15ft Sorcerer Project Mercruiser 3.0l parts wanted
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 10:27 am
Progress so far and a cautionary tale.
After the initial delight of getting the big Sorcerer delivered from Scotland and into my garage - I am beginning to have some misgivings about my "unseen" purchase and perhaps lessons learned
The boat is sound and the interior fairly original but tired (as you would expect for a 40 year old boat) the previous owner had told me it had been re-gelcoated, which I was delighted to hear - but a tad suspicious as it involves a mass of expensive work! - It turned out to have been repainted with epoxy and not a bad job, apart from the mass of scratches from 20 years in storage - "So far So Good"
Next thing was to inspect the engine and drive (a 1976 pre Alpha and Mercruiser 140) - First. about 1/2 pint of water came out of the drive oil drain followed by 1/2 pint of filthy heavy gear oil, the water pipe had missed it's location in the upper part of the drive, all the impeller vanes were absent, the UNC and UNF nuts securing the rams and lower unit were transposed and cross threaded, big chunks of cast iron (and impeller vanes) present in the leg exhaust (I was told this engine ran fine with water via "muffs" a few weeks ago)
The cast iron bits in the drive leg made me suspicious of the exhaust - so the next job was to remove the exhaust and riser (common failure items on these older Mercruisers) - only when the exhaust was removed could I clearly see the core plugs straining to pop out and a 2" long crack in the cylinder block (all because the previous owner didn't drain the coolant). So now I have to remove the engine for a full inspection - if this model GM 181 cu ins engine is not drained correctly, it can not only crack the block on the outside - but also at the base of the liner Inside!
Now the engine is fully stripped for inspection - but remembering I had been told the engine was running fine and NEVER given any trouble, I was expecting good things. (Our now cat spends it time in the garage - away from our two Setters)
On the up side - the inside was not frost damaged
The head had been grossly over-tightened,it should be 90ft/lbs, I needed a 4ft pipe on my 18" breaker bar to loosen them! (presumably the previous builder had done this to re-use the old head gasket) but in doing so, had cracked the casting around the threads
The crank main and B/E journals had been re-ground (The Vandervell bearings fitted were not GM original)
The main bearing caps (clearly numbered 1-5 by GM had been fitted in the wrong places - (all main bearing journals and bearings badly worn) No 2 cylinder has had a liner fitted at some time?
No 2 cylinder exhaust camshaft lobe had been worn away so the valve was not opening
The Oil pump is worn out from metal particles and a dirty build
The sump floor was 1/4" thick with sludge and metallic particles
DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS, I THINK THE SAYING "BUYER BEWARE" APPLIES - AND I AM SURPRISED THE PREVIOUS OWNER DIDN'T NOTICE THE ENGINE BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE BOAT FOR A VERY SHODDY REBUILD AFTER A MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURE (HE HAD OWNED IT FROM NEW), BUT IT GOES TO SHOW THE HORRORS HIDDEN INSIDE WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A GOOD RUNNING ENGINE THAT GAVE NO TROUBLE!!!
Consequsently ............... I am looking for parts -- for a 4 cylinder GM 181cu ins (Mercruiser 3.0) with two part rear oil seal
A Block (preferably standard because at least my pistons and rods are good,
A Crankshaft
A Camshaft and lifters
An Exhaust Riser
A Fuel Pump
Full gasket set, Gimble bearing, lower shift cable, - or a complete "SHORT" motor assy the right price (the cylinder head on this one can be made serviceable)
Initial enquiries indicate short motors and blocks are not available - only "bobtail" (i.e. a new engine with head) assemblies price £3000+
My last option and at the moment (possibly my favourite) is to ditch the agricultural Mexican built Mercruiser lump and replace it with some nicer European Volvo Penta technology perhaps a 130 - 140 4 cylinder with a 270/280 drive from someones engine/diesel upgrade, but at the right price
After the initial delight of getting the big Sorcerer delivered from Scotland and into my garage - I am beginning to have some misgivings about my "unseen" purchase and perhaps lessons learned
The boat is sound and the interior fairly original but tired (as you would expect for a 40 year old boat) the previous owner had told me it had been re-gelcoated, which I was delighted to hear - but a tad suspicious as it involves a mass of expensive work! - It turned out to have been repainted with epoxy and not a bad job, apart from the mass of scratches from 20 years in storage - "So far So Good"
Next thing was to inspect the engine and drive (a 1976 pre Alpha and Mercruiser 140) - First. about 1/2 pint of water came out of the drive oil drain followed by 1/2 pint of filthy heavy gear oil, the water pipe had missed it's location in the upper part of the drive, all the impeller vanes were absent, the UNC and UNF nuts securing the rams and lower unit were transposed and cross threaded, big chunks of cast iron (and impeller vanes) present in the leg exhaust (I was told this engine ran fine with water via "muffs" a few weeks ago)
The cast iron bits in the drive leg made me suspicious of the exhaust - so the next job was to remove the exhaust and riser (common failure items on these older Mercruisers) - only when the exhaust was removed could I clearly see the core plugs straining to pop out and a 2" long crack in the cylinder block (all because the previous owner didn't drain the coolant). So now I have to remove the engine for a full inspection - if this model GM 181 cu ins engine is not drained correctly, it can not only crack the block on the outside - but also at the base of the liner Inside!
Now the engine is fully stripped for inspection - but remembering I had been told the engine was running fine and NEVER given any trouble, I was expecting good things. (Our now cat spends it time in the garage - away from our two Setters)
On the up side - the inside was not frost damaged
The head had been grossly over-tightened,it should be 90ft/lbs, I needed a 4ft pipe on my 18" breaker bar to loosen them! (presumably the previous builder had done this to re-use the old head gasket) but in doing so, had cracked the casting around the threads
The crank main and B/E journals had been re-ground (The Vandervell bearings fitted were not GM original)
The main bearing caps (clearly numbered 1-5 by GM had been fitted in the wrong places - (all main bearing journals and bearings badly worn) No 2 cylinder has had a liner fitted at some time?
No 2 cylinder exhaust camshaft lobe had been worn away so the valve was not opening
The Oil pump is worn out from metal particles and a dirty build
The sump floor was 1/4" thick with sludge and metallic particles
DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS, I THINK THE SAYING "BUYER BEWARE" APPLIES - AND I AM SURPRISED THE PREVIOUS OWNER DIDN'T NOTICE THE ENGINE BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE BOAT FOR A VERY SHODDY REBUILD AFTER A MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURE (HE HAD OWNED IT FROM NEW), BUT IT GOES TO SHOW THE HORRORS HIDDEN INSIDE WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A GOOD RUNNING ENGINE THAT GAVE NO TROUBLE!!!
Consequsently ............... I am looking for parts -- for a 4 cylinder GM 181cu ins (Mercruiser 3.0) with two part rear oil seal
A Block (preferably standard because at least my pistons and rods are good,
A Crankshaft
A Camshaft and lifters
An Exhaust Riser
A Fuel Pump
Full gasket set, Gimble bearing, lower shift cable, - or a complete "SHORT" motor assy the right price (the cylinder head on this one can be made serviceable)
Initial enquiries indicate short motors and blocks are not available - only "bobtail" (i.e. a new engine with head) assemblies price £3000+
My last option and at the moment (possibly my favourite) is to ditch the agricultural Mexican built Mercruiser lump and replace it with some nicer European Volvo Penta technology perhaps a 130 - 140 4 cylinder with a 270/280 drive from someones engine/diesel upgrade, but at the right price