New heads, new exhaust manifolds, new carb, 5.7. Should I be suspicious?

[btravlin2]

Howdy.....I'm about to buy a 1985 Chris Craft Seahawk with a 5.7, Alpha I. On paper it sounds good: new heads, new intake and exhaust manifolds, new Edelbrock 4bbl carb, new water pump......all put on by a shop. I've seen the boat and the new parts. Owner says about 450hrs on it. I keep wondering why all the new parts? Well, it's great for me if there isn't something else going on that he's not telling me. (like it got hot!!)

I'm going to have a shop do a pre-purchase mechanical inspection with compression, etc. What else should I be alert for? And what can the shop do to assess the condition of the outdrive?

One problem: there is a hairline crack across the mating flange of the lower unit, about 2" from the rear. Can this be welded?

Thanks for your advice in advance......

 

[mjfink]

Re: New heads, new exhaust manifolds, new carb, 5.7. Should I be suspicious?

My guess (because it sounds a lot like what I had to repair when this happened), manifolds failed, dropped water in engine, blew the valves up (requiring new heads, or, in my case, just a valve job). Not sure about the intake manifold, mine did have some water in it after it blew, but did not require replacement. The exhaust manifolds also point to their failure at some point. Water pump could just be routine maintenance, if it was an exhaust failure, there's no particular reason to replace this.

Just so you know, after my engine was repaired, the mechanic did a compression test and all the cylinders came back fine. The mechanic said there's nothing to worry about, the problem has been fixed, and there's no reason to think that I'll have any additional problems with the engine because of this problem. I'd get compression on the cylinders (to make sure the water didn't break something in the lower end/piston).

Hope this helps, this is a total WAG, but, since it sounded a lot like my repair, I figured I'd share it.

Howdy.....I'm about to buy a 1985 Chris Craft Seahawk with a 5.7, Alpha I. On paper it sounds good: new heads, new intake and exhaust manifolds, new Edelbrock 4bbl carb, new water pump......all put on by a shop. I've seen the boat and the new parts. Owner says about 450hrs on it. I keep wondering why all the new parts? Well, it's great for me if there isn't something else going on that he's not telling me. (like it got hot!!)

I'm going to have a shop do a pre-purchase mechanical inspection with compression, etc. What else should I be alert for? And what can the shop do to assess the condition of the outdrive?

One problem: there is a hairline crack across the mating flange of the lower unit, about 2" from the rear. Can this be welded?

Thanks for your advice in advance......

 

[cr2k]

Re: New heads, new exhaust manifolds, new carb, 5.7. Should I be suspicious?

Saltwater Boat, corrosion from sitting? Could have been freeze damage. Check oil level and color before and after running at operating temp. The crack in the drive makes me wonder if it wasn't freeze damage and the drive was stored up trapping rain and drain water and freeze cracking the housing.

Doesn't mean it's bad deal, if everything was fixed and the block was spared! SBCs usually crack under the intake, just below the heads. So maybe it was checked and everything else got replaiced?

 

[btravlin2]

Re: New heads, new exhaust manifolds, new carb, 5.7. Should I be suspicious?

Saltwater boat, but no waterline evidence that it has sat in water. Owner says it was always trailered. We're on the Texas Coast so it's unlikely the outdrive crack came from freezing. Hopefully the mechanic will be able to tell me if it can be welded.

Is there anything the mechanic can do in the shop to assess the overall state of the outdrive?

 

[NHGuy]

Re: New heads, new exhaust manifolds, new carb, 5.7. Should I be suspicious?

Yes, if he is a real marine surveyor he will be able to assess the whole thing and do a report for you. Part of this will include a run on the water to be sure how the boat acts.
And of course don't pay for the boat til you know what's in store. If things aren't perfect but they are repairable you have negotiating points, but if it's just too broken walk away or negotiate for the seller to fix the defect(s?) if any.
A hairline crack in the drive will have to be checked to see if it holds pressure or negotiated out of the boats value.
Good luck, I like the Century boats up here in New England where I go on a big lake. But I'd be pretty cautious of a stern drive in the salt water.