Engine mounts?

[Phish555]

Seems like I get one thing fixed, then another pops up.
Was cruising along today, boat was running fine. Just had the lower shift cable replaced, and gave me no problems today. Boat never died. I was happy,,,,untill,,,cruising along half throttle, then it just seemed liked I slammed it into neutral. Engine was running, but no go. Didn't over rev or anything like that when it happened, it kind of scared me, and I backed right off the throttle. Prop would turn (barely) at idle, but any more than that, and nothing. I could tell it was going into gear when I would shift it, but nothing would happen. Got towed back to the marina, and on the trailer (thank you who ever you were), tried to offer money, but he said he was glad to help, and left.
Anyway, got home, was draining the water out of the moter, and it just seemed different. Got to looking, and it appears that one of the engine mounts that sits on top of something like a fibreglass box, has sunk down and the block (shell) was creased/cracked. I think that is what caused my prob, which (correct me if Im wrong,) threw the motor and out drive out of alignment, and probable broke something along the way.

So, should I take it to my regular boat repair shop, or to somewhere else like a specialty shop?
What can I expect to pay for out drive repair, motor pull, motor mount rebuild, and what ever else I need? Or, am I totally wrong in my guesstimate?

88 4.3L alpha 1

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Engine mounts?

Mis-alignment most likely took out the coupler. you can pull the drive to check .If you find aluminum slivers in the shaft, they came from the coupler.
Motor does have to be pulled to make repairs but if the front mount is bad that will have to be repaired too.Can you post a pic of the mount.

 

[Phish555]

Re: Engine mounts?

Bt Doctur, I will try and get some pics tomorrow before I take it in.
The front engine mounts are both set down on what looks like a box/shell made of fibreglass. Just looking at them, you can tell something isn't right.
Any idea on cost for coupler repair/engine pull/and mount rebuild??

 

[Robj]

Re: Engine mounts?

Unfortunately your problem is probably due to rotten mount, and possibly stringers and transom. I would get that checked out before I did anything else. Replacing the part of your drive that failed is easy, but pricey. Replacing rotten wood is also easy, but takes alot of work and may cost more than the boat is worth if you were to hire someone to do it. If you post some pix that would help.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Engine mounts?

R/R the drive and motor , re-align + - 400
coupler alpha or bravo 200-400
remove the rotted stringers , fab and glass new ones, 60 per/hr plus materials
Last one i did was almost 24 hrs labor,
BUT when I went to replace the transom in my boat ,the transom led to the
floor
gas tank bulkheads
main bulkheads
more floor
more wet foam
front bulkheads
more wet foam
all the way to the cabin bulkhead/cabin door area
You really won`t know untill you start digging into it

 

[Phish555]

Re: Engine mounts?

Alright, I took the boat to the shop and had them pull the engine and lower unit a couple of days ago. I have posted threads on here about my "tiny leak" which, it appears, has been a problem for a while now, as my stringers and motor mount blocks were mush.
After they got the engine and drive unit pulled, they called me and said they found no evidence of a leak. I said fine, and got the boat home and cut out the stringers and cleaned out the bilge clear down to the fiberglass hull. The floor was rotted too. I got to poking around on the transom and found a rotted area on each side of the lowest transom unit bolts. I took the boat back to the shop and had them pull the transom assemble, and there it was. Water was leaking in through the bolts where the anode are. Glad I had them do that.
Any way, I took some pics this morning, and if someone will tell me an easy way to post them, I will put them up.
I have my work cut out for me. I have to rebuild my transom, floor, stringers and mounts.
While my engine is out, I am having the shop put in new plugs, and have the starter rebuilt.

 

[Phish555]

Re: Engine mounts?

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn264/phish555/boat repairs/IMG_2299.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn264/phish555/boat repairs/IMG_2296.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn264/phish555/boat repairs/IMG_2297.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn264/phish555/boat repairs/IMG_2298.jpg


Pics I took this am. Hope this posts! You can see I have removed the port side engine mount/stringer. You can also see some of the rot in the transom.
I will post more pics as I make progress.

 

[Phish555]

Re: Engine mounts?

I got all the rotted wood out. Included some flooring, transom, engine mounts and the stringers they were build on. After removing the stringers up to the point where wood is dry, I noticed the foam (between stringers) is good, not rotted or soft. Taking out the foam is like taking apart a jigsaw puzzle. My question is, when I am ready, can I fill the void between the stringers with that non-expanding foam used for insulating new windows on a house? It comes in a can, and is sold at hardware stores. I will post some more pictures this weekend of my project.

 

[Coors]

Re: Engine mounts?

See Boat Restoration Forum.
The foam has no use, unless used as a mold for the fiberglass repair facing you.
Sorry. You have weeks of work, before the engine goes back in.

 

[runithrd]

Re: Engine mounts?

Try not to forget, glass over wood, you still got WOOD, follow? Have you forethought the wood (or the treatment for the wood) you're using for the job? you need to give no reason to go back there again, follow? I just did same for rot under bolts holding engine mount...stuff just gets WET on a boat (ain't it a dog?)

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Engine mounts?

Thats a big job ahead of you! Been there myself! What a bad time of year for that to happen.
Oh,I hate fiberglass work!

 

[Phish555]

Re: Engine mounts?

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn264/phish555/boat repairs/IMG_2385.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn264/phish555/boat repairs/IMG_2386.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn264/phish555/boat repairs/IMG_2383.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn264/phish555/boat repairs/IMG_2449.jpg

Repairs completed. 48 hrs on the lake, no leaks, no problems!
Not too hard, but wouldn't want to do it again.

 

[PSS-Mag]

Re: Engine mounts?

R/R the drive and motor , re-align + - 400
coupler alpha or bravo 200-400
remove the rotted stringers , fab and glass new ones, 60 per/hr plus materials
Last one i did was almost 24 hrs labor,
BUT when I went to replace the transom in my boat ,the transom led to the
floor
gas tank bulkheads
main bulkheads
more floor
more wet foam
front bulkheads
more wet foam
all the way to the cabin bulkhead/cabin door area
You really won`t know untill you start digging into it

That was exactly why I gutted my old tub last week and dropped it off at the salvage yard. Then went and bought another hull. Found one that the lower unit was smashed, guy wanted his motor, fine with me I wanted mine and had my transom assembly and outdrive. The hull is solid as a rock. Bought it for $200 plus I removed his motor for him. Worked great for both of us.
I couldn't have bought the wood to do the transom much less I'm sure atleast parts of the stringer were bad too and who knows what else, I coulnd;t buy the wood for what I gave for a good tub.
I knew the floor was good though, I just replaced and regalssed it last year..... I cut that wood out before I took it to the salvage yard though. That cost me $200 for 2 sheets of 3/4" marine grade plywood.