What motor to replace with when old one is blown

[fmalott]

I heard alot of views on 470 merc 170hp bad and good, regardless if i get 1 month, 1 year, 10 years i will have to replace sooner or later my boat is a 1983 Thundercraft Flamingo Merc Cruiser 470 170hp with a alpha 1. What motor has everybody been using to replace a 470 and if replaced with different motor will it hook up to the outdrive or do i replace outdrive also. Is anyone familiar with this style of boat to know what motor to use
The reason i'm asking this is the boat it self is in excellent condition and worth putting another motor in when old finally goes

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

,,,,to the best of my knowledge, the 470 has no 'direct' replacement.

Find a good 470 block on EBay or Craig's List and rebuild it as a spare if you intend to keep the hull past the current engine.

 

[fmalott]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

do you know what years will fit my style of boat

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

I think the 470/485 was only made 2 or 3 years. Any of them will fit. None of the popular engines will fit your inter housing. You would need to change everything in the drive system.

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

...from my limited research materials, the basic block and major attachents were more-or-less the same from '76 to '89 whether the engine was called the 170/180/190/3.7/470/485/488.
Intakes were dependent on two or four barrel, shift bracket location was dependent upon year as well as the size of the heat exchanger.
So, to me appears that a long block is a long block regardless.

 

[fmalott]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

so 170/180/190/3.7/485/488 will hook up to my alpha 1, years 76-89

 

[guyaverage]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

Pretty much, however there are differences in throttle cables between the 2 bbl and 4 bbl carbs, also the very early style (pre-1980) exhaust wont hook the later 1980's era exhaust. (The early style exited straight down, while the later exited at a 45 degree angle.) If your current exhaust is usable, then you can just transfer it to the replacement block.

Beware that the pre-1985, cast iron exhaust manifolds are well known for cracking and letting water seep into the #4 cylinder. If you want to prolong the life of your '83 or if you ever replace it, keep an eye out for an aluminum manifold (85-89) as well. I was lucky enough to snatch a very cheap one off Ebay last year before anyone else saw it. I see them now going for double and triple what I paid. Probably doubled the value of my boat when I installed it.

 

[JaseBosto]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

Why is it called the 470

 

[fmalott]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

Excellent advise i will definetly save your post thanks guyaverage

 

[fmalott]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

????? bootstrap 1

 

[Bluestream]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

Why is it called the 470

I believe "4" cylinder, "170" horsepower, therefore "470"

 

[fmalott]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

ok great but which one is the better one to replace with and easier to find parts

 

[Bondo]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

ok great but which one is the better one to replace with and easier to find parts

Ayuh,... They're All the same,... Many parts are NLA...

 

[Bluestream]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

ok great but which one is the better one to replace with and easier to find parts

Check this out, you can get two spare engines for $1000

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1983...ts&hash=item1c16025e2f#v4-51&autorefresh=true

 

[fmalott]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

so i don't have much of a choice if parts not available

 

[guyaverage]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

Parts are readily and easily available. If you cant find parts for a 470, your license to use the internet needs to be revoked. Risers, exhaust manifolds, camshafts, pistons, crankshafts, carbs, starters, voltage regulators, hoses, gaskets, and seals are still available new. Useable engine blocks, water pump impellers and covers, oils pans, dampers, heat exchangers, mounts, intake manifolds, cylinder heads, and just about anything else is available used through ebay, craigslist, and boat salvage yards. I have never had a problem finding parts. Ever.

I just typed "Mercuiser 470" on ebay and got 296 hits.....

 

[stonyloam]

Re: What motor to replace with when old one is blown

Parts are readily and easily available...........never had a problem finding parts. Ever.

I just typed "Mercuiser 470" on ebay and got 296 hits.....

Ditto