Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

[artificialreef]

This being a Merc/Volvo/OMC message board I am surprised to see so many people not happy with Merc 470's. I am sure you will refer me to the link w/the leaky cam seal but mine does not. Are there any boaters here that like this set up like I do. I have twin 470's that provide great torque with the comfort of redundancy and great gas mileage. Their 1983's with I dont know how many hours on them but they still have great compression and dont give me a lick of trouble.

 

[nutts]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

haha from what i got i cant wait to see the replys you aquire.

 

[artificialreef]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

Nutts you let those mechanical (EDIT ***** )talk you out of a free boat. haha I got a 26ft. Tiara that sleeps 4, has a bathroom and a shower w/a triple axle aluminum trailer for peanuts that I will be taking out on the water this weekend. What are you doing this weekend besides asking losers what they think you should be doing.

 

[nutts]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

spending time with my daughter who i fought 2 years for...
I just dont know what to think ya know. try and ask an honest opinion and ya.... get some rude answers... But it isnt free, its cheap though. The guy is up for trading for some x-tra mac/snap on tools ive got laying around. I just cant see THAT much being a problem. Yes there will be problems but i see problems being potenially in everything. i sent you a pm you get it?

 

[nutts]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

what state are you in btw?

 

[legoman67]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

if they arent giving you issues then there isnt a problem, when it comes time to rebuild or repower then get something different, but for the time enjoy them. why fix what aint broke?

 

[artificialreef]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

Sorry for being so harsh Nutts. But these engines will run. Good question. I live in Florida so I dont have the winterizing issues you folks have up there. You still havent said what kind of boat it is. And you still need to do a compression test on the engine (its not difficult). Unless you are prepared to replace it.

 

[nutts]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

hey no your fine. I sent you several PM's. its a mark twain 210 sf. nice looking cuddy. i said the engine was either rebuilt or replanted new about 4-5 yrs ago and has only seen water several times since sitting. ive taken all hoses off and looked inside of as many places as i can and it truely is a clean motor. boat just needs cleaned and re-seated... and im looking for a small project, but nothing major like a repower plant of course. just a nice family boat so my kids and i can go have an enjoyable weekend of cruising. not a hot rod, just a nice fun n sun boat...

 

[nutts]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

one question i have is how to turn the motor over? does the alt assy turn or is the turning rotation inside the alt assy? i dont want to pull to hard on the 3/4 bolt

 

[legoman67]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

wait, i am confused? are you looking at buying a boat with twin 470's? or do you already have one?

If you are looking at one then RUN FAST.

if you have one, then use it till it dies, then replace the engines with something else.

 

[nutts]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

wait, i am confused? are you looking at buying a boat with twin 470's? or do you already have one?

If you are looking at one then RUN FAST.

if you have one, then use it till it dies, then replace the engines with something else.

im looking at one that has a single 470 that is said to run like a top. no battery in it and has sat for several years. has been winterized though. said to have been rebuilt or replanted with new 470. it looks very very clean inside and out.

 

[artificialreef]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

I dont know where to look for a pm? And I am a network administrator.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

Where it says your name when you sign on it has pm there.

So we are losers and your a I.T person but can't find the pm.

Why do you think they are giving away a perfectly good boat and motor.

Here give this a read:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=1909331&posted=1#post1909331

I for one ain't talking anyone into or out of anything.

I'm gonna give the straight dope to you and anyone else who posts here.

artificialreef=artificial intelligence

Yo guys want some more boats with that wonderful motor come here to Jersy and you can have 5 right now for nothing.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

reef, we are happy for you that your twin 470's run and operate perfectly. And I think it's great that they do.

But, when the "little" things start failing on it, you'll realize how expensive it is to maintain that engine.

Have you ever calculated your mileage? I find it hard to believe that those two large 4 cylinders are that much more fuel efficient than say twin 4.3 V6s. But maybe they are miracle motors?!

Why everyone was telling nutts to run away from a "free boat" for is because he doesn't know if that boat runs or is "perfect".

 

[s1120]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

So are a lot of these problems just with the early 470's, or the later engines also? I have a later 190hp, and I tell ya, I love the proformance of it. Good low end grunt for low speed work, and pulling a bigger boat up on plane, and good top end in my combo [20' Rinker cuddy, and 190hp] So far mine has worked fine. Did they make improvements to the later ones?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

Only the "too small heat exchanger" was ever truly addressed. All the rest, the camshaft seal, the charging system, the exhaust manifolds, the motor mounts, were not changed in the 10 year run of the engine. Good luck to you too s1120.

 

[s1120]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

OK, thanks. I know I have the bigger heat exchanger, and so far so good I guess. Looks like the add on alt kits are almost cheaper then fixing the old setup if it goes bad. So far so good on the rest. I never knew of the camseal leak. I will keep a eye on that.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

My only experience with a 470 is that of a neighbor down the street. He has a V20 with one in it. It manages to run well every season. It sounds tough! I don't know if it is the Al or iron block. He's also been around boats all his life and has nor problem doing whatever a boat requires. This has probably gone a long way.
Personally, I prefer Chevy motors due to the fact they are everywhere along with parts. I can go into any hick auto parts store or junkyard on the Country and make my boat motor run.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

I don't know if it is the Al or iron block.

All 470s (488, 3.7s whatever they called them at various points) have Aluminum blocks, and iron heads.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Anyone here like Mercruiser 470's?

AL open deck blocks,iron heads, about 5 different attempts at actually making this mercury designed motor actually work before merc scrapped the entire project.
other than that they were perfect designs on paper.
they just mostly failed the realworld test.
but if you have one that runs good run it.
some merc parts, some GM and some ford.
was a frankenstien before it was launched.
was only produced about 5 years and merc simply gave up as they could not fix all the realworld flaws.