Mercruiser 165 4cyl

[dirtcrew51m]

Hello, new user, long time reader, 88 Mercruiser 165 4cyl, will try to make it short, acquired a motor, dont know history, tried to fire it, seems only one cylinder trying to fire, checked points, cleaned plugs, put new wires on it, same thing, noticed oil was starting to become a milkshake, figured head gasket, pulled head, gasket was oil and water wet around #1 and 2 cyls, walls still have x hatches in them, also when cranking the crankcase was building pressure, installed new head gasket, cranked engine same thing, again pulled head, gasket is wet around the same area. I know how durable and basically indestructible the 460 head is, I had them in my street motors. I did put a straight edge on the block and there seems to be a hair high between 3-4 cyls. Im thinking the dreaded 470 warped block syndrome. My boat now has one of these motors so I am familiar with rebuilding it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Welcome aboard

Do you have a question? Your first post is a statement

 

[dirtcrew51m]

Yes, sorry asking if the block could be warped causing the head gasket not properly sealing, I heard about these blocks warping from over heating.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Yes, sorry asking if the block could be warped causing the head gasket not properly sealing, I heard about these blocks warping from over heating.

Open deck block would be hard to warp.

Most likely a non-mercruiser gasket

 

[dirtcrew51m]

I used a Felpro 460 Ford severe duty head gasket on my good motor without any issues, I did some research and it was basically the same as the mercruiser gasket.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I used a Felpro 460 Ford severe duty head gasket on my good motor without any issues, I did some research and it was basically the same as the mercruiser gasket.

It's not the same.

 

[stresspoint]

Mercruiser gasket has glue , and around twice the price .learned lesson using felpro on my 4.3 and paid the price .

did you check for a cracked block , dye penetrant test will work if nothing stands out .