noobie 3.0L questions

[spartaboat]

Hi, I'm going Thursday to look at a 1988 Crestliner Nordic with a 3.0L Merc. I've been poking through the threads here, including the stickies. Did the engine come with points & condenser or electronic ignition? How can I tell if he winterized it properly, other than a cracked block? Any common problems these engines have? Is there a plug on the outdrive I can remove to stick my pinky into to check the condition of the gear lube? I'm REEEAAALLLLY interested in the boat, even though it needs some upholstery & deck work, but it's been used on Saginaw Bay, so I'm sure it's been used quite a bit. thank you

 

[Ryanlewis2010]

Re: noobie 3.0L questions

Hi, I'm going Thursday to look at a 1988 Crestliner Nordic with a 3.0L Merc. I've been poking through the threads here, including the stickies. Did the engine come with points & condenser or electronic ignition? How can I tell if he winterized it properly, other than a cracked block? Any common problems these engines have? Is there a plug on the outdrive I can remove to stick my pinky into to check the condition of the gear lube? I'm REEEAAALLLLY interested in the boat, even though it needs some upholstery & deck work, but it's been used on Saginaw Bay, so I'm sure it's been used quite a bit. thank you

What type of deck work are you talking because a soft deck can be soft stringers an wet foam and possibly bad transom. which with a 3.0 might not be worth it.

And the 3.0 is a very reliable engine. if you know how to do a comp test i would rent a gauge form autozone and do a test after you take a WET test run not just starting it on the drive way and the first thing to check when he does start it up in the drive way is see if he uses muffs on the leg. If after the test run and everything goes fine do the comp test then check the oil ( always check it after running it so see if its milky) if that checks out (150-170) psi is great anything lower then 140 is a lil low. if your interested in finding out if he winterized it ask him to SHOW you what to do ( and dont let him know your testing him), to winterize it. thats of course if there is no water in the oil or that it even runs.

 

[Ryanlewis2010]

Re: noobie 3.0L questions

Hi, I'm going Thursday to look at a 1988 Crestliner Nordic with a 3.0L Merc. I've been poking through the threads here, including the stickies. Did the engine come with points & condenser or electronic ignition? How can I tell if he winterized it properly, other than a cracked block? Any common problems these engines have? Is there a plug on the outdrive I can remove to stick my pinky into to check the condition of the gear lube? I'm REEEAAALLLLY interested in the boat, even though it needs some upholstery & deck work, but it's been used on Saginaw Bay, so I'm sure it's been used quite a bit. thank you

Dont let him know that haha

 

[fat fanny]

Re: noobie 3.0L questions

I think you better spend a day reading in the restoration forum before you even think pf lookingg at it in person so you know what to look for check out frisco boaters thread on his nightmear and many others that ended up spending thousands just to get thier rigs safely usable and it will also give you an education on what to look for so your not going in blind and uneducated.

 

[spartaboat]

Re: noobie 3.0L questions

It is a welded aluminum boat, so replacing the plywood deck can't be too bad, is it? There's no wood stringers under there, i believe.
I know how to do a compression test on an automotive engine - same thing, right? Anything on the outdrive I should be aware of?

 

[fat fanny]

Re: noobie 3.0L questions

As said above you won't know until you run it. Ther should be a small flat blade set screw on the bottom of the cone on the O/D to check the fluid but only after you run it uo to operating temp if it's milky you definately have water contamination somewhere! and that's the million dollar ? where from and thats just off the muffs also check the engine oil for the same thing. But to answer your ? yes it works the same way as an automotive engine. As far as the underdeck structure I would go onto the manufactures web site and look into it maybe they can shed some light on it for you.

 

[spartaboat]

Re: noobie 3.0L questions

thanks fanny. Maybe I'll see you on Erie. We're moving to Monroe at the end of the month. Can't wait.....

 

[Ryanlewis2010]

Re: noobie 3.0L questions

well since its aluminum it might not have wood stringers but still if the floor is toasted then you still have to check the transom. Ya the engine is is actually the same casting just bored out bigger as and old chevy nova 2.5l engine so ya its the same as an auto. Just full throttle is what they live by on the carb engines, so between no milky fluids (of course after getting up to temp) and a good compression test you should be set. also beeing you dont mind doing fiberglass work (btw transoms require taking engine and drive out to replace so think of that when you check over the transom to see if you rly wana do that kind of work IF needed)

Ryan