Engine swap trouble unable to align

[Firfyter]

My 87 cuddy cabin with a 5.0 mercruiser alpha one gen 1 developed a rotten transom. I bought an 04 Glastron bow rider with a ruined 4.3 and I am trying to put my engine in the newer boat. The new boat has an Alpha 1 Gen 2 out drive and I am having much difficulty getting the engine lined up with the gimbal bearing. It seems no matter how high or low I adjust the front mounts I just can't get it perfect. Once i was able to get it close by loosening the back mounts a little but after getting it as close as possible and tightening the engine in place the alignment tool wouldn't go in at all.

 

[Scott Danforth]

your 1984 motor is about 4 generations older than the motor from 04' boat you are trying to put it in. the drive is about 2 generations older.

are you migrating everything, or just the motor?

 

[Rick Stephens]

The right way, when having issues, is to hang the motor from the alignment loop in the front of the engine, then make sure the mounts are even by loosening them and getting them perfectly even. Getting good alignment is also dependent on the rear mounts being correct and the rubber mounts not being collapsed.. There were a number of different rear mount/spring/washer/pad combinations used over the years. If you have the wrong combination you will never get aligned.

 

[Firfyter]

I didnt swap over the washer and spring for the rear mounts because the 04 ones appeared to be the same. I thought about swapping over the bellhousing but I was told that the bolt pattern was the same on all models.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Look at the bottom of the rear mounts, Is there smooth you need the double wound washers. If they are knurled you dont use the doublewoud wshers

 

[Firfyter]

So to be clear. You mean to look at the bottom on the engine side? Also are you talking about the spring that resembles a lock washer? Both boats had the spring like washer on them.

 

[Bt Doctur]

No the bottom of the rear rubber mount is smooth if it is the old style and knurled if the new style. The new style does not use the doublewound but the old style needs it. I didnt swap over the washer and spring for the rear mounts because the 04 ones appeared to be the same Misunderstood this to mean you did not use the doublewound