Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

[rfdfirecaptain]

I have a 1993 Crownline with a Volvo Penta 740 Engine. Apparently, I overlooked some water in the engine when winterizing last fall. There is a 4" horizontal hairline crack on each side of the block just below the cooling manifolds. I screwed up! So, don't beat me up about that. My kids are giving me enough grief as if summer is already over. I have a few options and I want see what this group thinks.

I hooked the water hose up and ran my engine for about 20 minutes. No water appeared on the oil dipstick. Water weeped out of one crack and it spewed out of the other.

My engine is a 7.4 liter (454) rated at 330 Hp. When I look on the Internet I find that same engine for as little as $2400 and as much as $4k. The best price I could find was at USEngine.com. On their site I read their recommendation to switch to a 454 engine that has 400 Hp or a 454 with 425 Hp. That upgrade would raise the cost (from USEngine) up to $2,700. USEngine claims the 330 Hp engine burns more fuel than the 400 Hp or 425 Hp engines, plus the bonus is more Hp. Thus, they recommed the Hp upgrade for reasons of fuel economy and power.

I'm on the East Coast in the Raleigh, NC area. USEngine is located in Washington state.

1. Does anyone know of an engine distributor closer to my location?
2. Can anyone tell me if the USEngine recommendation to upgrade to a greater Hp engine is valid?
3. My neighbor is a machinist. He said if I could get my engine out of my boat there was a chance he could "stop drill" the ends of the cracks and then weld the cracks to back fill them.
4. Would I just be better to grind out the cracks and JB Weld the damn thing and run it until it quits?
5. I've considered selling the boat "as is" and just starting over with something a little newer.

So what do you think? All advice and recommendations are appreciated.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

A lot of people on this site have spoken highly of rapido engines for both price and service.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

It would cost about $5.00 for JB weld and 30 minutes. I would try that.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

I hooked the water hose up and ran my engine for about 20 minutes. No water appeared on the oil dipstick. Water weeped out of one crack and it spewed out of the other.

Ayuh,... I'd go with Option #4,+ Try it....
If it continues to Not gain oil,... Run it til she Pukes...

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

Thanks for the replies folks.

The only thing that scares me about JB weld is that I do some occasional off shore fishing. .. not too far maybe 10-20 miles at most. Of course I have TOW BOAT US, but I'm afraid the pounding around especially in the inlets could have affect on any repair. What are your thoughts about that? Although I'm experienced with JB Weld, I don't have any experience with this type of repair. Also, would anyone recommend marine-tex over JB Weld?

Still looking for advice/recommendations...

Thanks!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

but I'm afraid the pounding around especially in the inlets could have affect on any repair. What are your thoughts about that?

Ayuh,... With Proper Prep, I wouldn't worry about it... Ya got a bilgepump, Right,..??

The better you can sand/ scuff the area the better...
End-drilling is always nice, but not an Absolute necessity...

I've seen epoxy repairs outlast the hull....

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

Mr Bond-O,

Thanks for the advice. You mentioned "proper prep". I looked for that on these threads, but I couldn't find anything. Mind giving me some step by step directions?

One specific question: I have a 4" grinder and a Dremel. Should I try to gouge the crack a little just to have a deeper and thicker repair?

 

[PSS-Mag]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

Ayuh,... With Proper Prep, I wouldn't worry about it... Ya got a bilgepump, Right,..??

The better you can sand/ scuff the area the better...
End-drilling is always nice, but not an Absolute necessity...

I've seen epoxy repairs outlast the hull....

Ahoy,
End drilling?
What is that?

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

Ahoy,
End drilling?
What is that?

My machinist neighbor says that means drilling a hole at each end of the crack. He said otherwise the crack will likely contine to spread.

 

[PSS-Mag]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

My machinist neighbor says that means drilling a hole at each end of the crack. He said otherwise the crack will likely contine to spread.

