What's needed to swap out engines?

[trentmh]

Here's the scoop. I've got a cracked block on my OMC 3.0 and the exhaust manifold is possibly cracked since the person who diagnosed all this pointing out there was rust formed in the number 3 cylinder. I'm decent with a wrench and I can do some moderate mechanical type of repairs, but I've never pulled the head off an engine nor pulled an engine. What might I possibly need in the way of tools and resources in order to perform and engine swap in this boat? I know a hoist, hand tools, and possibly a manual. I really can't afford to pay the $700 they want to do this and I have the time on my hands to do it. With a good manual, could I do it? I wouldn't dare try to start it without taking it to my mechanic and have him check it. I'm just trying to reduce the total cost of this project.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: What's needed to swap out engines?

how do you knopw the block is cracked in the cyl area that allows water in the cyl. rusted through manifolds and risers are common. pull the head and have it magnafluxed. inspect the block carefully. cracks to the outside can be easily repaired. the manifold is easy topressure test. I would pressure test the block/head assy before I dissasembled it. dissconnect the hose to the manifold and test just the block/head assy.

 

[KaGee]

Re: What's needed to swap out engines?

I'd listen to Rodbolt. Too early to declare your engine block dead.<br /><br />What events lead you to believe the block is cracked? Did you overheat the engine? Did you not winterize it and it froze? Blocks just don't up and crack on their own.

 

[lhenk]

Re: What's needed to swap out engines?

If you decide to do an engine swap and can't find a good used engine check out marine-engines-inc.com for a new GM engine. I found it was cheaper to buy a new engine than it was for a rebuilt Jasper engine. Depending on the year of your boat you can either use the 14" flywheel it comes with, re-use your 12 3/4" flywheel or you may have to buy a late model 12 3/4" flywheel. If your boat is a pre-1992 engine (like mine was) you will probably have to buy the 12 3/4" flywheel and a new engine coupler too. When I did this the new engine coupler was more than an inch shorter than the old one so I had to have a spacer custom made so that there was plenty of spline inside the coupler. I think the flywheel was $190 and the coupler was $230.<br /><br />I had all the labor done for around $700 like you estimated but if I had to do it again I think I would give it a shot myself. You might have to borrow an alignment tool.

 

[trentmh]

Re: What's needed to swap out engines?

There are (2) 4" long cracks on one side of the block that was caused by improper winterizing. There is no visible crack in the exhaust manifold, but I was told it would need to be pressure tested in order to determine this for sure. The head is unknown as well. The mechanic felt the two cracks were large enough to not allow for a weld up job. There are also deep gouges in the number 2 cylinder wall. The way my mechanic was figuring, it would cost about $300 to weld the block, plus another $6-$700 to rebuild it and that was assuming the head was good. It just didn't seem to make since we you can buy a rebuilt one even with paying a core charge for about $1400.

 

[Bondo]

Re: What's needed to swap out engines?

You Can Do the Swap.........<br /><br />A 3.0l is a Piece of Cake........<br /><br />You Don't even really Need a Hoist...... Strip it down to the Bare short Block,.. Find a Friend or 2,+ Just Lift it Out.............<br />It's Only a Couple few Hundred Pounds, After it's Stripped..............