MerCruiser 5.7L Install Dilemma

[LiquidC]

Here's my situation:

I bought Mercruiser 5.7L V8 (350) from a guy who owns a marine repair business for a good price, sold as-is. The motor seemed to be in mint condition, compression check showed around 120-130psi on all cylinders ... not great but OK. I ran it on the ground with water running through it for 30 mins, everything seemed great.

I planned to install it into my 22' Bayliner, my old V6 was junk.

I took everything to my local mechanic to install it, and he inspected it before he installed it and found a few issues. 1) The oil pan was rotten and would probably leak if installed; so it needs to be replaced. 2) The risers were rotted bad, and both need to be replaced. 3) There were two tiny cracks near both drain plugs, my mechanic thought they aren't a big deal.

So what to do now?? I live in MA, so I'm not sure if I can legally chase after the guy who sold it to me, or if I should have my mechanic attempt the repair. I have risers from my old V6 that are the exact same part, so I already have those. The only thing I would need to buy is the drain pan, and they maybe put some Marine Tex or JB Weld on the cracks.

Anyone have any ideas? If the risers were rotted from salt water on the inside, shouldn't the inside of the motor have corrosion as well? But the motor does run great, and it sounds good, good/OK compression ... so I'm not sure what to do.

Any suggestions ???

 

[Bondo]

Re: MerCruiser 5.7L Install Dilemma

I bought Mercruiser 5.7L V8 (350) from a guy who owns a marine repair business for a good price, sold as-is.

Ayuh,... Throw on a New oil pan,+ New manifolds,+ risers...

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: MerCruiser 5.7L Install Dilemma

Personally I`d be looking at the buyer ,not the seller. You bought a motor
AS-IS condition and you expect a payback? So ,what if your mech. installs it and something breaks, you going to sue your mech.The key words are AS-IS.
No returns, You should have inspected it a whole lot better .

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: MerCruiser 5.7L Install Dilemma

If the risers were rotted from salt water on the inside, shouldn't the inside of the motor have corrosion as well? But the motor does run great, and it sounds good, good/OK compression ... so I'm not sure what to do.

Block, heads, and intake manifold rotted? very possibly.

It will run great until it starts leaking water into the oil. Then you'll be replacing it again.

I think you would have been much better off getting an engine from a truck in a wrecking yard.

If I were your "mechanic" I would not install engine in any boat.

Sorry about that.


Rick

 

[gadget73]

Re: MerCruiser 5.7L Install Dilemma

If the risers are shot, the manifolds are not far behind. If the block is cracking around the drain plugs, its probably rotted too, and the heads won't be far behind. Oil pan being shot, well thats not all that unusual. Its sheet metal and lives in among the worst possible environments for thin metal with no significant corrosion protection to live. If the pan is shot though, you'd do well to examine the timing cover. I've had those rust through before.

Sorry man, but I think you got a lemon. If you'd like another, I'll *give* you the old 350 longblock out of my boat, but I'll warn you that its probably going to be in nearly the same condition. One thing I will tell you about mine though, it burns oil, like 2-3 quarts in a 50 hour season.