Decisions.... Remanned engine or rebuild what I got?

[LAC_STS]

Well I have figured out that my 5.7 OMC is gonna need gone through and at the least new heads, crank turned, new oil pan, new gaskets and who knows what else.

I found a remanned engine from a place online that is about 2 hours away from me for 3K.

My friend that works on boats said he will take the engine I got now out and put the new one in. But he has a guy right across from his shop that builds engines and such and he says hes really good. He just got done with his own bought it and it blew up rebuild.

Right now we are thinking that the previous owner bought an auto long block and other parts and thats what Im dealing with now. The boat is a saltwater boat and he put aluminum heads on it, its leaking oil from the rear seal and the oil pan, the intake manifold is leaking (gasket bad?), The crank is wobbling, and now there is a knock that is not coming from the top, (ie its a rod or something). Besides that it really does run great. Lol

So What should I do? Buy the new engine or have this one rebuilt and try to save some cash?

Heres the engine. They dont have this one listed on theyre site just ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OMC-COBRA-GM-350-5-7-STERNDRIVE-ENGINE-VOLVO-SX-275-HP-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem359fe2b870QQitemZ230315702384QQptZBoatQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGear

http://www.daddyosmarine.com/Specials.html

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Decisions.... Remanned engine or rebuild what I got?

Rebuild yours!

 

[ziggy]

Re: Decisions.... Remanned engine or rebuild what I got?

Buy the new engine or have this one rebuilt and try to save some cash?

just a guess, but i'll bet rebuilding what ya have will be more costly. but i still agree with zb. reason being, i don't trust the aftermarket for rebuilds. i doubt very seriously whether the rebuilders have gone to the trouble to really rebuild the engine. rather i think they put some new parts in them and say they are rebuilt. new parts is not rebuilt.
if i ever rebuild mine, i'm gonna insist on a spec sheet from the rebuilder. where i can see in writing that the specs of the oem have been complied with..

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Decisions.... Remanned engine or rebuild what I got?

Thanks for the help guys.


They told me on the phone that they get remanned marine long blocks from GM and then they build them when ordered. They do have 100% feedback on Ebay and all of they're feedbacks I could see the trans for were for engines.


I do agree with you guys that if I have mine rebuilt I will know what I have. But I was just thinking that I'm pretty sure that the one I have now is an automotive long block and heads. So I would imagine that I will need a marine cam, marine heads, and marine all kinds of crap. The more I think about it the more I think that it is gonna cost more than buying the new one.

I was thinking that if I bought the new engine I would be done with it.

I don't know what to do. I was gonna just pay for it today and pick it up Monday but then my friend called me and told me about rebuilding it.


Another thing to consider is that I would not be giving them my core. I will just pay the $250. My engine still runs. I know a guy that wants to buy my aluminum heads, Ill just have to clean them up. I will either sell the old engine or I will take it apart and part it out. I can do that myself. So the price for the new engine will be a good bit lower once I sell the old one.

Here is the spec sheet they sent to me. It just pretty much shows what it new and what is remanned.

 

[robjen1019]

Re: Decisions.... Remanned engine or rebuild what I got?

Ive heard usengines are good to work with. I called the guy once and was good to talk to.....plus for that price you could put in 383

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Decisions.... Remanned engine or rebuild what I got?

Ive heard usengines are good to work with. I called the guy once and was good to talk to.....plus for that price you could put in 383

This usengines?

http://www.usenginesinc.com/Marine-Engine/OMC-Ford-Marine-Engine.html

I called them and they only have long blocks. I am pretty good about finding stiff online and looked for a couple days. I haven't found a cheaper complete or nearly complete engine but I'm always up for more ideas or suggestions especially if someone has done bus with somewhere before.

I found brand new long blocks for $1,800 but if you add up all the parts needed it pretty mush is the same thing. Plus the labor ID have to pay to get it out together.

 

[John_S]

Re: Decisions.... Remanned engine or rebuild what I got?

While I agree with going to reman over your current mess, I would want more details on "remanned marine long blocks from GM". Ebay satisfaction is really based on the buying process, not how long something lasted. Try to get more info from prior customers.

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Decisions.... Remanned engine or rebuild what I got?

Just talked to them again and they said that they get they're long blocks straight from GM Marine Division.

They said its the same place Mercruiser, and Volvo get theirs.


I'm gonna keep looking online and see if I can find some reviews and/or customers comments.


While I do agree with the ebay feedback being based a lot on the buying process you do have 90 days I believe to leave a feedback. Most people who are familiar with how ebay works don't leave feedback right away as soon as they receive something.

So I'd imagine that the engines people have received have been good running engines for at least a little while. I have been selling stuff on ebay for a couple years now and I know how hard some of the ebayers can be. There are a lot of people on ebay that just cant be happy and have to find a problem with everything. Having good feedback since 2000 is pretty good.

But I am going to try to do some more homework this weekend and if all appears good and I decide to go the reman route I will buy it Monday morning I guess.

 

[John_S]

Re: Decisions.... Remanned engine or rebuild what I got?

I'm a skeptic at heart, .. or is that paranoid.

"they said that they get they're long blocks straight from GM Marine Division."

But, they don't say that specificly in the ebay add, receipt you posted, or on the website. I would think, that would be a selling point they would want to share with their customers.

From website:

Daddyo's Marine Engines supplies Factory Remanufactured Engines, not rebuilds. All new internal parts. Engine block is boiled. Our remanufactured engines get new bore (.030max), new pistons, new rings, new bearings, new cam, ect. High volume oil pump.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Decisions.... Remanned engine or rebuild what I got?

I find it weird that GM Marine division bothers to re-manufactures engines. It would probably be cheaper for GM to build a new engine, rather than re-manufacturing one, especially something thats lived in salt water (got to wonder how many returned cores are really any good). The HP number is right in line with what GM performance parts division (GMPP) was offering before hand (GMPP doesn't have them anymore). A 260hp crate engine W/ all new parts (hecho en Mexico). It would be easy for GM to marinize one of those engines. Change the core plugs from steel to brass. Use a marine grade head gasket. And possibly a marine friendly cam. I have installed a couple of the GMPP 290hp engine in cars, with good results. They come with a 4 bolt block, powdered metal rods like the LT1 had (stronger than the old "pink rods"), and 87 octane friendly 76cc iron heads. I would have no qualms about marinizing one of those engines. Of course that would void the 1yr warranty.....

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Decisions.... Remanned engine or rebuild what I got?

Not only Daddyo's but a bunch of the places I have called about complete engines and long blocks said that they don't use salt water blocks for rebuild or re manufacture.


I figure that it comes with a 1 yr written warranty which I have read and sounds pretty good, and the place is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from me so I could just bring the boat or engine to them if something happened.


I dunno I'm still undecided on the whole thing.