Crusing on one engine

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 12:55 pm

From what I remeber you oil press, was low but still ok ( in spec) has it gotten lower ?

jddens · Post by **jddens** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 2:03 pm

I did a compression check and had anywhere from 90 to 140.....also had the engine oil analyzed and have bearing material (lots) and some coolant by products.....might be able to use it for awile but decided not to, I don't want to ruin the block.........oil pressure good when cold and bad when warm......like less than 5psi........going to rebuild/replace eventually.....mean time running on one is working......except the first mate likes speed and isn't to happy at 7 knots ..............John

jddens · Post by **jddens** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 4:16 pm

While we are on this engine subject I'd like to throw out an idea......I am seriously considering re-powering with 4.3, 215hp mercs. I am concerned about rebuilding/replacing one engine and having one new and one old. I don't need the 330hp I get from these 350's. I would think fuel consumption would improve considerably while still having enough power to cruise at 20 knots or so.........and lastly, both my 350's run so I think I could sell them and off set a small part of the cost.........the 4.3 is basically a 350 with two cylinders removed. They should bolt right up to the hurth transmissions. Since I only boat in fresh water I would get rid of the closed loop cooling. The rest of this boat is almost perfect with a total refit over the last 5 years including all wiring and plumbing, front deck replaced, new running gear, new controls and gauges both up and down, all wood refinished, all paint redone...etc, etc.........what do you all think of this idea????........thanks.............John

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 12:53 am

4-6K, seems like alot

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:15 am

I would not worry about having one new engine( or rebuilt) and one older. It won't cause any issues .

As far as going with the 4.3 ,I would think twice . you won't save any fuel and could burn more as 4.3 will have to work harder , I belive you would reget going with them . they just don't have the guts of the 5.7 and they are no where as smooth .The 4.3 is a good engine just not the right on for the job.

jddens · Post by **jddens** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 11:01 am

Thanks Paul, if there is no fuel saving then there is no advantage to the switch......guess I'll work on getting the weak motor fixed and go from there...........John

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 2:38 pm

Not that I think you would be selling any time soon but the V6 would hurt resale also

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 4:20 pm

rebuilding is a drop in, no mounts to change or anything.

Re-motoring with a motor of less capacity than needed will devalue your vessel.

Pennywise...

Imagine a Cadillac sedan with a V-8 being repowered with a chevy or Isuzu 6 cylinder.

And it won't save any gas either!

RWS

MTP · Post by **MTP** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 11:16 am

RWS wrote:rebuilding is a drop in, no mounts to change or anything.

Re-motoring with a motor of less capacity than needed will devalue your vessel.

Pennywise...

Imagine a Cadillac sedan with a V-8 being repowered with a chevy or Isuzu 6 cylinder.

And it won't save any gas either!

RWS

unless it is Isuzu diesels'

willietrojan · Post by **willietrojan** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 11:58 am

I donâ€™t think a V6 will push that boat 20knt, in addition, your resell value will go down to zero. I know a guy in my marina who could not afford to rebuild both engines at the same time so he elected to get the engine that was giving him trouble taken care and that was two years ago. He is still running with both the newer and older engines even today with no plans on replacing the older engine until it blows up. You will be fine with rebuilding your one bad engine and later on get the other one done when you can afford or it needs to be replaced

You can get a reman 350 for around $2400.00

http://bpi.ebasicpower.com/c/ENG/Marine+Engines

jddens · Post by **jddens** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:15 pm

Thanks everyone for the input. I will rebuild/replace the weak motor and keep the good motor as is. I have found the short blocks from 1500-3000. The problem is getting it out and back in...looks like a shoe horn will be required and I'm not going to attempt it myself. Yard fees and labor bring the total to around 4500-6000....I'm waiting for one more quote today and then will make a decision.....thanks again......

thelast322 · Post by **thelast322** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:49 pm

Just to let you know, i had good luck "Trail Shafting with one engine" on my f32 when gas was 4.50 a gallon. There has been past threads on this. In the grand scheme of things, I believe you will be fine. I never had any trouble. Depending on your tranny, you may be able to lock it out by putting it in gear. If that is not sucessful, i would make a log and shoot the tranny with a infared gun at the bearing points to see if you are getting any elevated temps. I was at a ZF Transmission Seminar and the speaker said the company had no problems with this issue .David Pascoe has a forum on this also. Look him up. One other thing, that you may already be aware. Go no faster than hull speed. About 7 kts for our boats. Look at the Super tankers going down the ocean. There at hull speed " Very Effient".
On a positive note. Pull the engine yourself by paying the yard to pluck it out By a fork truck. You could also hire a tow truck rig to come pick the block out if you have to. I rebuilt my 350 at a machine shop with certified parts for $1900. That did not include rigging & blood , sweat, & tears to put it back in. Still I was not making another person richer on my hard earn money....If you know what I mean

Finally, marine blocks have stronger Valve springs, Better manufactured gaskets to withstand the harsh contiuous Rpm of going up hill in fist gear all of the time.....Aka the cruising RPM........

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:46 am

My last boat was a John Allmand, which had two Chevy 350's , I ran that boat around for two years on one engine,,lol my port engine flywheel was shot and just didnt want to tie the boat up but pulling it,
I went everywhere , just a little slower and it does affect handling etc, but I learned to live with it.
One thing I learned about owning an old boat. If your not doing most of the work, or all of it yourself you better have ALOT of money, Marinas are expensive and so is labor. I cant imagine someone owning an old boat that is not a least "handy" or very good with electric and machines. If you do in fact have an old pressure problem and by reading your post , seems you do, then replacement is in order. Dont even try to repair the problem, not worth it. Replace with the same size engine.