Not as easy as it sounds.

[Dave-R]

I bought a new engine for my project boat, and had it shipped to the house. It was a long block with oil pan,valve covers.and harmonic balancer installed. I'm thinking hey this is going to easy. First I noticed the freeze plugs were steel. In the add on ebay the engine in the picture had brass ones.They are harder to get out than the brass ones are to get in. I used this brown Indian head brand gasket sealer, on the plugs, it's messy and sticky My new oil pan would not work because of the dipstick mounting, (my old one looks new after a roll of towels) And the valve covers would not work because of the hose connections. I have been all day on this, but I have enjoyed being out in the shop. I can see why a dealer has to charge what they do for an engine replacement. I am ready to put oil in it and prime it. I don't have a prime tool, guess I'll sacrifice a screw driver for this. I did do one good thing, took the wife's tablet and took a lot of pictures. I had planned on leaving the manifolds and risers off until it's setting in the boat. Is this better, or should I install them first? Dave-R

 

[Fun Times]

Normally, the less work you have to do inside the boat, the easier your life will usually be.

Now if you have no room to install a completely assembled engine due to boat design then sometimes you will need to leave some items off of the engine in order to squeeze what you can in first....then install the rest later.

 

[Bondo]

I bought a new engine for my project boat, and had it shipped to the house. It was a long block with oil pan,valve covers.and harmonic balancer installed. I'm thinking hey this is going to easy. First I noticed the freeze plugs were steel. In the add on ebay the engine in the picture had brass ones.They are harder to get out than the brass ones are to get in. I used this brown Indian head brand gasket sealer, on the plugs, it's messy and sticky My new oil pan would not work because of the dipstick mounting, (my old one looks new after a roll of towels) And the valve covers would not work because of the hose connections. I have been all day on this, but I have enjoyed being out in the shop. I can see why a dealer has to charge what they do for an engine replacement. I am ready to put oil in it and prime it. I don't have a prime tool, guess I'll sacrifice a screw driver for this. I did do one good thing, took the wife's tablet and took a lot of pictures. I had planned on leaving the manifolds and risers off until it's setting in the boat. Is this better, or should I install them first? Dave-R

Ayuh,.... A screwdriver won't work, the distributor body directs the oil into the cam galley,....

You could install the distributor, 'n crank the motor over on the starter, with no spark plugs to prime the motor,...

 

[Scott Danforth]

if the freeze plugs are steel, what other shortcuts did they take with the long block? Did you contact the seller?

 

[bruceb58]

I would be worried about the head gaskets.

 

[dypcdiver]

Without the manifolds and risers you have lots more room to work around the engine in the boat. They are easy to mount, I cut the heads off a couple of the long riser bolts and screwed them into the head by hand then slid the gasket and manifold on over them, then once a few of the manifold bolts are in place just unscrew the headless bolts, makes life easy. I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to line up the riser exhaust pipes with the "Y" piece if they are mounted on the engine you would need to juggle the whole engine rather than just the riser.
Your choice.

 

[Lou C]

I would be worried about the head gaskets.

Me too...is this engine being used in fresh water or salt/brackish?

 

[Dave-R]

Boat will be used in just fresh water Lou. Last year I ordered a set of marine head gaskets from Summit racing. They were not stainless like I expected, so I sent them back. They sent me another marine set that looked just like the first set. I called them and they said they are marine head gaskets. I think they were felpro.
Dave-R

 

[Bondo]

Boat will be used in just fresh water Lou. Last year I ordered a set of marine head gaskets from Summit racing. They were not stainless like I expected, so I sent them back. They sent me another marine set that looked just like the first set. I called them and they said they are marine head gaskets. I think they were felpro.
Dave-R

Ayuh,.... Please explain,..??

I use composite Fel-pro's,... The fire-ring 'round the cylinder is in fact ssteel,....

 

[bruceb58]

http://www.felpro-only.com/marine-head-gaskets/ -- they are stainless

Unless you are running a closed coolant system with anti-freeze, you need a marine head gasket. This includes running in fresh water.