Submerged engine

[fraannk]

I have a 1977 Mercruiser 898 (305 Chevy) that was submerged for quite a while. When it was pulled from the lake it wasn't started right away and I was able to get it cheap. I have the motor all torn apart to clean it up and put it back together.

The motor doesn't have very much time on it and I don't plan on replacing rod or main bearings. I also don't plan on replacing the piston rings.

My question is... can I pull the rod and main caps and reuse the bearings or should I leave them as they are and just clean and lube what I can get to. I would also like to get away with not pulling the pistons. There is no rust that I can see and I have cleaned the cylinder walls.

Thanks,
Frank

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Submerged engine

Hows the heads,no rust ether?

No rust nowhere ?

And you had it out of the water how long ?

And apart how long ?

No rust on the cyl. walls hmmm ?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Submerged engine

Frank, I am asking the same things as chiefalen on this one. How much rust was there on everything else? If the answer was no rust, then I'd leave the bearing intact and take my chances. Other than that, I'd put bearings in it (and rings too, I think).

 

[fraannk]

Re: Submerged engine

There was rust in the three cylinders that still had water in them. It wiped clean with a rag though and the walls are smooth with no pitting.

There is light surface rust in the intake and exhaust ports of the heads and I planned on just cleaning that up.

Overall I was surprised at how little rust there was inside the engine. It has all wiped off so far with a rag and WD-40.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Submerged engine

You may have got lucky here.

 

[Deanrw3]

Re: Submerged engine

how about this? Fresh or salt water?

could make a large difference ....

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Submerged engine

I used to be in love with wd-40 also. I still use it but on firearms and locks nowadays.

PB blaster is my new love.

Any Wal-mart or auto store has it.

Get 2 cans and go over everything with it inside and outside the motor.

Heads everything let it sit.

And shoot it again.

Wipe off what comes off. And spray everything and leave it on.

About the bearings, thats where the first few minutes can make or break you here.

Thats my main worry also the rings, look frozen?

You say walls look good in the cyl. ?

Connecting rods, wrist pins all look good?

Oil pump, gear look good?

Dizzy whats that like?

Chain? Sprokets?

Front and rear seals?

Starter and alternator is garbage.

All the wires?

Cables move?

You got water in the gauges?

You got water in your on board gas tank?

What you want this boat for may i ask ?

77' What kind of boat? This a special hull?

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Submerged engine

He said lake. Thats whats gonna save him here.

 

[fraannk]

Re: Submerged engine

Fresh water. If it had been salt water there wouldn't even be any discussion. I am pretty sure it would have been totally ruined. The engine was not running when it was submerged. Any place that still had a coating of oil on it was rust free. That is why I have no doubt the bearing surfaces would be in great condition.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Submerged engine

Go for it.

Oh new fuel pump maybe.

Gettin old forgettin things.

Good luck ?

Where is this barge your working on, what is it?

 

[fraannk]

Re: Submerged engine

I was saving the other questions for another forum. Since this is the engine forum I was asking about just the engine. I will go ahead and answer them though.

Thats my main worry also the rings, look frozen?
I haven't pulled the pistons so there is no way to tell for sure.

You say walls look good in the cyl. ?
Cyl walls look great!

Connecting rods, wrist pins all look good?
The motor was drained as soon as it was pulled from the lake. Since they were not sitting in water it would be no different than condensation from the engine being started and ran without giving it a chance to warm up.

Oil pump, gear look good?
I pulled thy oil pump and cleaned the gears of the surface rust. It had not started to pit the metal yet.

Dizzy whats that like?
I figured I would have to replace the electronic parts of the distributor. (took me a second to figure out what dizzy was)

Chain? Sprokets?
Soaked and cleaned up just fine.

Front and rear seals?
They look good as far as I can tell. This engine had very few hours on it.

Starter and alternator is garbage.
Yep.

All the wires?
Since it is fresh water I am pretty sure I dodged a bullet there.

Cables move?
Yes.

You got water in the gauges?
Yes, planned on replacing with a 159 dollar guage set.

You got water in your on board gas tank?
Not anymore.

What you want this boat for may i ask ?
Boating on the lake.

77' What kind of boat? This a special hull?
1977 Bayliner Jamaica. It is a 19 foot tri-hull.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Submerged engine

Keep track of any money you plan to spend because in the end it is still a 30 yar old Bayliner Jamaica. Just doesnt make sense to drop a grand on it when you could get one that is already running for less.

 

[fraannk]

Re: Submerged engine

Keep track of any money you plan to spend because in the end it is still a 30 yar old Bayliner Jamaica. Just doesnt make sense to drop a grand on it when you could get one that is already running for less.

I couldn't agree more. That is why I am trying to do this without new rings and rod/main bearings.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Submerged engine

Fraank, at this point, with all you have done, all you have in it, and all it's worth, I'd do just as chiefalan suggests and spray down with PBBlaster. After that, put it together and start using it. Go boating. If it breaks, do something else!

 

[fraannk]

Re: Submerged engine

I really LIKE that advice! I have 380 dollars in the boat, trailer and engine so far. It is going to be my spare boat to back up my 1971 Rinkerbuilt Runabout.

 

[Big Boat Bay Buster]

Re: Submerged engine

I'm surprised everyone is giving the green light. Its not that I'm disagreeing, its just that bearings and rings for a Chevy motor are CHEAP! You are not going to save much by reusing such critical engine parts. There is nothing marine about the engine internals. I would suggest a re-ring kit from Summit. You would get a new oil pump, and timming chain TOO! All for a alittle over two hundered. Get a bottle of assembly lube and put it back together. Peace of mind!!
Chris

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Submerged engine

Hey i started up my boat i originally bought for the trailer.

It sat 8 years, uncovered no dog house.

Here in NJ you people know what i'm talking about.

So if your get 4 years like i did out of the motor whats wrong with that.

Motor would still be going except for something stupid i did.

So like i said oil it put it together, rebuild the carb.

And go enjoy it. Have fun, if something happens so be it.

Small block chevy's are all over the place.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Submerged engine

I'm surprised everyone is giving the green light. Its not that I'm disagreeing, its just that bearings and rings for a Chevy motor are CHEAP! You are not going to save much by reusing such critical engine parts. There is nothing marine about the engine internals. I would suggest a re-ring kit from Summit. You would get a new oil pump, and timming chain TOO! All for a alittle over two hundered. Get a bottle of assembly lube and put it back together. Peace of mind!!
Chris

Could not agree more. Heck, forget the timing chain to keep it cheaper. Replace the rod/main bearings and pull the cam to put moly on it also. Break the glaze on the cylinder walls and put new rings in. With gaskets, could be as low as $100. Believe me, few people can match my penny-pinching, but as you described it, I think it would be a shame not to replace those three critical items. Was the motor running when submerged? Good luck! $0.02

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Submerged engine

I asked all that he says everything is fine.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Submerged engine

$200 more when you only have $380 in it, is nearly another 50% added. Plus what you all describe is a lot of labor. And if he disassembles the motor, and doesn't reassemble it correctly, he'll have a failure anyway. So why not try it now, and if it breaks, then spend the $200 and all the time to tear down the motor?