383 Stroker Final Assembly

[SneakyPete]

I checked with comp cams, they need 1/2 turn, so I will pop the covers off and swing them another 1/4 turn. I got the motor in Friday, but went away on vacation for the weekend, I hoping to have it running by June 1. I'll keep you guys up to date on my progress, but I am still waiting for the starter, which should be here on Tuesday.

 

[happy]

ya boating yet?????whats going on!!!! <<<< wants to hear a lil rumble

 

[SneakyPete]

Yeah man, I finally got it lit and broken in today. I struggled with it backfiring thru the carb for about a day and a half, today I pulled the distributor (for about the 5th time). I stabbed it back in 180* and viola, it lit right off. I got it broken in as well. I haven't put the drive back on yet, I hope it slides on alright. I put the fiber washers on the rear mounts, but one of the spring style washers popped off while I was putting the motor in, and I found it in my bilge, so I hope the drive will still go one alright. I also need to adjust the idle, because it won't idle unless I feed it some throttle. I have lots of tweaking to do. After I broke it in, I changed the oil and filter, and wound it up a couple of times, and let it back down to idle, and I noticed it was only spitting a little water through the pipes. I hope I didn't burn up my freshly rebuilt bravo pump. I had 2 garden hoses (seperate spickots) attatched to it, and it was pumping plenty of water during break in, maybe it just was cavitating a little or something and hadn't caught back up. I am going to pull the plugs and read them, and also check for reversion, becuase I let it idle way down for maybe 30 seconds or so (like 500 rpms), not knowing any better. Get this, I also forgot to install my dipstick, what a mess in my bilge now...I noticed it about halfway thru the break in, so I cut the motor, added some more oil, lit the motor off again, and covered the hole with a rag. I gotta pull the manifold to put the stick and tube in. It will be a few days before I can get at it again, rain is scheduled till the weekend.

 

[happy]

That spring is actually a locking washer.. as so called by the book, my perception of its function would be to keep the pressed in rubber moter mount from spinning while the engine runs its normal course.. as long as the felt washer is in place you should be able to line the engine up.. if the felt is missing you will not be able to properly align the engine, and should you get the drive back on, your engine coupler will prematurley deteriorate, and eventually fail, and without that, you'll be immobile in the water..

glad you finally got your distrib in right.. there is a big misconception that when the two dots line up on the timing gears, that is tdc... fact is it tdc#6..

good luck with the drive part of it... and happy boating..

 

[SneakyPete]

I screwed the pooch on putting the motor back in, I put the felt washers in the wrong spot, and missed one of the lock washers, I am taking it to the marina on Tues to have them mount the outdrive and line up the motor, this outdrive will be stressed as it is, and I want it on there right. My list of stuff after the outdrive is on is to adjust the carb, install the dipstick, and give it the old sea trial/beat run...

 

[vinny p.]

You have to get those felt washers in place before you have the alignment done. Check out the attached picture.


http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_Pictures3.asp?dnbr=%2099964&ivar=images/CRUISER/99964/3A.png&inbr=2203&bnbr=20&bdesc=TRANSOM+PLATE+AND+SHIFT+CABLE

 

[SneakyPete]

I think I am going to have hte marina do it because I dont have any way of lifting the motor up just a hair. The tractor I used to put the motor in doesn't have fine enough hydraulic control to just move a little bit, when you pull the lever for "up", the bucket shoots ups like 10 inches, no matter what. I may try with a pry bar or small jack, but I don't see it happening. I'll check into it when it stops raining...

 

[vinny p.]

How about a sturdy tree limb and a come along or chain fall? Your only lifting a small amount of weight, dont need anything too strong.

 

[happy]

you can use a bottle jack too.. or a porter power... am sorry to see your struggle..

 

[Big Dave]

went to the local rental yard yesterday and rented a tow behind engine hoist to pull the engine out of the Diplomat.
#2 rod bolts streched from lack of oil-rod, piston, cyl, and crank no good. cam shows lots of wear so now looking for a cam to go with the 350 shortblock I got from my bro-in-law.

 

[SneakyPete]

Well its all back together, haven't had a chance to drop in the H20 yet, not till Monday. I put pics of the motor swap in the overahualin' section if you want to check them out. I also put some more pics of the whole boat in the Picture This section.

 

[SneakyPete]

Plugs

How do these plugs look? It isnt the greatest pic, but they were pretty much black, not tan or white. This was after the 30 min break in, plus another 15mins or so at various no load speeds. This is the stock jetting on the performer carb

 

[vinny p.]

Pete,

You have to kidding with that picture of the plugs.. Cant see a damn thing..

 

[SneakyPete]

Took her out today, just broke 60mph on GPS, at only 3800rpm. I have to adjust the throttle linkage, because I am pretty sure the carb wasn't opening up all the way. Runs snappy, lots louder, gets right up out of the water with no stumble, but I didn't hammer it on the holeshot, took it gentle.

 

[vinny p.]

That sounds great. Make sure you do a plug at a high rpm pass. You dont want that engine to be going lean at w.o.t. Hows the fuel system and pressure?

 

[SneakyPete]

I think it is running pretty fat, at least smells like it. It definately smells a lot more than my last motor, but I am not sure if that is due to it having valve cover breathers instead of a pcv valve, or due to the hole I cut in the hatch. The plugs are pretty black and sooty, but I only checked them after running on the trailer, I havent checked them after todays run. I was pretty nervous, waiting for something to let go or fail, waiting for the rods to shoot thru the block or the outdrive to fail. It will probably take a little time for me to build some faith in it. I have to adjust the idle, as it will occasionally stall when shifting out of gear. Lots of tinkering to do carb-wise...

 

[happy]

your stalling comming out of gear probably wont be a carb adjustment, but i will be a shift adjustment.. Your shift interupt switch is stalling your engine. congrats on your first run... and as many engines as i have installed in boats, on the sea trial, the checklist fly thru my head... and you always wonder if you may have forgotten something.. just keep checking on the engine room while running... and you should catch any quirp that may be lingering..