Repair the boat or scrap it? 1995 220 Horizon v8

[kwin73]

I have a 1995 Fourwiins 220 Horizon with v8 5.8L EFI, cobra (ford motor).

Engine: 58FAPHUE
Drive unit: 3868156
Transom: 3868175

I was boating a few weeks ago and heard a loud grinding from the drive unit. Finally got someone to look at it and this is the list of items he said was needed:

1) They need a transom kit
2) Gimble bearing
3) Upper and lower gears
4) Shaft
5) Gaskets
6) Could be more when they get into it

Labor and parts was going to be $2K to $3K. Good price?
*He is having issues tracking down a transom kit, any options you know? Do I need the full kit?

He then went on to say that the motor was not looking good and the compression was off on some of the cylinders.
Motor
- Cylinder head 1 - 85 lbs
- Cylinder head 2 - 90 lbs
- Cylinder head 3 - 95 lbs
- Cylinder heads 4-8 ~110 lbs

I have used this company in the past
http://www.sandjengines.com
*I believe this is a standard rotation? ~$1,983 for a core swap
**Not included: air cleaner, ignition, valve covers, timing cover, intake manifold and oil pan

My guess is that we are looking at $8K to $9K to get the boat fully functional. We paid $7,800 two years ago. We like the boat a lot and the size is great with two small kiddo's. We normally just take it boat camping with limited pulling. More of a cruiser boat for us to hang out on. We live in Colorado and take it up to the mountains and camp on Granby Reservoir.

Options
1) Do we put the $2-$3K into fixing the drive unit and then drive it for the rest of the summer.
a. We could do the motor swap out over the winter when it's cheaper to get it worked on.
b. Any further damage it could cause if I do this?

2) Do we put money into the boat and use it for several years to come until we are ready to upgrade to something newer and have more money.
a. New motor, newer upper and lower units, new transon, etc.

3) Do we walk away from the boat and buy something newer?
a. We do not want a loan payment so we are limited to the $10K mark - could be more issues like this on another boat at this price

Votes on which option and any feedback would be great.

Thanks,
Kyle
_________________
Kyle
1995 FourWinns 220 Horizon, V8 5.8L
Colorado

 

[Maclin]

Welcome aboard!

What is the condition of the boat in general, outside of mechanical issues? Soft spots, upholstery, wiring and gauges, glass...?

 

[Scott Danforth]

if you love the boat, find a complete GM based motor and drive, either Volvo or Mercruiser..... and simply swap everything over. should be able to get a complete long-tale and controls for about $2500 (that is complete from spark arrestor to prop) get a complete donor boat (one with rotten hull)

Not sure it makes sense to dump money into your obsolete OMC drive or the obsolete Ford motor. your ford motor will be near impossible to get EFI parts for (they dont exist)

 

[Lou C]

The 1995 OMC is the joint venture product built by Volvo and is the same as a Volvo SX of the same year. So that part is not really a problem aside from parts cost. You could switch to a Chevy engine but that involves a lot parts changing such as the inner Tran some plate bell housing Y pipe and complete exhaust system. If I could find a re man Ford long block I might stick with it as long as you can get the exhaust manifolds if you need em. Other questions are ignition system and fuel system.

 

[Scott Danforth]

manifolds available, ignition and fuel system parts are not.

 

[Lou C]

So then the thing to do would be to find a carb style intake, and a Holley 4160 as these were used on the same engine before efi. As far as the ignition system there was another question about this recently and some were suggesting that system might be the same as the Ford automotive system used back in the 80s. I’d try to source a points style dist (OMC) that was used before they went electronic

 

[Lou C]

And as far as the low comp test results you need to find out why those cups read low.Have a leak down test done and it it is due to leaking valves have the heads checked out and a valve job done at an automotive machine shop. If this boat was always used in fresh water no reason not to try to fix it, if it’s just the case heads.

 

[kwin73]

Here is a response to your feedback

"What is the condition of the boat in general, outside of mechanical issues? Soft spots, upholstery, wiring and gauges, glass...?"



The boat is in good shape with all the TLC I have put into it. I have added some items and replaced parts on the boat along with regular maintenance. Leather is good and it only has faded (Sun burn) in one spot that I was going to replace, fiberglasses is in good shape with its age. I am starting to lose some of the gauges but was going to replace those after the gas gauge went last season. The depth finder just went but I use the fish finder



"The 1995 OMC is the joint venture product built by Volvo and is the same as a Volvo SX of the same year. So that part is not really a problem aside from parts cost. You could switch to a Chevy engine but that involves a lot parts changing such as the inner Tran some plate bell housing Y pipe and complete exhaust system. If I could find a re man Ford long block I might stick with it as long as you can get the exhaust manifolds if you need em. Other questions are ignition system and fuel system."



Thanks for the detail on the stern drive. I figured it was the Volvo model and was surprised to hear it grind up after reading it was bullet proof… haha



I am hesitant to swap motors to something else. I did a motor swap on my grandparents boat and replaced it with the same rebuilt motor. Learned how to do it all myself but it was time consuming. 1966 Evinrude



"So then the thing to do would be to find a carb style intake, and a Holley 4160 as these were used on the same engine before efi. As far as the ignition system there was another question about this recently and some were suggesting that system might be the same as the Ford automotive system used back in the 80s. I’d try to source a points style dist (OMC) that was used before they went electronic"



I had a carb on my restore boat and it was a pain at high altitude so I would be hesitant to move back to something like that. Mountain lake it ~8000 and Denver is about 5500. You lose a lot of power at the higher altitude lakes even with the different points (I think that’s what they are called).



"And as far as the low comp test results you need to find out why those cups read low.Have a leak down test done and it it is due to leaking valves have the heads checked out and a valve job done at an automotive machine shop. If this boat was always used in fresh water no reason not to try to fix it, if it’s just the case heads."



When I call the boat shop tomorrow I will ask him if they checked the values to see if it leaking. I might need to do this if I put the money into fixing the stern drive. I would assume it has always been in fresh water but I am not sure.

 

[kwin73]

Anyone used one of these in these boat motor?
"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AM8BCC/ref=s9_dcacsd_dcoop_bw_cr_x__a_w"
Restore 00019 8-Cylinder Formula Engine Restorer and Lubricant

 

[jbuote]

That link didn't work, but I'll save the pro's some time... (I'm NOT one of the pros.. lol)
The link is apparently for an engine restoring lubricant.

There is NO mechanic in a can. Don't use it.
Either try to fix it right, or replace it.

The folks above are pointing you in the right direction already.

 

[Scott Danforth]

There is NO mechanic in a can.

could not have said it bettery my self.

 

[kwin73]

I just picked it up this weekend and dropped it at a boat shop in Denver for a second opinion. Fingers crossed.