They are the same as i put on, weight difference is noticeable makes them easier to hold when installing. The other thing i had due to going for taller units was adding a small plate to lower the holes on that mounting bracket where the motor cables bolt on, if you went with standard height then shouldn't need the plate ( which manufacturer made up for free) hope the fitting goes well
"Mate, you have a nice hull. Please don't take this as a personal critiscism. Mercruisers were only ever designed for fresh water use. If you have a component of salt water use, keep it simple. Throw away the Mercruiser and bolt on an outboard of some description. It may seem like a dramatic solution but having owned and operated plenty of vessels over the past thirty years, there is such a thing as quitting when you are ahead.
Check out the American web sites. The Mercruiser boats are all Lake boats. Offshore boats have outboards.
To be kind, you can probably do all the work required to fix the problems at a price, but you are gunna be there again real soon because of the corrosive nature of the salt.
Cheers, Keith"
Thank you very much Keith for the joke of the week.
Attached are some photos (if i have done it right) of mine if that is of any help
thanks for those photos terry. i might be swayed now i've seen all that shinyness
Wow! what a radical perspective!! Throwing the baby out with the bathwater just a tad!!Originally Posted by Captain Incredible
Plenty of cast iron in an engine block so takes many years to corrode. And of course, if they are freshwater cooled then the only sacrificial component is the exhaust elbows. WAYYYYYYYYY more protected than an outboard!!!
To those guys doing their own work, too late now (hadn't seen this topic) but aftermarket elbows are about $400 per pair locally and I think manifolds about the same the last time I enquired.
If not using the 1 piece stainless jobs MAKE SURE you use the genuine Mercruiser metalised gaskets. If they are dry joint manifolds then no probs, they are better.
Mercruisers are easy to work on, but then all engines are I guess. But take your time and follow your manual. they aren't rocket science but there are critical elements.
Cheers
I looked at the aftermarket units but at the time (June last yr) i got my pair of stainless hi tek for $2000 so hoping for longevity against the cast iron, i guess only time will tell
Thanks for the pics Terry, I stripped my old manifolds off the boat to day that was easy enough but found that the new ones dont fit so well so will talk to the guy at Hi-tek and I am sure he will sort it out. The old ones looked pretty shabby around some of the bungs so I am glad I didn't put this job off any longer. Took the boat out this morning befor we started work on it and took some data on rpm, speed and fuel use and will do the same once the new manifolds are installed. I am hoping this will give an indercation of any gains. I had prices from $1850 to $2270 for mercruiser manifolds and I got the Stainless ones for 2k so it was an easy disision.
Hi Terry
The starboard side reenforced hose that goes into the exhaust elbow . Not sure if it is original or a replacement but I am not a fan of those hoses in a engine bay. Some aren't petrol resistant and most harden and don't cope with external heat. Not sure the quality of yours but if it is hardening at all replace it . Looks like it has to be stretched to get on the barb as well.
Well maintained mercruisers are a good thing . So many aren't well maintained and are just left . That leads to even more expensive repairs on em or they get sold and then fail. There is still some mild steel fittings / backets on em which defies belief but will last 10 years which is their life in the USA.
AS BM says they area simple motor so why to Mercruiser agents want Formula 1 wages to to anything on them!!!!????? and want to charge accordingly for parts in Australia. Things get a much better rep when parts are half the price and very avaliable like in teh USA. Problem is a lot of people never read the proper workshp manuals and repair them properly. The number of failures on "repaired motors " is huge.
Hi Cormorant,
If that is the hose that goes into the front of the manifold just below the name "Hi Tek", i think it must be original as it is double bended with flared end, still pliable so far but will keep an eye on it, not stretched just the barb out of manifold is quite long plenty inside the hose. Appreciate the advice. i made sure i got a set of mercruiser workshop manuals certainly makes life easier. I try to do most of the work myself so as i know it has been done, i've found the work is not hard but very fiddly which consumes time.
Hi Easyrider, what is the fitting trouble you are having, don't the bolt holes line up or is something else the problem
regards terry
Hi Terry no the mateing surface is fine it is more the hieght and the distance back that the discharge pipe goes. This then does not allow enough room for the elbow.
If yours are the standard height should fit, i had to get longer exhaust elbows because i went with taller units. From memory i found the best way to fit was to first loosely connect up the exhaust bellows to the unit then align manifold holes
My error . Just realised it is the camera flash washing the colout out. I thought it was a clear hose with the fibre webbing in it but on a second look I think I can see it is a black hose.
A little knowledge and common sense goes a long way with motors. Reading a manual is a big start before you start a job. Critical to use the right sealants etc and at torque wrench for longevity. A lot of mechanics work is not good enough.
Hi Cormorant, Yes it is a black hose, but thanks anyway for the thought.
Easy rider, attached is a photo of my old elbow No: DSM14478-C, should be same as yours, if the units are wrong i am sure the deler will look after you i found him excellent to deal with
regards terry
I think mine need to be at least 30mm taller as at the moment there is not enough room to fit the elbows in that elbow of yours looks like it has more of an off set than mine I will check it out tomorrow. Thanks for the help.
Hi Easyrider how are you going have you made any progress
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote