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Rust in the intake 1982 mercruiser 140 cyl

A

apoc330

New member
Background:
i have restored a 1982 wellcraft bowrider 180 that has the mercruiser 140 engine, 3.0L 4cyl 181.

When I finished all of the interior restore I drained the tank because it had been sitting for 5 years, drained all of the fluids and refilled everything. I took the carb in and had it rebuilt and a tune-up. When I took the boat out it ran great for about an hour and in the middle of a run it bogged down and would not get above 1500 rpm even at WOT. I have just taken the boat to a mechanic and he tested the pressures which were really low, 110-85-55-90 and suggested that the engine be rebuilt.


problem:
I pulled the head off of the boat to have it pressure tested and found rust in the intake on the head, that seems weird to me but I have never worked on a boat engine and not sure if this is normal.

Also, when i removed the valve cover I found that all of the lifters had a thick milkshake like goo on them which typically means water is mixing with oil. The water i drained from the block was all nice and clear, dont know if that means anything.

Should I go ahead and pull the engine and have the block pressure tested and what else should I be checking?
 
Yep good plan you have. or a good running used motor, see them all the time on ebay. Any motor before 90' will do doesn't matter who has the stamp on it bit a merc will fit up nice with the merc mani. and riser.

Bye the way sounds like freeze damage to me if its saltwater the block is toast.
 
Appreciate the feedback, I am checking to see if i can find a reasonably priced backup engine, dont wanna sink too much more money into this project.

Could be freeze damage, got colder than normal here in central tx before i had a chance to winterize although the problem started last summer but the boat sat for 5 years so i guess it could have been damage from before.

Probably a silly question but is water in the intake of the head on a boat motor normal?
 
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