moving engine

[picker523]

I just had my transom rebuilt on my i/'o and the shop built the transom thicker than it was originally. It may be 1/4 inch thicker... should I try to move the front motor mount? Is there some kind of metal in the floor where the bolts secure the motor mount ? It's a 87 glastron with a 3.0 litre mercruiser.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: moving engine

I don't think 1/4 inch will matter.....
As long as you have an alignment tool & pay attention to what it tells you, you will be fine.........​

 

[Don S]

Re: moving engine

Yes, you need to move the front mount. You do not want it sitting on a strain. NORMALLY and on boats there is no such thing. The front mount on the 3.0L engines are mounted on a cross frame that is made of wood covered in fiberglass. Usually the mount is LAG bolted to the frame. IF this is the case on your engine, plug the holes with dowl rods and epoxy and redrill and reinstall the lag bolts. BUT do an alignment first to get close side to side and up and down before you bolt it down. If the inside of the transom is not exactly the same, lots could change. There is a max thickness the transom can be and also a max parallel between the inside and outside of the transsom.

 

[picker523]

Re: moving engine

Thanks...all the boat shops around here tell me the alignment tool is not always necessary when reinstalling outdrive but does help. No one around here rents them out and I hate to spend a lot of money I'll use once. Is it the only way to ensure proper alignment ?

 

[Don S]

Re: moving engine

Your shops are wrong, especially after transom work and different thicknesses.
You need the alignment bar. Without that $50 ebay item you will be pulling the engine and replacing $300 couplers on a regular basis.

 

[picker523]

Re: moving engine

In response to you Don... the outside of the fiberglass hull is still there to use a guide so I feel the back of the engine should be the same position.

 

[picker523]

Re: moving engine

guess I'll have to invest in the tool and do it right . Thanks...

 

[Don S]

Re: moving engine

Well, if the outside didn't change, then the transom shield and the drive are going to be in exactly the same place. However the rear mounts for the engine sit on the inner transom shield which follows the contour of the inside. So if it's isn't parallel or in EXACTLY the same place you need to drill new holes for the front engine mounts and realign the engine. It's just that simple.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: moving engine

Spend the few bucks on the alignment bar.You will use it every time you remove and service the drive..

 

[Bondo]

Re: moving engine

the shop built the transom thicker than it was originally. It may be 1/4 inch thicker...

Ayuh,........ Exactly How Thick Is it Now,..??..??.....

Mercruisers Require 2".........If it's More than 2, 1/4" It's Too Thick........

And even With the Alignment Tool,....... You're gonna be Stripping Couplers,.....

 

[Don S]

Re: moving engine

 

[picker523]

Re: moving engine

Ayuh,........ Exactly How Thick Is it Now,..??..??.....

Mercruisers Require 2".........If it's More than 2, 1/4" It's Too Thick........

And even With the Alignment Tool,....... You're gonna be Stripping Couplers,.....

I believe it came out to 2 1/2 ". Will I be able to make it work by moving the front motor mount or should I see if the shop can cut it back down?

 

[Don S]

Re: moving engine

You have to get it cut back. Besides having less shaft in the coupler, you will also run out of threads to bolt the inner transom shield on thge transom shield studs.

 

[picker523]

Re: moving engine

Thanks for all your help. I thought the guy at the shop would know to not make it too thick so I didn't discuss it with him...guess I should have.