the other end of the garden hose to the outside spicket and feed it as much water as possible. Water will immediately flow out the exhaust and will feed through the engine as the thermostat allows.
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv156/jhoncho4x4/1102101510-001-1.jpg

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Big Queston

My vote: FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[barato]

Re: Big Queston

Kelly--

i'm with Jas on this. try it and see before assuming the worst. if it turns over OK by hand, pop the valve cover and shoot some oil over valvetrain, a lttle WD down cylinders and try to fire er up. if you can get it running, let it heat up and cool down a couple of times, then run comp test.

if it's not usable, i might think hard about going with a far newer donor boat rather than rebuilding. look at whether you can find ALL needed parts for the 67 before you pour any $ into it....you only need one critical part to be NLA to totally screw you. this is what i found with my '64 120hp drivetrain. parts for the old Mercruiser 1 outdrive are also getting to be an issue.

this same basic drivetrain has been put into a jillion disposable 16-18' fubarglass ski boats right up to current year, and many of those have trashed interior and soft floors and can thus be had for a pittance (my donor boat cost me 650, incl a trailer which i'll make into a flatbed...this got me a 1993-vintage fresh-water-only motor with 600 hrs on it (and 20 more hp from same motor) and an Alpha 1 outdrive). now parts are pretty easy to find, and i can use a modern prop like a Piranha or Comprop. Try a "let me turn your old boat into ca$h" ad on CL....took me 1 day to find one.


the outboard-conversion option is also a good one (there, EZ, happy now?) if you can weld aluminum or have a friend who can.....those outboard-mount flotation boxes are nice but will cost more than you have in boat otherwise if you have to buy one premade. and then there's the cost of the OB itself.....cheap if you're OK with a 2 stroke, horrendous if you want a 4 stroke. if i could afford to drop $10-15K+ on a repower, this is route i'd go.

 

[Bob Gilvary]

Re: Big Queston

Check spark, and compression before wasting time on rigging up a water hose.

If you've got that, then there's only one thing left and that's fuel.

I don't recommend using the gas in the tank, could be water. Use a portable tank with fresh gas.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Big Queston

SE did a nice write up there and Bondo has the key to making the whole 4.3 conversion thing work for sure. Something to mount to!

Believe it or not my OMC Stringer was super helpful in that area as the stringers are perfect for mounting my Merc! (Well at least so far, I haven't put it in yet)

If I was a super filthy rich guy I'd definitely go with twin 250 E-Tech's on a bracket. If I was really rich I'd go with just one 250 E-Tech on a bracket. If I was just regular rich I'd go with a 150-250 anything on a bracket. If I was low end rich guy I'd go OB and convert my transom to OB.

Well my friend, I am a bottom feeder, through and through. Of the lowest sort. So I bought a junk glasser with the 4.3 for cheap, sold off some rigging to make it even cheaper, and still have a long way to go.

Bottom feeders unite!!

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

Well first off, I have turned the engine by hand and with the plugs out it is smooth. With the plugs in I can feel compression building and it is harder to turn. I can put fuel into the tanks as they are both out of the boat right now and were empty when I got the boat, but I do have a portable one as well for my Seanymph. I checked some of the oil and it looks good as far as I can tell, no milkshake look or bubbles in the oil. The plugs look fairly good as well, especially since it has not ran for a long time. I have also checked the block and maninfold for cracks and could not see any, but I know that does not mean anything either. Things can pop up like that even if you dont see them. I currently have all water hoses off but that is easy to fix. I will also have to put all the wires back on as I pulled them off cause there were in the way at the time I was working on the boat. I will have to see if I can get it to turn over this weekend and do a compression check on it.

So if I was to get a doner boat with a Mercruiser on it, would it fit the hole in my transom that is there now? I have been told that it would not be a big deal to do that part anyway, but just wondering.

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: Big Queston

If the compression is close run it. You may be able to clean out the motor with some suggestions that are on this board. If a clean out brings your compression back up to normal you could get years out of that old motor. If it turns out to be an anchor don?t rebuild it. I made that mistake on my 1975 Volvo a few years back. Now parts are getting very hard to find. Like others have said, finding a donor boat is your best bang for your buck and parts for 1980?s or 90?s are way easier to find. Upgrading your motor and leg will require you to cut a larger hole. It?s not that big a deal to do. Others have done that and can give you tips.
GLG

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Big Queston

I would say depend on where you are fishing. Lakes and close to boat ramp give it a try.
However if you are like me and travel 5-25 miles from dock and coastguard as to tow you in I would do some serious inspection on the motor and outdrive at that age. This is based on my experience with a good running 1971 outdrive/motor, but still had lots of problems over about a 300 hr time frame.
I would check compression, check oil pressure with a manual gauge after oil is warm, pull the head and look at the cylinders, replace the timing gear set if all checks out (mine broke), pull the top cover off the outdrive and look at the top gears for rust (mine when bad), new water pump, 1st I would pressure test the outdrive to see how the seals are holding. The list goes on.

