Just purchased an engine and outdrive...

[glennj3]

Hi everyone,
Stuck my neck out some here, auction, I won the bid. Don't know much about them other than the pictures. Came from a government auction, plan to pick it up tomorrow. $760.00
Items, one mercruiser 470 engine, all in tact, still connected to the outdrive ( looks like they cut through the transom and removed them)! The 470 and the 170 are in fact one in the same, 170 HP?

Looks like nothing was removed other than enough to take the engine out, has the shifter and cables, prop, outdrive, engine with carb, starter, heat exchanger, hydraulic lines to the outdrive. It all looks good other than some rust around the top of the carb, no flame arrester seen. I see a prop # 992005, best I can see, would this have anything to do with the pitch?
Anyhow, would like some advice on how to start checking this item out.

Thought I would pull the plugs, check the oil for color, water contamination etc. See if I can turn the engine over with a wrench, maybe check the compressions if she does in fact turn over.
Check the outdrive oil for contamination, see if it changes gears, maybe go ahead and check the water impeller, see if it is in tact. The prop is black which means it is aluminum I think, paint is not worn off much at all no barnacles etc on the outdrive.
If all this checks out good, maybe sit the engine up, clean the carburetor, put some gas in her and hit the starter with power, see if she turns over, fires, cranks etc.

Was not trying to run on about this but I am just a little excited and can't wait to get it home to start checking her out.
This is the same engine and outdrive I have in my boat.
What will I do with it? Don't know for sure. Never hurts to have spare parts, or sell it!

Thanks,

Glenn

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Just purchased an engine and outdrive...

At $760, I am not surprised that you won the auction! Yikes, that's a lot of money on a used, obsolete engine. You ever hear the saying, "Auctions sound great, until you realize that you just paid more for the item than anyone else would?"

I haven't heard of this engine being labelled as a "170". It's labelled a 470, 485, 488 or later a 3.7, 3.7LX. But if you have a 4 cylinder engine with an aluminum block/iron head and a closed cooling system, then they are the same engines. But if your boat is the one in your signature line, a 1998 SeaRay with a 175, they aren't anywhere close to being the same.

At the least the drive isn't obsolete. And if you have a 470 or a 3.7 in your boat, you will need spare parts soon. Best of luck to you.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Just purchased an engine and outdrive...

The "470" would be the 170 HP version of that package.

It is as described above.

They did have some issues:

1. Cooling issues. The cast iron head and aluminum block didn't like each other. Electrolysis would set in because nobody maintained the closed cooling system. One overheat and they would pop a head gasket. Also, the later versions had a larger heat exchanger. That can be fitrted to the older versions.

2. Charging system. The early ones (470), had an outboard style "Stator" charging system, on the front of the engine. There are conversion kits to mount a more standard marine alternator. The double seal needed to allow the old stator type charging system was troublesome. That can be replaced also.


There are still quite a few of them out there. They were a nice package if maintained well. Lots of low end torque and fairly light for the power output.

As stated, you have some $$ value there in just the parts. The parts are getting scarce. If nothing else, you may help somebody else out and still come out ahead.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Just purchased an engine and outdrive...

Damn, That seems like top dollar for an engine you know nothing about but hopefully it works out for you. If you have that engine in your boat now you will need some spare parts so it might not be all bad.

LK

 

[Don S]

Re: Just purchased an engine and outdrive...

The 470 and the 170 are in fact one in the same, 170 HP?

Same basic type of engine, the Mercruiser 224 cu in aluminum block cast iron head.
Just different years as to what they called them, from 76 to 84 they were called 470's, 85 and 86 they were called 170's, 87 it was a 165, the in 88 and 89 they called it a 3.7L. All the same basic engine.
The bolt on stuff changed a little, not much. Exhaust manifold and elbow mainly.

 

[glennj3]

Re: Just purchased an engine and outdrive...

I have owned my 1988 Sea Ray since 1990. It had the 470 in it, at one point it blew a head gasket. One cylinder separated from the cast iron. We filled it in with JB weld, shaved the block and head. Replaced everything else. Ran very good for 12 years.
It started having issues with the water impeller in front. Ran for several more years. Then I decided to have it overhauled again. They did a bad job and I just replaced the entire engine with a use 170, replaced the heat exchanger, put on an external generator.
So from my personal experience, it is a good engine, just not easy to get to in order work on. I have never found a fun engine to work on!
I spent $700 having my outdrive rebuilt 3 years back due to the mechanic not replacing the oil after servicing it. He did not admit his fault and did not help me at all. Of course he will not be working on it again.
Did not get a chance to do much with it today, maybe Sat.
By the way, the next behind me on the bid was $709.00. I had to pay a 7% fee bumping the cost up some.

Glenn

 

[Don S]

Re: Just purchased an engine and outdrive...

Get it running (on the floor) and see what you got. It doesn't have to be in a boat to run it and check things out.

I sure wouldn't trust a compression test on an engine that hasn't run in a while.

 

[glennj3]

Re: Just purchased an engine and outdrive...

Well, a compression test will tell me a lot, but I have heard compression tests should be done with the engine warm. Then after running a while it should hopefully be even better.
Got any good ideas what the compressions should run for this 470?

Thanks,
Glenn

 

[Don S]

Re: Just purchased an engine and outdrive...

The compression test doesn't have to be done on a warm engine, but the engine should be room temp, and run the same day you do the compression test.

View attachment 97-25 Compression Test.pdf

A good running engine runs about 150 psi compression per the manual. Consistency between cylinders is more important than the actual compression.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Just purchased an engine and outdrive...

I have owned my 1988 Sea Ray since 1990. It had the 470 in it...

So how many boats do you own? Your signature says 1998 Sea Ray with a 175. Is this 88 with the 170 (470/3.7) just a toy???

Good luck with your purchase.

 

[glennj3]

Re: Just purchased an engine and outdrive...

Typo error, my boat is the 1988 Seville.

Got to work on the used stuff I bought. Pulled the outdrive off, it looks and works fine. Probably need to do some sort of compression test? Otherwise replace the water impeller just for GP.
I was able to sepperate the engine from the mounting wall but could not pull the housing off it. What is it called the part the Gimble bearing is in. All that looks good, just can't separate it from the boat portion.
Now for the juicy part. Pulled the plugs, put 4 squirts of oil in each, the dip stick had oil mixed with water on it. Nothing came out of the oil pan drain. Two plugs had gunky oil on them as well as some rust. Pulled the valve cover, looked great slight moisture corrosion on some portions, wiped off easily. Pulled the oil filter off, looked like good oil residue.

I poured oil into the engine 4 qts. tried to turn the engine over with a pry bar at the starter flywheel. Was pretty hard to get started. After a while it turned more easily, then got pretty easy after about 1/2 turn.
Then got a battery, put it to the starter and walla, turned over and over.
Found my old compression tester plugged it in,, nothing on any cylinder. I think the tester is bad. Put my finger in the spark plug holes, each had compression, did not push my finger out, but then I am used to holding my finger in tight places, haha!
Now, how do I make the coil hot in order to make the spark plugs spark. The distributor looked good with points the carburator needs cleaning up or overhauling but I will attempt to use it to crank her.
I may need to drain the oil out after it turns over more or fires up.
I think the engine was left outside, the valve cover PVC hole is open to air, thinking it got rain in it or something. Just a hopeful guess.
It did have the small heat exchanger, took it off, full of rust. Should I use a water hose and flush the engine out?
It also has the old water cooled rectifier on it. I have paid $90 for one in the past. Of course I have replaced mine with the retrofit alternator
Too much to read but thanks for taking the time.
Really just want to hear her fire up for now.
Glenn