Thank you, I did not know that. I will have to use that on my risers. Maybe that is why the repair last year did not survive the winter.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

I would go with the dremel to do the prep work with, much more control over what you are doing. The end drilling would be nice but if you have to remove the engine your already on your way cost/time wise to replacing. I would vee the cracks out a bit and prep around them by a couple inches just to make sure no contaminates are present. Use the JB over the marine tex(imo) I think the JB is more suited for that application than the M.T. Follow the directions on the package and see how it goes, its got to be worth a try and stay on smaller waters the first few times out. Check the engine oil very frequently start with the boat in the water and stick it maybe even use an awl to mark a little line on the stick. Run it not too hard right out of the gates but run it good then check oil level. Continue to do that until you are confident everything is okay. Good luck

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

Very good suggestions. I'm trying to sell it as is just to see what I can get out of it. I got remarried and have 3 more kids so I needed a bigger boat anyway. Well, if I have to keep this one I think you all have given me some good ideas and specific diresctions on how to attempt a repair. THANKS!!!

 

[Tommywalton]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

If you do have to get another engine you should try roadmasterengines.com
i don't have the link, sorry. they are in texas and have very reasonable prices on short blocks, which is what you need. i have bought three engines from them and all are without issue. including a modular ford and 6.2l l92 chevy. both of which are complicated to build. anyway they have the lowest of all the national rebuild sites i've found. it should pull up under google.

 

[vampirefish]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

rfdfirecaptain: any luck with the JB Weld? I did the same thing as you

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

UPDATE:

I have ordered a new long block from USEngines and currently it's being up-fitted with my old "tin" ( I think they call it that).

I sent all 6 pieces (exhaust manifold, riser & elbow) out to be oven cooked and bead blasted. Each came surprisingly clean and it only cost me $75.

Since I ran the engine for a total of about 90 minutes for several marine mechanics to evaluate these repairs and because there was no increase in volume of oil, nor milky white discoloration, there was no reason to suspect the manifolds were cracked on the inner linings. So, both exhaust manifolds were then sent to a machine shop for welding. This was a long process as it required massive pre-heating. 3 days after the manifolds were repaired they were pulled from a cooling bin, only to find that the cracks had gotten worse. I began searching for new exhaust manifolds. I found out from 2 manufacturers and 3 Volvo suppliers, there is NO AFTER MARKET replacement for VOLVO 454 exhaust manifolds, without having to also change out the riser and elbow, due to the bolt pattern. %$#@!!!! $1,100.00 later I expect new ones to arrive tomorrow.

While doing this repair I decided to replace my drive shaft bearing and seals. Good thing too. When I removed the bellows (which was replaced last year) I found about 2 quarts of water. Apparently, the flywheel housing cover had a hairline crack which is now under repair. I feel more confident in welding this aluminum as compared to the cast manifolds.

My current invoices and estimated costs should add up to about $6,800 - $7k. That's a helluva lot of repairs, considering what one light bulb would have cost me last winter to keep the engine compartment warm... even if I had never attempted to winterize the boat and goofed.

One last tid bit and this is enough to make me want to pull my hair out! Just like last years outdrive rebuild I did... this year the Volvo store as well as my local Volvo dealer could not supply every part I needed without having to "back order" some pieces. That just chaps my rear end! Last year I got around this when I found a place on the Internet that could supply every part I needed in one shipment. French Creek Marina... just ask for Wilbert Wahl. So, this year I've called them three times with part orders. As usual each time the parts (ALL the parts) are shipped in one shipment and usually arrive by ground in 3-4 days. I'm not trying to plug the business, but I'll tell you this when you need something there's nothing worse than calling the manufacturer's dealers and parts houses and hearing the words, "It's on back order".

I will post again when I get the engine in and have the boat back on the water. I'll update you with performance information, to see if what USEngines claims is actually true.

 

[1974merc]

Re: Engine problems - Advice/Recommendations requested

Here is a post I started last year with pictures. I had the same problem, but on an older 4 cylinder. Have it back out of winter this year and it still runs great. Like everyone has said, it's all in the preparation when it comes to JB Weld.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=347207