Is it a 140 or 165???

[thrillsea-ker]

Hello,

I'm new to boats and new to this forum..

Last year I bought a 1966 Fiberform with a inline 6 inboard. The first time I took it out, after only a few minutes out on the water, it overheated. Back home in the garage, I took it apart and found the water intake line was plugged with what looked like impeller pieces. (Prior to all this, I had replaced the impeller). I Cleaned it out, replaced the impeller again to be sure. It ran fine (on the muffs) until I noticed water leaking out under the head...No doubt overheating blew the head gasket. There is no water in the oil..BUT, upon looking closer, I noticed the block was cracked and had been previously repaired with what looks to be JB Weld... So now I wondering.. Could I just have the block welded or could I use a Chev 250 block and in stall the marine parts in it???.. However, at this point, I am not sure if it is a 140 or a 165. Like I said, the boat is a 1966, I am sure the engine is original. Through some research, I found that the outdrive is a "pre Alpha" R model I believe..

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is it a 140 or 165???

Ayuh,... The 140hp is the 4 cylinder little sister of the 165hp...

I'd just dig off the epoxy that didn't hold,+ reapply more epoxy to seal it...
Welding really Isn't an option...

Swapping in a pickup truck motor will also work,..
If, you can find 1 with the boss cast onto the front corner for the motor mount...

 

[thrillsea-ker]

Re: Is it a 140 or 165???

Thanks for the info!

I was pretty sure that it was a 165, I had read some conflicting info so thought I'd double check on here. I knew the 165 was the same as a chev 250 and had also read on here that I would need a truck engine with the front mount. I will take your advice and re-epoxy the block. I have the head gasket and the manifold gaskets for a 165. Looks like this weekend I will be back out in the garage!
I'm sure I'll be back with more questions!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is it a 140 or 165???

I'm sure I'll be back with more questions!

Ayuh,... We'll be here, with the light on for ya,...
Btw,...
Welcome Aboard...

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Is it a 140 or 165???

All swap candidates:

HP displ #cyl yr. serial #
150 GM 230 6 1964-1966 1666495-2048046
160 GM 250 6 1967-1969 2048022-2770031
165 GM 250 6 1970-1978 2770032-5178958
165 GM 250 6 1979-1981 5178959-5813433

OMC used the 250 6 cylinder mid 70's as well, so you can look for the OMC165 as a swapper too

 

[thrillsea-ker]

Re: Is it a 140 or 165???

...Ok, I finally had the chance to crawl up into the boat and look at the serial number on the engine. The serial number is: 3850817, according to the information you gave me, it is a GM 250 cid, Mercruiser 165HP..

 

[starsnstripers]

Re: Is it a 140 or 165???

Yep with an MC-1 drive, WHere's the block cracked? Like Bondo said if your gonna look at a truck motor, make sure it's got the ears on the front of the engine for your front mount bolts. Welcome aboard, Thats a good setup ya got there. lots of room to work on and pretty simple. If you go to the adults only stickys at the top of this page you can get yourself a manual download. I was doing a 165 when i found iboats and they walked me right through anything i needed to know here. Your in good hands here!

 

[achris]

Re: Is it a 140 or 165???

The usual place I've seen these blocks crack is under the middle core plug on the port side. If it's there and you want a more permanent fix, you'll need to take the engine out and have the crack 'stitched'.. It involves drilling small holes along the crack and inserting steel rivets. The fix is pretty good, and doesn't leak if done right.

Chris............

 

[thrillsea-ker]

Re: Is it a 140 or 165???

....Yep, That is exactly where it's cracked! A previous owner had epoxied the crack but did a poor job. It overheated on me the first time I took it out. Poor care and no maintenance whatsoever! The guy I bought it from said he was no mechanic, THAT was an UNDERSTATEMENT!!
I am going to be replacing the head gasket, while I have the manifold off, I figure I'd media blast the manifold and replace all the top end gaskets.
Where the crack is, take the block down to bare metal, stop-drill the ends of the crack, grind a "V" grove in the area of the crack before applying the epoxy. I hope that will buy me some time in order to find a good 250.. I remember once, you could find those everywhere, now it aint so easy!
All in all, it's a good solid boat, perfect for where I live, Puget sound area, Washington state.. and Crabbing season is just around the corner!!

 

[achris]

Re: Is it a 140 or 165???

If you're any good with a MIG, try cold welding it.

Clean up and V out the grove as you plan, then instead of epoxy, use the MIG. Lay in a single zap (like about 2 seconds worth), give it a few minutes to cool down and do it again. It may take a while, but it will be permanent. As long as the temperature of the parent metal doesn't get too high, it works.

I've done exactly that on a V6 block (not mine!) when it hydrolock and broke a piece out where the starter motor bolt is. Welder it back in using the above technique and it worked a treat. Owner was wrapped that he didn't have to fork out for a new block!

Chris.......