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

Well let me throw another thought out to you guys. What size OB would fit on this islander? Or better yet what size of dual OB's would fit on the islander. I was looking at outboard brackets today and just got to thinking is all. Yea I probably could not do it but just want to have a second option as well. LOL, daydreaming at work and I could picture it with a pair of 125 oh her and I think that I was going vroom vroom under my breath, the boss asked me what I was doing.....lol

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Big Queston

Well, you have my thoughts up the way there. Just don't show ez, he thinks I am a die hard IO guy.

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

Ok, well from the sounds of it a V6 would be a PIA. So how hard would it to be to put an inline 6 in her instead. I may have found a doner boat for about $400 with outdrive and an inline 6 in it. The only bad part is that there is on way to start her, missing intake mani and carb. Boat is really trashed as well but I would not really care about that, just want the parts.

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Big Queston

I thought about the straight 6 idea too. Would be alot simpler. Is basically the same engine you have now just without the two missing cylinders. Cut the hole in the floor a little longer and move the front motor mount. Need to use the donor boats outdrive for the different outdrive ratio in order to reap all of the benefits.
I decided for the extra approximately 5 mph of speed in my case and missing floor space, it was not worth the trouble. But with an Islander, being bigger than my Starchief, you probably could use the extra ponies. I could see a 120 being underpowered in your boat.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Big Queston

Yah, an I6 seems like it would go in a bit easier for ya.

Though, that motor you are talking about there makes me very nervous.

 

[barato]

Re: Big Queston

i'm with Jas on that last part.....that motor sounds like too much risk of it being a worse pile than your current one. did you ever get any results on compression etc on your current one?

remember that you can get 20 more hp just by going to newer 3 liter version of same motor you have....and it's 100 lbs lighter than the inline six

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

Yea I got to thinking about it and decided not to even go check out the motor, guess I was just thinking outloud. No, have not done a compression check as of yet. Was going to today but have issues to deal with. Wife took my car to work last night and some butt did a hit n run on it. Have to deal with the insurance and stuff today. So far 3K in damages on a 08 KIA Spectra5. Am not a real happy camper right now and not so sure I should even go near the boat, if it kinda made me mad it might be sorry today.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Big Queston

Kelly --- Roll with the punches my friend. There is a I dont give a s=== attitude with a lot of people right now as they are in a deep hole and no ladder. Be glad you have insurance and use it, a lot of folks do not and spend even motr money to try to keep there Ins co. happy. Had my insurance co tell me when I had a 9.9 kicker cut off my boat and taken. Gee are you sure you want to claim this???? They might cancel your insurance. My answer ??? What the hell do you think i pay insurance for. Good luck. Sounds like one of those days.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Big Queston

I have a 140hp I-4 in a 21 foot cheiftain, lots of fishing gear, 4 pobs, and full of fuel I can get about 28mph out of her at 4600 rpms.
Cruise at 20mph. For fishing the 4 banger is adequate, costs less on fuel. I use mine to troll with for hours on end.
I would stick with the I-4, unless you can get a whole outdrive/engine for a good price.

 

[KellyC]

Re: Big Queston

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Kelly --- Roll with the punches my friend. There is a I dont give a s=== attitude with a lot of people right now as they are in a deep hole and no ladder. Be glad you have insurance and use it, a lot of folks do not and spend even motr money to try to keep there Ins co. happy. Had my insurance co tell me when I had a 9.9 kicker cut off my boat and taken. Gee are you sure you want to claim this???? They might cancel your insurance. My answer ??? What the hell do you think i pay insurance for. Good luck. Sounds like one of those days.

Yea I am rolling with it, just really got under my skin that they did not even have to guts to let us know in the first place. Dishonest people really are low as far as I am concerned and just **** me off to no end. Time to quit bitching.

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I have a 140hp I-4 in a 21 foot cheiftain, lots of fishing gear, 4 pobs, and full of fuel I can get about 28mph out of her at 4600 rpms.
Cruise at 20mph. For fishing the 4 banger is adequate, costs less on fuel. I use mine to troll with for hours on end.
I would stick with the I-4, unless you can get a whole outdrive/engine for a good price.

Yea I am thinking of just keeping what I have unless I stumble across a killer deal on a newer 3.0L. Just need to get to it and get some comression test, will give it a shot tomorrow. That or yardwork which I really do not like to do since it is only a renter, if it was my own place it would not be a big deal.