Major Maintainance

[The-easyrider]

The time has come when I need to replace maifolds and engine mounts and most proberly hoses on my mercruiser. Also there is some general clean up and corosion repairs to be done. Alot of this work appears to be very labour intence therefor expencive. I consider myself to be reasonably mechanicly minded, have built a motor or two and done a few conversons of v8s to cruisers. I am considering undertaking this work myself to reduce costs and am wondering if this a wise way to go or would I be better off bitting the bullit and paying to have the work done and having the piece of mind that it was done by a pro.

[finga]

If you feel confident why not do it yourself.
You have a distinct advantage of having the boat on a trailer if it's for the boat in your picture.
Removing the engine would be a cinch and you'd be able to take your time to make sure everything is right before it goes back in.

[PADDLES]

g'day easyrider, i think the fact you've asked the question gives you your answer. a lot of the enjoyment of boating comes from not worrying, if taking it to a mercruiser service agent gives you greater peace of mind then spend the cash. if you're going to have any thoughts in the back of my mind as to whether you did something properly then it might ruin your day.

[Triple]

As the old saying goes..
If you want something done right, then do it yourself.

You sound handy with the spanners, if you have the time then take your time and do it yourself and if you get stuck then send it in to the shop to finish.

[The-easyrider]

Thanks for the replies Fellers, Yes it is the boat on the trailer and I have the gear available to pull the motor so that would be easy. The piece of mind would come from the fact that the work is warrantied not so much that everything is right as I have paid for profesional work on more than one occasion and had to go back to get something rectified. Maybe my question should have been more along the line, does anybody know of any pitfalls to watch out for with this job in this boat, a whitley Sea Legend with a 4.3 MPI mercruiser.
Cheers Aaron

[Chimo]

Hi Aaron

Ask BM

He has another job that he might be doing up here so who knows!

Cheers
Chimo

[finga]

does anybody know of any pitfalls to watch out for with this job in this boat, a whitley Sea Legend with a 4.3 MPI mercruiser.
Cheers Aaron

Don't drop the motor on the back of the boat would be a starter I reckon.
Other then that just be careful undoing bolts and nuts. Make they don't snap off on you otherwise there is a lot more work.

Have you got the space to lay things out as they're dis-assembled?
If it only needs new hoses and risers and stuff like that you can't get into too much trouble.
Are you getting new risers as there's a mob down the Gold Coast way that make performance stainless risers that have a 5 year warranty for the same price as the alloy factory alloy risers.

[The-easyrider]

Hey Finga what do you mean "Don't drop the motor on the back of the boat " one way I am conterplating is to once the motor is out to lay some heavy ply onto the floor and do the work in the boat reather than take it right out and over to the shed. I have been advised to stay away from the stainless ones as they expand at differant rates and give a world of problems

[finga]

Hey Finga what do you mean "Don't drop the motor on the back of the boat "

Don't have the motor 2m above the boat and have the chain break.
That tends to make a mess of things.

Put a post up about stainless risers to see if there are inherent problems.

Mercruiser made their own stainless risers a few years ago but stopped them due to costs etc.
http://www.perfprotech.com/store/art...ess-riser.aspx

[PADDLES]

i've heard the same about stainless risers, dunno if it's true or just an old wives tale. i would have thought that if they were any good (ie. just welded sheet ones) mercruiser would at least market them to try and compete.

we're due for a new set on our 4.3 this year too and i'm going through the same thoughts, do i do it myself or just pay an extra couple of hours labour when i get my next service, i'm really tempted to just pay the bucks considering i'm pretty happy with the service guys so far.

[MEG-A-BITE]

Looks like there are a few of us in the same situation, I also need to have the risers and manifolds done on my 4.3 MPI. Aaron I more than willing to lend a hand and help,if you decide to do the job yourself. May learn something and decide to do my own.
Paddles who do you use to service you motor?
Cheers

[PADDLES]

g'day mega, i was wondering how you went with those risers, how's the boat going? i've been going to northside marine for a couple of years now since we bought the whittley and we're pretty happy with them, the price is right and the service is very good. i'm still keeping an eye on riser prices on ebay though, it's getting cheaper but the transport is a killer.

[MEG-A-BITE]

Hi Paddles

Yep the boat needed some work but its goes very well thanks,just now need to look at the risers and manifolds.On the weekend went to Somerset and the motor started missing, so think it may now need new plug leads.Well hope that just the problem.
easyrider is also looking at doing his risers and manifold, so hey perhaps if one of us find a good deal on the parts let everyone know.

cheers

[PADDLES]

last august, risers were about $450 each and gaskets around $40 each. ebay has risers from michigan motorsports in the USA for less than $400 each including delivery and their gaskets are a smidgin under $40. it might be worth a call to the local mercruiser agent, their prices may have dropped to reflect the strong aussie dollar. a group buy from the USA may be worthwhile.

[The-easyrider]

I Have been checking out USA suppliers and just found a complete set of manifolds and risers with all the gaskets needed for a touch over 1200 bucks at Michigan Motors, Bargin. Down side is that shipping is $1350 so at near $2600 I am better off with the hy-tech stainless headers at not much over 2200 bucks.