Inboard help newbie.

[snowdan]

Hello I am new to this site and have recently been given a boat to try and get running. THe boat is an 88 malibu skier with a aftermarket engine in it. I am attaching photos of the motor. The boat has been sitting for 8 years outside. So far I have changed all fluids, water fuel separator, rebuilt carb, changed spark plugs, and put in new starter and battery. My problem is the motor turns over but wont fire. I was told it is a reverse rotation motor but when turning over it blows gas out the carb. Got it to briefly kind of fire and it sucked one of the big black exhaust hoses shut? Could I have the wrong starter on the boat? How can I tell what way the motor is supposed to turn? No markings serial numbers or anything even on valve covers? It is a gm big block 454 did a compression test by just turning it over and got 150 on all cylinders. It has spark to all plugs but only the front few are wet after turning over. Help!

 

[snowdan]

What kind of motor is this? How can I find out what it is? Help

What kind of motor is this? How can I find out what it is? Help

Hello,
I was given this boat and I know very little about it. It is an 88 Malibu Skier original engine was replaced with the one in the photos. It has no markings on it other than on the valve covers. I was told it was reverse rotation 454? It is a gm big block the casting number on the block is all it has and that just tells plant and year which is late 70's pasenger car and in Toledo. How can I decipher what rotation the engine is supposed to go without it running? How can I find more out about it (where to look for anything)? Help please

 

[Don S]

Re: Inboard help newbie.

It's probably a standard rotation engine, but because the starter is mounted on the back, you would need a reverse rotation starter.
Pull the distributor cap off and crank the engine over. The rotor should turn clockwise, even with reverse rotation engine. If it turns CCW, you have a starter that turns the engine the wrong way.
The only other way I know of for finding out what rotation the engine is designed to be is to pull the timing cover. If there is a timing chain, it's a standard LH rotation engine. If no chain and only the two gears, it's a RH rotation engine.

Standard rotation for that engine is LH facing the flywheel.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Inboard help newbie.

like don says, most likely a standard rotation motor but the rear entry starter must be a reverse rotation one to turn the motor in the right direction

 

[snowdan]

Re: Inboard help newbie.

Thanks. So that would mean if it is a standard rotation I would need a ccw starter since it is mounted in the rear of the engine? If it is a reverse rotation then I would need a cw starter? I will pull the timing cover and see what I find. And rotation is determined standing at the rear of the boat looking toward the front correct?

 

[Don S]

Re: Inboard help newbie.

Why not just crank the engine over with the distributor cap off and see which way the rotor turns. That's a lot easier than taking the front of the engine apart.

 

[snowdan]

Re: Inboard help newbie.

I thought the rotation of rotor was determined by the direction of the starter? I think the engine is spinning the wrong way and I am wondering how to find out what way it is supposed to be rotating. The rotor spun cc and the starter in it is ccw.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Inboard help newbie.

No mater what rotation you have you need a starter that turns the rotor CW.

Then

Take out number one plug.
Bump starter over till air pushes out that cylinder.
Look at front timing mark.
Try to stop it at TDC
Look at rotor.
It should be pointing to number one
Look at the next wire. It should be number 8 if your engine is standard rotation ( left hand turn)
It should be pointing at number 2 if your engine is a reverse rotation. ( right hand turn)

 

[Bondo]

Re: Inboard help newbie.

I thought the rotation of rotor was determined by the direction of the starter? I think the engine is spinning the wrong way and I am wondering how to find out what way it is supposed to be rotating. The rotor spun cc and the starter in it is ccw.

Ayuh,... That would indicate ya need a clockwise starter for a clockwise motor....