Marine crate engine

S

Sea Bitt

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exMember
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18475
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Does anyone have an estimate or educated guess on what a marine crate engine would cost to buy and install for a mid 80s Carver 28 foot with twin Crusader 220Hp 305 5L. I have one engine with low compression; the other seems to be OK. Any particular remanufacture to use or to stay away from?
Thanks,
Bruce
 
To save money it would be worth pulling the heads to determine the cause of low compression. Valves and head gaskets are not very expensive.
Are all cyls low?
 
They still have new non vortec (older) blocks available for 2.5k or so. Depends on shipping which is expensive. I had 5.0l volvo but put a new 5.7l block in. It was $300 cheaper and all the bolt on's are the same so you don't need any other new parts (unless worn out). A 5.7l (350) will not provide much more power with the same add on's but some think it is a better set up.

If you are uncertain about the bigger block just look up the part numbers for the add ons. The carbs and the distributor are usually the same on the base models. The 5.7 can take a little more total advance but unless you run at full rpm that is not a limit.
 
Based on the year you also have to check if you have a reverse rotation engine or does the transmission do the reversing of the propeller spin. Reverse rotation enginss are a little more expensive.
 
Hi SeaBitt.

I just put a reman merc 5.7L in my boat over the past couple of days. It was my port engine... cracked block I think. Anyway, I called 800runsnew and they had a chevy 350 (5.7l) remanufactured engine at my boat yard in 2 days. Cost was $1900 delivered I believe.

One thing I would recommend, they offer a more complete package than the one I got... oil pan, intake manifold, pumps included. That package was more money but after swapping all the components, you may find it worth it.

--Rick
 
I bought 2 new Crusader engines from http://www.1800runsnew.com/ and had very good service at a very fair price. It was a pleasure to do business with them. They beat any other place for a Crusader engine price.
 
I also bought two 350 long blocks (one reverse rotation) from the same company and got great service. I put 800 hours on those engines and they ran perfectly when I sold the boat. You may want to call them and explain your situation. They know more about marine engines than anyone I have ever come across. I was replacing GM 327s and they knew every little quirk in that swap.

Rick D's suggestion is a good one. While you can probably swap the tin parts from your old engine, getting the oil pan in place, for instance, will save you a couple of hours and the seals and gaskets will be installed right with the correct length bolts. Same with the timing chain cover. Nice to know you won't have to play around with the seal and the gasket.

Bill
 
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