Repower F-32

nims · Post by **nims** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 11:53 am

Hi all Iâ€™m new to the site, I have a 1984 F-32 (and proud to say the original owner). I need to do a repower or a rebuild to the starboard engine. Iâ€™m leaning toward installing two new engines, 5.7MPIâ€™s and new transmissions also. I canâ€™t seem to find much info out there on this. It looks like with the new transmissions that the engines might have to be moved back?

Looking for info or suggestions.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:09 pm

You will need 1 trans unless you can get the engines in reverse rotation . if you replace the trans you may have to move the engine back sliglty if the replacement trans is shorter. What gear raitio do you have now ?

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:19 pm

Why not just do a rebuild... what do you really gain by changing engines and transmissions?
Certainly will not pass through to a higher selling price if you ever plan to sell.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:42 pm

By replaceing with EFI you would gain in cruise and top end speed and see a good size savings in fuel use.

But if it was me I would think about rebuilding the one engine if fresh water cooled. the older engines seem to have less issues with water getting sucked in causeing sticking valves . top much cam over lap IMO

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 1:26 pm

prowlersfish wrote:By replaceing with EFI you would gain in cruise and top end speed and see a good size savings in fuel use.

In the Great lakes region I don't consider the bottom line savings that great as we have a shortened season and in general often don't in fact spend a lot of hours underway.
Now if it is out fishing and running all day then maybe an argument could be made for the fuel savings.
Much like a diesel conversion, IMO the full cost of an EFI upgrade vs rebuild existing tends to give a long payback term with average Great Lakes usage.

Of course nims may be happy putting his money to work on a conversion... I have many more areas I would prefer to spend those $$.

nims · Post by **nims** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 1:36 pm

Iâ€™m thinking new so I donâ€™t have to revisit the port engine a few years down the road. Plus with the new I hope to get better performance all the way around

I have 1:52:1 transmissions now but it looks like by the time you add rebuilding the transmissions and the cost to reverse the engine (if i go new), that cost looks to be around 70% of installing new transmissions.

It also sounds like you folks are more in favor of doing a long block as opposed to a repower and thatâ€™s OK because I really havenâ€™t made my mind up yet, but I was hoping someone here may have done something like this to get some firsthand feedback.

MattSC · Post by **MattSC** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:43 pm

I did a repower from a chrysler LM318 to a 5.7MPI Crusader and have to say that it was the best decision I ever made and would do it again in a heartbeat. I plan on keeping the boat, so for me it justified the cost. With a longblock, unless you replace every part with new you're only as good as the oldest part. I do burn alot less fuel and have much better performance.

nims · Post by **nims** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:56 pm

MattSC wrote:I did a repower from a chrysler LM318 to a 5.7MPI Crusader and have to say that it was the best decision I ever made and would do it again in a heartbeat. I plan on keeping the boat, so for me it justified the cost. With a longblock, unless you replace every part with new you're only as good as the oldest part. I do burn alot less fuel and have much better performance.

Did you also change your trans,

jimbo36 · Post by **jimbo36** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:11 pm

Just wondering. Have you considered the cost of repowering with new 5.7's and new transmissions, including labour, may amount to as much or more than your boat is worth? and, not increase it's value a lot? Jimbo36.

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:28 pm

nims wrote:Iâ€™m thinking new so I donâ€™t have to revisit the port engine a few years down the road. Plus with the new I hope to get better performance all the way around.

Remanufactured engines are only a couple of thousand exchange.... and they will likely last as long as your old one's. My 318's are still humming and they are 6 years older than yours.
Beacon Marine used to have them on the old site.... this new one is lacking much stuff... pity.

Gearheadengines.com has them at $1729 for either rotation direction.

"These marine engines include special marine pistons and rings, a special marine camshaft, marine gaskets, new intake and exhaust valves, new main bearings, new rod bearings, cam bearings, new valve lifters, rocker nuts and swivels, heavy duty double roller timing chains, cam sprocket, crank gear, high volume Melling oil pump, brass freeze plugs and all gaskets and seals required for installation."

nims · Post by **nims** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 7:11 pm

Trust me I have gone back and forth with just that issue for a long time (the engine went out at the end of the 2008 season). But as I said in my first post this has been my boat from day one some 25 years ago and after looking at different boats during this down time I honestly donâ€™t see me letting it go anytime soon. So the dollar amount is always a concern but as I look at this it seems like the least expensive way to go i.e. buying a new used boat that may need something done to the engines or hull after the purchase.

Now you guys seem like you have been around boating for a while the numbers that Iâ€™m getting are showing the cost of long blocks, rebuilt trans and total labor for the job come to about 55% to 60% of going new. Does that sound right?

So for about 45% more I would get all the new technology, performance and peace of mind when traveling with engines that hopefully last another 1500 hours.

The other thing I wanted to find out is if anyone has knowledge or experience with Marine Power engines. I currently have 270 Crusaders and if I go new I am considering Marine Power. I havenâ€™t heard of anything bad up to this point.

As for remanufactured engines I have seen too many go bad in what I would consider a short period of time. Not to say there arenâ€™t some that last a long time but Iâ€™m not willing to take that chance. So if I donâ€™t go new it will defiantly be a long block.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 7:42 pm

A friend has marine power engines that are about 5 years old . both engines have valve issues( we hope) missing badly with low comp. on several cylinders . low hours too. Yes I know the base engine is the same . but exhaust design can cause valve issues ( sucking water back in) with the over lap with today's cams . I would go with crusaders my If going with new, seen less issues with them then other brands .

But if you really like the boat can you say Diesel ??

nims · Post by **nims** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 9:43 pm

prowlersfish wrote:But if you really like the boat can you say Diesel ??

Sure I can say Diesel, can you say not practical. With the cost of the diesel engines, changing the fuel tanks, changing the shaft size, changing the strutsâ€¦.and not to mention the short season in the great lakes it just doesnâ€™t make scenes to me on this boat.

Sorry to hear about your friends engines. I guess I donâ€™t understand if your friend is having water sucking back in from the exhaust on both engines isnâ€™t that where the problem is not really a problem with the engine and just going by what Power Marine has on their web site they say they have a patent on there exhaust manifold to help prevent that issue, I think your friend might say different.

Thanks for the info.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 10:05 pm

nims wrote:
prowlersfish wrote:But if you really like the boat can you say Diesel ??

Sure I can say Diesel, can you say not practical. With the cost of the diesel engines, changing the fuel tanks, changing the shaft size, changing the strutsâ€¦.and not to mention the short season in the great lakes it just doesnâ€™t make scenes to me on this boat.

Sorry to hear about your friends engines. I guess I donâ€™t understand if your friend is having water sucking back in from the exhaust on both engines isnâ€™t that where the problem is not really a problem with the engine and just going by what Power Marine has on their web site they say they have a patent on there exhaust manifold to help prevent that issue, I think your friend might say different.

Thanks for the info.

I just thru in diesel forthe heck of it (Stur up some thoughts) Not trying to talk you into it . BTW going with a high rpm diesel like yanmar you should be able to stay with the same shafts /struts. But you really need to use the boat to make it worth the cost .

But once you go diesel you won't go back . It has nothing to do with the money .

As far as marine power I hope they have the proplem solved ( there not alone) I will have to check into it . your in fresh water so its less of a issue I would think.

nims · Post by **nims** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 10:16 pm

I definitely know what you mean about diesel. If I ever get a different boat that would be one of the options I would like.