I have a 1988 Evinrude 225 HP engine that I'm in the process of disassembling for what I hope will be a low cost rebuild. The cylinder bores all look to be in good condition and when I get the pistons and crank out I will get them to the local engine builder to have them checked. Hopefully they can just be honed and the rings replaced.
This is a saltwater engine, and one area that does give me concern is the tops surface of the cylinder case, that the head gasket sits on. The corrosion is not so bad that it has reached the sleeve, but it is getting close in a few areas. I was thinking that if I had the block decked .010" it would get rid of some of the corrosion where it is the worst, and maybe buy some time. If it lasted a few more seasons, it is all I need.
I did have one block with the same issue welded up and machined, and it is still running after many seasons of use, but the welding was expensive and the machining cost to get everything back in spec was high so I'm not looking to go that route.
It is my understanding that decking the block can raise the compression beyond safe limits, but that thicker head gaskets can be used to compensate and reduce the compression to a safe number.
My questions are:
How much can the block be decked safely?
Is this a viable method to extend the life of the engine?
Where do I get the thicker head gaskets and what is the part number? (1988 225HP big bore looper)
On my aluminum block and heads LS1 auto engine the head gaskets have a cured silicone bead that surrounds all of the water passages helping to seal them. Do they make anything like that for this engine?
Anything else I should know?
Since I have owned the boat, I always flush the engines at the end of the weekend which has probably helped to extend the life of the engines for as long as it has.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
This is a saltwater engine, and one area that does give me concern is the tops surface of the cylinder case, that the head gasket sits on. The corrosion is not so bad that it has reached the sleeve, but it is getting close in a few areas. I was thinking that if I had the block decked .010" it would get rid of some of the corrosion where it is the worst, and maybe buy some time. If it lasted a few more seasons, it is all I need.
I did have one block with the same issue welded up and machined, and it is still running after many seasons of use, but the welding was expensive and the machining cost to get everything back in spec was high so I'm not looking to go that route.
It is my understanding that decking the block can raise the compression beyond safe limits, but that thicker head gaskets can be used to compensate and reduce the compression to a safe number.
My questions are:
How much can the block be decked safely?
Is this a viable method to extend the life of the engine?
Where do I get the thicker head gaskets and what is the part number? (1988 225HP big bore looper)
On my aluminum block and heads LS1 auto engine the head gaskets have a cured silicone bead that surrounds all of the water passages helping to seal them. Do they make anything like that for this engine?
Anything else I should know?
Since I have owned the boat, I always flush the engines at the end of the weekend which has probably helped to extend the life of the engines for as long as it has.
Thanks in advance for any replies.