new owner asking for some engine advice
 

hello all first post here, would just like to thank to people that put this forum together seems to be one of the more organized ones iv ever come across and very helpful.

so quick snap shot i bought a fairly beat up boat for the trailer for another mariah in pristine condition, however was never able to acquire the nicer boat. (97 talari zi 246)

i would like to possibly redo this boat (fairly beat up) however im highly suspicious the block is cracked, the last owner pulled it over 8 years ago and let it rot says they didn't bother winterizing it , where i live that's bad news

i would like to turn this over if i could and try to see if after all it is bad however its got a 454 big block and im having a hard time figuring out how im gonna pull plugs to swap them any mechanics out there with some secret?

thanks in advance

Re: new owner asking for some engine advice
 

We talking spark plugs or freeze plugs ?

Re: new owner asking for some engine advice
 

spark plugs... yea i thought about that an hour or so after i wrote it sorry

Re: new owner asking for some engine advice
 

They're not that bad to get to. A 6" extension on a 3/8" drive ratchet with the 5/8" spark plug socket. Use that socket or you'll drop them for sure. The plug wires will lead you to the plugs.
Please avoid any those gimmick plugs out there. The NGKs will give you your most bang for the buck. Too many test have proven gimmick plugs are just that..gimmicks.
Now, on putting them back in.
Get a 1' piece of 1/4 to 3/8" heater hose and stick the new plug in it. You can gingerly find the threads and screw it in with hose and the hose will slip before you can cross thread.
It's always a good idea to reset your timing after changing very wore out plugs. Especially on EFI engines.
Hope this helps and hollar back if you need more help.

Re: new owner asking for some engine advice
 

hey thanks alot tygon tube worked awesome!!! really appreciate it. had ngk in it, put new in sprayed wd-40 down the plug holes, plan to evacuate old gas put in some new, hook up a battery and try test firing...... any other suggestions?

Re: new owner asking for some engine advice
 

Are you very handy with tools ? Handy enough to check timing ?
I didn't notice, did you change the oil ? If you have not, give me your address and I'll send you one of my oil analysis kits to Blackstone Labs. With a small sample, they can tell you if the block is cracked. I'll loan you my hand pump for drawing a sample.
They $25 for a VERY precise readout. Right down to how badly the motor is worn.
But it has to be the old oil.
You'll want to change the fuel/water separater filter and be sure to fill up the new filter with new gas before putting it on.

Re: new owner asking for some engine advice
 

Im a mechanic but not auto, I'm a plant (nuc) mechanic-- pump valves that sorta thing, so ya pretty handy with tools.
Never done timing checks so unfamiliar could find some videos to help me
I'm guessing your referring to a vampire pump to fill an oil sample bottle, I can borrow them from work, Ive heard of Blackstone labs they'll send the kit for free and charge for the analysis - i did not realize they were that good!
The oil is not milky however I don't believe its ever been run after the possible cracking the last owner pulled it and let it sit for years.
Yes I had planned on swapping the fuel filter once I had the tank drained
Im also thinking if I can get it running to wait on oil analyses until after
So any tricks to draining the oil, Im not used to this big block my last boat had a little 350 in it and I had all sorts of room to do everything, is there a secret to getting to the plug or do you just draw it from the top ?

thank you for being so diligently helpful

Re: new owner asking for some engine advice
 

You'll need a pump made specifically for marine engines. It draws through the dip stick tube. It's not too bad.
I have to say, don't buy the bass pro pump. The tubing is brittle and the flare breaks off.
Yes, Blackstone is great. And you're absolutely right, they will send the sample kits for free. Just stick a $25 check in with the sample.

I was being nosy on your skills because I'm fairly certain your carb is going to need attention. Gas sitting in the bowl has surely congealed by now and you'll need to pop the top and clean it out. But be careful and don't monkey with any of the settings !! Spreadbores require a doctrines degree and finicky little thingys.
Once you get that magical 650rpm setting, then you can check your timing after you ground out the base timing lead.

Re: new owner asking for some engine advice
 

AHHH OKKKK. - Thanks for the heads up on the Bass pro pump
no carb this has efi - which im thinking makes this situation worse with a pump and injectors etc.

Re: new owner asking for some engine advice
 

well i popped the tank access cover and sucked out appx 30 gallons of gas tonight trying to figure out how to upload pics of my progress i think i have to upgrade membership and have to make a pay pal account to do so
but gas hadn't gelled up so hopefully wont be a problem in the injectors tomorrow i plan to pull the gas filter and air intake filter and put a battery on charge

Re: new owner asking for some engine advice
 

To post pics;
At the bottom left of this window that your reading is an orange Post Reply button. Press it and in that new window, top and a little right of center, you'll see a paper clip icon in the toolbar. Press it and then press one of the file buttons and find a pic. In that same panel of that window, you must press Upload to get the pic. When it's done uploading, go to the bottom of that window and press Done. That will take you back to your original posting window and you can hit Preview to make sure your pic will be in the posting.
Hope that works for you !

Re: new owner asking for some engine advice
 

So small update as this seems to get at least some views, after initial plug replacement I sprayed wd- 40 down the holes let sit 4 days, found on some other forums that recommended pb blaster and marvel mystery oil both supposedly perform better on a side note apparently a machine shop had done a study and a 50/50 of atf and acetone is the greatest penetrating fluid of anything.

Sat morning went out pulled all the plugs and sprayed blaster and mystery into the plug holes let sit a few hours and then poured some mystery oil into each valve cover attempted to roll it over and it did!!! also began rolling for a few minutes with the starter to hopefully get some oil up top and clean the components next step is to drain oil ad some mystery a little atf and new oil and attempt to fire get it up to temp and see if block is cracked, if no sign of water and no milky.... oil will drain again and run with new oil and send that off to a lab. In meantime have managed to clean quite a bit of the boat back up somehow an hour of leaving some old wax on the dash brought the bright red right back couldn't believe it.
every step I get a little more excited I really hope its not cracked and I can revive this awesome boat back to her prestige

Re: new owner asking for some engine advice
 

okay so brian i hope you see this and can help as your kinda my good luck charm so far, I went thru as thorough as i could be for start up procedure, down to zinc additives for the cam, so i got it fired up relatively quick start so im happy, however no water in exhaust so i shut it down, exhaust manifolds were warm but not detrimental
clearly im not getting water so i tried priming the system, i pulled the biggest hose on the four way chamber above the water pump and as fast as i could pour it in i can hear it pouring out the bottom i could have see it, so either i have a huge crack but it looks like its near the bottom of the oil pan and that wouldn't crack or somebody actually winterized this ten years ago by pulling the bottom hose.
so how do i check and or get the hose back on and get them correctly i seen thread son other forums about getting supply and return backwards... any body with some advise

Re: new owner asking for some engine advice
 

im going to go after pulling the water pump tomorrow will post results

Re: new owner asking for some engine advice
 

well blown casting plugs cant reach all of them. will pull motor and post findings - thanks for all the help.