Pulling 7.4 engine Searay 260 Sundancer.

dwestie

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Oct 2, 2014
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I'm getting ready to remove my engine due to a leaking oil pan.
I've got everything disconnected but have run into a slight problem.

Due to the clearance above the engine and the face that one of lifting eyes is near the back of the engine there is no way to lift it using the lifting eyes, even using a load leveller bar. The rear lifting eye is under the deck.

Where do I attach to on the engine to lift it?
Can I attach to the exhaust manifold where the elbow would attach?
What about removing the manifold and attaching to the block where the manifold attaches?

Boat is a 2001 Searay Sundancer.
 

kmarine

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Nov 5, 2010
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I like to use a hoist plate for a van which you remove the carb and attach the plate to the intake manifold
 

kmarine

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Nov 5, 2010
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I would probably wrap chains under the exhaust manifolds, but you have to be very carefull that you have a solid connection so it cant slip off. or damage something.
 

dwestie

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Oct 2, 2014
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It's that "slip off" that scares me. What about removing the manifolds and bolting the chains to where the manifold bolts go?
 

camalot

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It's that "slip off" that scares me. What about removing the manifolds and bolting the chains to where the manifold bolts go?
Yes that would work, you may have to make a lifting eye out of 1/4 plate and clamp it tight. Good luck yes are a PITA at times.
 

alldodge

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I'm getting ready to remove my engine due to a leaking oil pan.
I've got everything disconnected but have run into a slight problem.

Due to the clearance above the engine and the face that one of lifting eyes is near the back of the engine there is no way to lift it using the lifting eyes, even using a load leveller bar. The rear lifting eye is under the deck.

Where do I attach to on the engine to lift it?
Can I attach to the exhaust manifold where the elbow would attach?
What about removing the manifold and attaching to the block where the manifold attaches?

Boat is a 2001 Searay Sundancer.

I've done this with my 454, and three times with the 502 MPI, going to be doing it again this winter. What I do is remove the top plenum and remove two bolts from opposite corners of the intake (exp: left rear and right front). Put rags in the intake ports. Get two other grade 5 or 8 bolts which are long enough to go in and bottom out where the two bolts were removed and still leave enough to go through chain. If you have a engine hoist leveler that will make it easier, if not use two long screw drivers to place on either side of the lifting hook so it doesn't side.

Be safe and :welcome: to iboats
 

dwestie

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Oct 2, 2014
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Well removing the manifolds and using two manifold bolt holes on each side does work.
Got the engine removed, the pan replaced, bilge cleaned in all those place you can't reach while the engine is in and the engine back in today.
Photos of the process and a few lessons learned when I don't feel so tired.
Tomorrow I will work on installing all the things I had to disconnect or remove to get the engine out. Have to wait for mid next week for the manifold gaskets though.
 

dwestie

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Oct 2, 2014
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SO here's a few photo's of the days work.

Frame assembled read to stand up.



standing up the frame. Sorry about the Dodge in the photo, it's not mine :)



getting ready to attach the hoist.




engine rigged and ready to go


disconnecting the other negatived wire on the block


had to rotate the engine 90 degrees to get it out


engine clear of the boat


and now just hanging in the air


You can see how far back the rear lifting eye is in this photo. Its to the left of the removed manifold


you can see the rust around the drain plug and around the edge of the pan


pan removed


all wires were marked before being disconnected


coupler is still in good shape




putting it back in
 
Last edited:

alldodge

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Looks like you got it done and it worked great. The manifold bolts I mentioned were the intake manifold. Yours works but putting the exhaust back on is a bugger, especially with cast iron. I'm currently in the process of getting the engine ready to pull, rebuild and punch it up some. Will be starting my own thread later
 

Idlespeedonly

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Jun 30, 2011
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I would be nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs with all that weight hanging there.
It looks like the horizontal wood was bowing pretty good.
 

dwestie

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Oct 2, 2014
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The frame was very solid, no bowing in any of the wood at all. The horizontal piece is two 2x8 glued and screwed together. More than enough to hold the weight.

Pulling the exhaust manifolds allowed me to inspect them well and determine if they needed replacement or not. They didn't.
 

alldodge

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The frame was very solid, no bowing in any of the wood at all. The horizontal piece is two 2x8 glued and screwed together. More than enough to hold the weight.

Pulling the exhaust manifolds allowed me to inspect them well and determine if they needed replacement or not. They didn't.

Sounds good, just noticed it appears you have a bit more room on both sides then mine. I can squat down on my port side, have to hang upside down on the starboard.

Nice work and great pics thanks
 

Idlespeedonly

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Jun 30, 2011
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Those one piece pan gaskets are the greatest thing.
I remember the old 4 piece gaskets, they were a headache.
 

JASinIL2006

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That is a serious gantry! Nice work, and great pics documenting the process!
 

tpenfield

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Nice work. I may have to do something like that with my boat someday, so it is good to see it beforehand
 

BRG25

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Jul 13, 2001
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Hard to tell from the pics but don't you have to remove the outdrive?
 

dwestie

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Oct 2, 2014
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Yes the drive had to be removed. It's still sitting in my garage waiting to be installed.
 
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