1979 470 Mercrusier

[jaymo1994]

I a 1979 Caravelle that has a 470 Mercrusier in it the boat has been very well kept for being an old boat. The engine starts up and sound great but i have been reading about this engine and it sounds like there are alot of people that does not think very highly of it . is there something i should know. I am new to boating any input would be greatlly apperciated.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1979 470 Mercrusier

I a 1979 Caravelle that has a 470 Mercrusier in it the boat has been very well kept for being an old boat. The engine starts up and sound great but i have been reading about this engine and it sounds like there are alot of people that does not think very highly of it . is there something i should know. I am knew to boating any input would be greatlly apperciated.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,...
It's growin' problem is, the most common part number for many of it's parts is NLA.....

No Longer Available....

A quick search of this forum should get ya all the research ya need...

 

[jaymo1994]

Charging system on a 470 Mercruiser

Charging system on a 470 Mercruiser

Im new to boating and just purchased my first old boat and it has a 470 Mercruiser in it can anyone tell me how the charging system works and then i read that there is an alternator conversion kit for it also.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Charging system on a 470 Mercruiser

Re: Charging system on a 470 Mercruiser

It works about the same as an outboard charging system. The weak point is the water cooled voltage regulator which is VERY expen$ive to replace. I got my alternator from Breezeworks http://www.breezeworks.net/

 

[stonyloam]

Re: 1979 470 Mercrusier

There are three weaknesses: the charging system, head gasket failure and coolant leakage from camshaft seals in the engine waterpump. It is a strong engine and if well maintained is as good an any 30 year old engine. Learn all you can about it and plan on doing your own work. I would recommend changing the impeller, and do a compression check and cooling system pressure check (borrow the tools from Autozone). Any specific questions, come on back here and there are plenty of guys to help. Welcome to the "470 Club".:facepalm:

 

[jaymo1994]

Re: Charging system on a 470 Mercruiser

Re: Charging system on a 470 Mercruiser

ok thank you stoney

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Charging system on a 470 Mercruiser

Re: Charging system on a 470 Mercruiser

Couple of other things, the NLA parts, most of which do not ware out, but do occasionally break are almost always immediately available on e-bay. Things like exhaust manifolds and elbows (things that ware out) are available, both new and used. One really nice thing is they are a snap to winterize, two minutes to drain the exchanger and freeze protection is done.

 

[jaymo1994]

Re: 1979 470 Mercrusier

There are three weaknesses: the charging system, head gasket failure and coolant leakage from camshaft seals in the engine waterpump. It is a strong engine and if well maintained is as good an any 30 year old engine. Learn all you can about it and plan on doing your own work. I would recommend changing the impeller, and do a compression check and cooling system pressure check (borrow the tools from Autozone). Any specific questions, come on back here and there are plenty of guys to help. Welcome to the "470 Club".:facepalm:

Thank you Stony im glad to be part of your 470 club im proud of my little 470 i have alot of the tools to check the compression and all that stuff but could you let me know how to check the cooling system pressure, and how often should the lower unit oil be changed.

 

[jaymo1994]

Re: Charging system on a 470 Mercruiser

Re: Charging system on a 470 Mercruiser

It works about the same as an outboard charging system. The weak point is the water cooled voltage regulator which is VERY expen$ive to replace. I got my alternator from Breezeworks http://www.breezeworks.net/

If i put the Alt Conversion on will that do away with the water cooled voltage Regulator.

 

[achris]

Re: Charging system on a 470 Mercruiser

Re: Charging system on a 470 Mercruiser

Sounds like you're in need of these...

Engine -> https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1TAvwZ3Tjhfdk9PRXBWWExTU084dXpoTUhqRk9vZw
Drive -> https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B1...ODAxOS00YWZjLWFmZDgtZjMxNjQxOTkzMzUz&hl=en_GB

Download them and SAVE them.... You'll find they are your best friends....

Chris.......

 

[cheaperts]

Re: Charging system on a 470 Mercruiser

Re: Charging system on a 470 Mercruiser

like you I bought a 470 that way low time, well maintained, and then ready the horror stories and got concerned. With the weak points addressed I think it's a great motor, it's a torque beast, we get nearly 50 indicated in our old 18' boat and 2 of us. And 3 adults on a tube doesn't phase it. I just did the alternator conversion, I bought a marine single wire alternator direct from an ebay vendor for 65.00, and a bracket harware and belt from another for 200.00, and no disrepect to breezeworks, but this is a one piece heavy bracket that mounts dirctly to the end of the head, seems much more solid than other kits I've seen. PM me if you want the info on the bracket.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: 1979 470 Mercrusier

Thank you Stony im glad to be part of your 470 club im proud of my little 470 i have alot of the tools to check the compression and all that stuff but could you let me know how to check the cooling system pressure, and how often should the lower unit oil be changed.

Autozone will loan you a cooling system pressure test kit for free. Instructions are in the manual and in the kit. Change the outdrive oil every year, the impeller every other year. If you do the alternator conversion you no longer need the voltage regulator.