mercruiser engine block cracked

patbras

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Mar 4, 2008
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Hello all, I need your advice! I found out my mercruiser 260 5,7L was not drained properly and it froze, resulting in a big crack in the block and one in the part wher the water goes in the exaust. What can i do, repair ( can you just weld it?) replace complete engine? and does anybody know the cost of that approx? I need help/advice
 

Coors

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Dec 8, 2006
Messages
3,367
Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

Spring has sprung.
Search "cracked block', all kinds of opinions there.
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
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71,088
Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

Spring has sprung.
Search "cracked block', all kinds of opinions there.

Ayuh,.......

We should have had Us a lottery on the Date that question would 1st arive here at iboats,........:D:D

Btw,......
Patbras,........ Welcome Aboard to the forums here at iboats.com.........

All the answers to your questions are here in the archives,....
You might narrow your search abit by targeting March to June threads.......;)
 

rndn

Commander
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May 20, 2007
Messages
2,323
Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

Welcome to the forum and sorry you had to find it by having a cracked engine block. Some can be fixed and some should not be fixed. Personally I would never feel safe in one that has been welded and although it costs a few bucks, try to find a donor block or buy and old unit and have it refurbished at an engine shop.
 

Coors

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Messages
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Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

Bondo is correct- next year a lottery.
 

patbras

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Messages
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Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

Spring has sprung.
Search "cracked block', all kinds of opinions there.

thank you all for your reply, by the way does the person who has the first cracked block get a prize in that lottery?

I read in the archives that you can use liquid steel to fix the crack. Also can hold because there is not too much psi on the crack. How do I know there is other damage inside? I checked the oil, all looks good and there does not seem to be water in there and the oil level is ok as well. Does anybody have any smart suggestions?
 

Coors

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3,367
Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

Search ' pressure check block'
 

Bondo

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Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

Does anybody have any smart suggestions?

Ayuh,....

Bite the Bullet,+ Find a Replacement Motor,+ Manifolds...........
It's Cheaper,.... In both the Long Run,+ the Short Run.......
 

Mkos1980

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 25, 2007
Messages
640
Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

I had a cracked block in one of my cars and I had a machine shop drill and pin the crack. 2 years later and close to 500hp at the fly and I have no problems.
 

patbras

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Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
10
Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

350 Chevy blocks are a dime a dozen... don't weld, pin or JB weld it....get another and start swappin'

Hi,
how much do you think that dime a dozen is going to cost me? I have to have it installed by a machenic, I do not have the confidence to do *** myself. Any ideas?
 

Mkos1980

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 25, 2007
Messages
640
Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

Hi,
how much do you think that dime a dozen is going to cost me? I have to have it installed by a machenic, I do not have the confidence to do *** myself. Any ideas?

If you can get it out, take it to amachine shop to see how much to pin. Mine was 168 bucks. Say you get another block, it then has to get cleaned up, honed out all new gaskets percise assembly. although the block would be about 100 it would be another couple hundred to "swap everything over"
 

Don S

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Messages
62,321
Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

With no more information than you have given, and you can't do it yourself and who knows where you are located, I would guess several thousand dollars to start with, may be more.
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
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Messages
62,321
Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

If you can get it out, take it to amachine shop to see how much to pin. Mine was 168 bucks.

What do you mean by "PIN"
 

patbras

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Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
10
Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

What do you mean by "PIN"

With no more information than you have given, and you can't do it yourself and who knows where you are located, I would guess several thousand dollars to start with, may be more.

I am located in vancouver Canada, what other info do you need to know in order to give me a more exact idea?
 

patbras

Cadet
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
10
Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

Ayuh,....

Bite the Bullet,+ Find a Replacement Motor,+ Manifolds...........
It's Cheaper,.... In both the Long Run,+ the Short Run.......

Hello Bond,

thank you so far with your help, I am going to ask you one more question. I read the archives and found out that most people are happy with the JD weld solution. I want to try that but want to run the procedure by you before I do something wrong:confused:

1 clean the paint off with dremmel and do I just clean it or do i have to make a V shape in the crack?
clean the bear metal with acetone.
fill crack with JD weld
let dry
sand down again
do JD weld again
let engine run for 30 minutes and check for any leaks oil and water

thanks again for your help. Much appreciated, I am starting to see the light again after i found the cracks

patrick
 

patbras

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Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
10
Re: mercruiser engine block cracked

Your V8 cracked in the lifter gallery area underneath the intake manifold.

If you pull your dipstick, you will notice that the crankcase is curiously overfull.

Hi there,

yes it cracked underneith the manifold, and also a small crack in the manofold. The oil level however is exactly the same as after I topped it off at the end of the season.

In your opinion can I fix it with JD if it is just the outside housing that is cracked?


thanks for your help:)
 
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