What NOW!

[viper1]

Well Got the out drive working by stepping back and inserting an MC1 till I can get this Alpha 1 redone. Fired it up and it was pumping great. then I noticed quickly! I have water flowing like a water fall. Yep, not sure where. But looks like either the exhaust manifold or some thing else. It look like its coming from between the block and the exhaust manifold. towards the front end of it. Is there freeze plugs there? Or is that where they leak at. Turn Key boat! Yeah If I run into this guy on the lake it won't be the key Im turning!

 

[Bt Doctur]

that sir is the classic cracked block crack just under the head.

 

[viper1]

Give that man a cigar! Yep a nice approx. 12" crack. Worst part is the exhaust manifold has been removed lately and old ripped up gasket placed back it. This is a so called turn Key boat! Boy was I stupid. Now i need to find an engine or a Good short block. My question is? I am wondering... do i need to replace with an engine it this year. Or will any 3.0 181 cid Mercruiser enter change? I would think so, but with these boats just not positive, Thinking if i change engine it might be better to find a newer one. Or would that mean doing some conversion?

 

[viper1]

No Title

 

[Bt Doctur]

all is not lost yet. If the oil is still remaining clean:
wire brush the block vigorously with a stiff wheel
"V" the cracked area and grind/sand the surounding area (atleast a 1/2 inch on the sides) and clean with acetone a few times. toothbrush works well.
Home Depot/ Lowes/a good hardware store for plumbers epoxy. a 2 part pre made stick putty wuth the hardner in the middle
Mix thoroughly , force into cracked area as much as possible and smooth it to about an inch past the cracked area, length and width.
Let cure , reassemble with new gasket.
As long as you don't overheat it , ever it should last. I have a customer going on 5 years with the same crack.

 

[stonyloam]

I like JB Weld, but + 1 with the Dr. Give it a try, and if the oil stays clean run it.

 

[viper1]

Are you serious? I wouldn't think that would hold it. Which gasket are you saying to replace? The exhaust manifold? I will check oil tomorrow and try this out ! Thanks guys.

 

[Bt Doctur]

just remember to take your time with all the steps. the cooling system has no pressure to it , its a free flow system.
Correctly "V"`d and sanded and cleaned the repair will work PROVIDED YOU NEVER LET IT GET HOT

 

[viper1]

Well the high heat JB s weld is recommended for blocks I see. 600 lb pressure and up to 500 degrees. No motor will run if heated that hot. Did some casting repair in the die shop on cast iron. V cut then fill 1 " out both ways. Sounds like same deal. We used a commercial putty similar to Plummer. Stuff was like metal. Cut drill and I tapable. .

 

[Fun Times]

Are you serious?

May as well give it a try because besides your labor and a little bit of money for supplies, the only big thing you really have to lose is the long block which wouldn't be much of a big deal due to you were already considering a newer one anyways.....This way should something else bad happen later on with the engine, well you won't be AS upset about the ordeal.

Just keep an extra eye on the repair and the engine oil color and level before and during your outings. Quick tip for you: An easier way to check oil "color" for water is if the engine has been sitting for awhile, blow some air down the dipstick tube in order to mix up any possible water to the oil so the color change shows on the dipstick.

Be sure the bilge pump is working good and it'd be a good idea to add an auto float bilge pump switch for extra safety.

Hope there's no water in the oil, good luck with it.:usa:

 

[sub2010ss]

My dad did this on his boat three years ago and it's still holding like a champ.

 

[NHGuy]

I've seen it done with JB (after the cleanup). As the freshly applied JB sat, a heat gun was used to thin the JB and get it seek all the gaps in the crack. That engine is still running, many years on.
Marine Tex claims it can repair such leaks but it did not work on that motor.

 

[pureinsanity]

I put some Quick Steel on a friends 3.0 about 10yrs ago and it's still holding. The crack wasn't quit as extensive as yours but I definitely think it would be worth a try. I personally have run a 302 ford (888 Merc) fixed this way. It hard a crack on the back side of the engine behind the fly wheel. Never leaked a drop.

 

[Grandad]

Hi viper. I used JB Weld to cement a piece of angle iron to the cracked outer corner of my exhaust manifold. It's held up now for years. Fortunately apparently there were no interior cracks that could have let water through the intakes into the engine itself. - Grandad

 

[achris]

I would prefer to see the crack welded. Yes, it's cast iron. Cast iron can be welded successfully, I've done it. I used a MIG, set to a fairly high current, but then just a touch of weld, let it cool down, a touch of weld, let it cool down. Yes it's going to take a while, but you will end up with a much nicer job.

One thing, regardless of which technique you use, you absolutely must drill the ends of the crack. Only needs to be a 1/8", but if you don't, the crack WILL continue.

Chris.......

 

[viper1]

Well the fact there is no pressure on a marine block is probably why i didn't think of it. but honestly didn't know it would hold that pressure. I am aware how ever how to do it. Never heard of the heat gun trick though great idea. Talked to a man last night who has been running his repair also a 12" one 5 years now with no problems he said. So Im guessing the real problems is if the motor has internal cracks letting water in. And the quality of the repair job. In the shop the commercial grade we had was still a little iffy if oil was present. Or if you failed to open enough to get a firm grip. Since its underneath were I can see it. I believe I'll open it and rough up a good 1" wide surface. Apply a fill to crack Making sure to fill tightly. Then dry for an hour or so. Then spread another coat to a wider surface as a bandaid to grip surface better. Then i'll put it together and try. I'm assuming since their is no pressure. a few hours of drying should be enough to test it and warm to operating temp. Well off to O rielys here to get some JB weld before weld

 

[viper1]

Well got the block patched. And assembled but for tightening altenater and carburater linkage. But then my health strikes again. So now waiting to recover to finish.

 

[H20Rat]

I'd let it have plenty of time to set up completely, at least 24 hours. No need to rush something that might be there for many years and save you thousands of dollars.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Got my fingers crossed for ya. Hope you're feeling better soon.

I had a 3406 Cat in a truck, way back when, and shoved a pushrod through the side of the block. JB'd it back together, dropped a new lifter and rod in and it ran for another 250000 miles before we sold it. Probably still running somewhere....

 

[viper1]

Well got to say I got a surprise today. Received a check for approx. half of the cost to repair the damage. I know he said on line he would. But my faith and trust in online friends hasn't been to good lately. But got to say some of it was restored today. And I apologize for my words. I think he is simply another out drive owner who isnt aware of the upkeep of an I/O So i took the liberty to explain. Would hate to see that nice boat i traded him get in this condition.
But I did the patch and let it set overnight. Next afternoon I reassembled it. But had to quit before hooking gas line to carb , also the tow choke wires and tighten the alternator belt. So been setting a few days. LOL!
Not sure how many realize it. But professional marinas and dealers use this fix every year. An Mercruiser is know for that crack when people fail to winterize. The other thing, of all the dealers and people who have done this. There is not one ever had it go bad or come back to the dealer. So im pretty confident of the repair.
In fact the heat limit is 600 degrees and pressure is 29000 lbs. Being an auto mechanic, I don't know any place on a gar ,truck or boat it wouldn't work. As none of them hit this degree of pressure or heat. LOL!
They also use it to fix a bracket to the block, replace threads or broken pieces. Soon as imise. able to return out and still breath i'll finish it up and hit the water for a shake down cruise