UPDATE ON MY 1987 GREAT BUY!

4windancer195 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 11, 2014 10:59 am **Posts:** 35

the pistons are frozen to the cylinder walls, soaking them in penetrating oil now, STARTER IS BAD, BILGE PUMP BAD, pull the outdrive on it today. If the cylinders free up i have to make a decision to buy a starter or not and see if the motor runs.... ANY ADVICE WELCOME... i was told these 4cyl mercruisers 225ci motor with 180 hp are rare and stopped production in 1991. I was priced $300+ just for the starter and that sounded high to me... When the outdrive is pulled i will have more information.... what u guys think... floors transom plate and evertything else is tip top shape.

ric · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 11:48 am

Advice? Put it on craigslist for scrap and find a boat that runs that's made after the year 2000.

4windancer195 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 11, 2014 10:59 am **Posts:** 35

oh im sorry i forgot to mention.... affording a boat newer than 2000 that runs is 10k... i dont want to spend 10k, thanks for nothing and move on... (insert meaningless post that nobody finds helpful above)

TFD2001 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:26 pm

4windancer195 wrote:

oh im sorry i forgot to mention.... affording a boat newer than 2000 that runs is 10k... i dont want to spend 10k, thanks for nothing and move on... (insert meaningless post that nobody finds helpful above)

Welcome to Ric.... :roll:

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:39 pm

So, this boat has the Mercruiser "470"? A Mercruiser designed and cast aluminum block mated to a Ford 460 head. Also, it has a "stator" type of charging system. But at least it is closed cooled so it should not have raw/sea water in the block. Curious to know why it is seized.

Too bad. While the motors made a lot of power from a small, light package they are NOT regarded very highly. In fact they are probably seen as worse than anything that says OMC on it.

It will be a pricey thing to get running and maintain. You may actually be money ahead to repower to a different engine.

$300 for a starter is just the beginning. New pistons/rings and a potential need to bore it out will add up fast...if you can actually find appropriate parts to support a full rebore/rebuild.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:48 pm

RR speaks the truth, he knows his boats. The 470 merc has been called around here "the mistake at the lake" a painfully brutal engine to maintain , especially these days. I would also consider a re-power with almost any engine other than the 470. You will be glad you did.

Good luck with whatever you decide, the boat may actually turn out to be a great buy, but not with that engine.

ric · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:57 pm

I bought my 2000 H180 for $1200 in perfect condition. Took a while to find but cash talks.

4windancer195 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 11, 2014 10:59 am **Posts:** 35

you guys are refrencing this motor as a merc 470???? i dont believe it said 470 anywhere...

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 1:03 pm

4windancer195 wrote:

you guys are refrencing this motor as a merc 470???? i dont believe it said 470 anywhere...

Please read the link from Mercruiser below.

https://www.mercruiserparts.com/mercury ... er_3-7.htm

Quote:

For a number of reasons we have found that sometimes it just makes more sense to replace this engine altogether. A new complete ready to install 3.0L is a simple replacement for boats made after 1985. A complete 4.3 V6 is not much more and is a nice upgrade, however it is a little more work to install.

Do a google search for Mercruiser 470, and you will see.

ric · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 1:48 pm

LOL my favorite quote about the Merc 470:

Quote:

You are only safe within the distance you can swim to shore. Or, get a small kicker outboard as a trolling/get you home motor and mount it on a bracket on the stern. Always have a plan B.

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 2:32 pm

4windancer195 wrote:

you guys are refrencing this motor as a merc 470???? i dont believe it said 470 anywhere...

Mercruiser built the motors for a number of years and they have various HP ratings and names. 165, 170, 180, 190, 470 etc.

It seems 470 is the name that best signifies what the motors are to those that know boats and engines.

Call a shop and tell them you have a Merc 470 and they will know exactly what it is and hope you don't want any major work done on it....b/c they will spend the next umpteen hours/days trying to work out the bugs and feel guilty charging you for every billable hour and end up eating their shirts trying to make you happy. Or they will tell you to go pound sand.

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 3:10 pm

I want to add one thing.

All engines are suspect when they have been sitting neglected for a number of years. The issues with this particular 470 are not unique to the 470.

The engine has sat for a long period of time unused and likely got moisture/condensation build up in the cylinders and corrosion has set in. Getting the engine freed up is the first battle. After that, all bets are off. Best case scenario is that all it needs is a full tune up/carb rebuild. Worst case is as noted above, you spend umpteen hours/days trying to get all the inherent 470 bugs worked out.

I woke up a pair of 470s that had sat for 8 years recently and while the boat was operational, the engines still have many faults, leaks and abnormal behavior along with owner modifications that are attempts at making them more reliable. It is sketchy at best....and likely won't get any better even with continued maintenance/repair.

ric · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 3:19 pm

Man this guy was all excited I feel like we rained on his parade. Probably should have done some research before the purchase though.

rpengr · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 3:54 pm

$300 for a starter might be money down the drain as mentioned above, but is there an automotive starter that will fit this engine for trial purposes. A $50 remanufactured starter might be worth it to see if this engine is going to run. Or you could have yours repaired at a local pump & motor shop.

Of course you cannot use an automotive starter in a boat because it could ignite fuel vapors. You could only use it on a test stand, or when your engine compartment is wide open and you have confirmed the absence of fuel vapors. You would still need to get the marine starter after you confirm the engine is worth fixing.

4windancer195 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 11, 2014 10:59 am **Posts:** 35

GREAT NEWS>>>>>>>>>>>> IM BACKKKKKKKKKKKKK i will find out tommorow about the condition of the motor and outdrive tommorowl, BUT i ALREADY found a rebuilt no hours 3.7L plug and play all accessories included for....wait for it....wait for it.... $500. So Bought it for 1,000 with the trailer. Worst case scenario the marine shop to tell me its bad, new bilge pump, and swap the motor..... ill find out tommorow and ill will continue to update on my PROJECT THAT i refuse to except is a bad buy!!! ATLANTIC MOTORS QUOTED ME $2100 for this motor complete shipped to my door so a rebuilt with 0 hours for $500.... ill take it, yes he will show me the reman runs and runs well before i buy it. HEY RICK EAT YOUR HEART OUT, this aint my first project, just my first boat project, welcome to my world, itll all work out with faith and hard work bro.... hope your 20k boat with $700 in fuel each time you go out impresses someone else!

www.iFourWinns.com

UPDATE ON MY 1987 GREAT BUY!

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