What engine and water hose routing

[rob 135]

I have a 1984 Chris craft scorpion 210 supposed to be 5.7 mercruiser . Well I’m questioning that . Engine has been replaced a lot unhooked starter , cooling hoses . Wires etc. . I don’t see no engine tag .I did check block numbers and it is from 80 to 84 . Engine is closed cooling system and was a blue green color but somewhat painted black . Has a cast aluminum oil pan . Another concern is the hose that goes to outdrive for raw water is 1and 1/4 hose but nipple from outdrive is only 3/4 . Could this engine be a Volvo/ penta . Would it be fine just to connect that hose to 3/4 fitting.?? . I’m kinda confused on this closed cooling system. My 86 scorpion didn’t have that . Thanks for any info .

 

[achris]

Thanks for the photo. Can't see enough of the engine to tell you anything. Boat's aren't like car. Seeing the exterior of a car will give you plenty of information about the engine, see the exterior of a boat just tells you it's a boat. Unlike car makers, boat makers build boats, not engines. When that boat leaves the factory, all there is where you now see an engine is a big hole. The dealer then fills that hole with an engine, and it could be anything, a Merc, a Volvo, a OMC, a Yamaha or BWM (yes, Yamaha and BMW did make sterndrives). Not only that, a subsequent owner may change that engine, like my boat, Originally an inline 6, now a V6.

So, for everybody. We do not want or need to see the outside of the boat. If you are trying to identify something to do with the engine, show us the engine. It's like show me a car and asking what brand of petrol is in the tank....

Chris........

 

[rob 135]

It was just photo I had of boat at moment. I haven’t got any of engine . I am fully aware of different types of engines installed. When get pic will post . Thanks for reply

 

[kenny nunez]

If your engine only has the drive pump as the main cooling for the fresh water system it is not enough. The Mercruiser style fresh water system has to be fed through the bottom of the boat with a belt drive raw water pump.
I was doing warranty work for a local Chris Craft dealer when they came out in the early 80s. From your description you may have a straight inboard engine as a replacement since you said it has an aluminum pan.
As Chris said try to post some detailed pictures.

 

[rob 135]

Here is pics I took today . I didn’t get oil pan but it is aluminum . If any other pics help i will try to get them . The cooling hose is concern I’m really not sure what to do . Thanks for any info .

 

[achris]

OK, that pipe coming out of the transom assembly is the standard pipe for an Alpha style drive, with its associated volume capacity. You have closed cooling, and likely that came with an engine mounted seawater pump, which has a capacity of more than double the pump in the drive.

So, you have a couple of choices. Ditch the engine driven pump, and go back to just using the pump in the drive to push water up. Depending on the water temps you run in, that may be fine. Or, remove the tube and plate it off (there are kits for that, and what to do with the water the pumps moving)... And install either a through hull pick up or transom pickup...

Chris........

 

[rob 135]

Thank you . So what exactly is kit I would be looking for . And sorry for foolish question but what is a thru hull or transom pick up . Is that a normal system for that boat ? Thanks again .

 

[achris]

Thank you . So what exactly is kit I would be looking for . And sorry for foolish question but what is a thru hull or transom pick up . Is that a normal system for that boat ? Thanks again .

Nothing to do with the boat, it's to do with the engine. And it's what it says. Through hull means 'through the hull'. A hole is made in the hull, usually a few inches outside the keel, just in front of the engine, and a skin fiiting is put in that 'scoops' water and the engine driven pump then pushes it up to the cooling system.

Transom mount is the same sort of thing, but the scoop is bolted to the transom and the hose runs from there to the engine driven pump.

As for the block off kit, just go to the local Merc dealer and tell him what you have (model, year and serial number) and that you need a block off kit so you can run an engine mounted seawater pump. The kit will come with installation instructions.

Chris......

 

[rob 135]

Will that eliminate that large hose coming from engine also? Thanks for info .

 

[achris]

Will that eliminate that large hose coming from engine also? Thanks for info .

Need more information. What's large to you may not be large to me. And you need to define a hose as 'to' and 'from' by the direction the water flows in it. The hose that is between the drive and the heat exchanger goes 'from' the drive and 'to' the exchanger. The one between the exchanger and the elbows goes 'from' the exchanger' and 'to' the elbows.

Chris......

 

[Scott06]

One thing that may need to be addressed if you are going with a thru hull and engine driven sea water pump- I believe on the alpha you need to cut the hose from the drive to the transom housing so the drive impeller will still pump seawater through the drive and cool the drive.

 

[Scott Danforth]

If the HX is a half system, the pump in the leg is more than adequate

 

[rob 135]

Will that eliminate that large hose coming from engine also? Thanks for info .

 

[rob 135]

[No message]

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... That nipple should have a 1, 1/2" long piece of hose on it to bush it out to the diameter of the hose that feeds the heat exchanger,......

 

[rob 135]

Thank you . I’m gonna get that connected to there . And get this started to see where I’m at . I don’t see any tags or identification on engine to get serial numbers. Other then tags on block is there way to tell what engine is. I can’t see numbers on block without removing things in front to access . Just wondering. Thanks

 

[kenny nunez]

First try to obtain a service manual on at least the year of the boat which should help with the wiring.
At this point from the pictures it is time to pull the drive and the engine. Clean the bilge and check the condition of the transom. That way you can clean up the rust and most probably the pulleys are rusted so bad that you will be wearing out belts very quickly. Since you do not know the internal condition of the engine. Set the engine where you can run it on some form of stand or run a compression test see if it will even run at all.
You may even want to remove the FW system to simplify everything.
I have had “basket cases” like this show up at my shop and that is how I approached the job.
Hopefully you will be able to do all the work yourself.

 

[rob 135]

I think your right . It had been sitting for awhile . Oil is clean inside covers are clean . I did put ratchet on crank bolt and didn’t turn easy till my knuckles smashed when slipped. Gonna get seat out to gain more access and power wash . Thanks I worked as auto/ diesel tech for 30 years and that was tight fit . But twisting down in to put starter on boat beats it . I will spend time and remove seats . Lol