SoCal Jet Boats

Tech Talk => Engine Mechanical / Electrical => Topic started by: Motoghost on May 31, 2010, 09:39:23 PM

Title: Found an4 54 Engine but RUST!
Post by: Motoghost on May 31, 2010, 09:39:23 PM
Hey guys, I found a GM crate motor on craigslist that had 7K miles on it and was put in a motorhome that burnt down, so the firedepartment hosed the thing and water got in it, it sat for two years. I got it for 400 bucks and its in great shape BUT!

I pulled the pan and the heads, the cylinder walls have light surface rust, most of it you cant feel the difference between the clean walls, but there are a few spots.
Do you think I need to have the block bored and get new pistons?   I cleaned the cylinders and heads and they came cleaner than I thought.

Thanks guys,

-James
Title: Re: Found an4 54 Engine but RUST!
Post by: GT Jets on May 31, 2010, 09:46:23 PM
It is my humble opinion that it should be torn down and at least honed and cleaned...My bet would be you won't be able to eliminate the shadowing of the oxidization, but marine engines should have some added piston to cylinder clearance anyways, new rings are a must and inexpensive enough to not be a huge burden on the wallet.

For $400 I think you will come out money ahead, which is rare when speaking boat.

enginedoctor (Dave) can more than likely point you in the right direction. Plan on tripling your initial investment of $400 at the minimum.

GT
Title: Re: Found an4 54 Engine but RUST!
Post by: Motoghost on May 31, 2010, 09:57:32 PM
Its not a marine engine, its a GM performance Crate 454, I know the pics look bad but thats before I cleaned it up some,
Yeah I need to pull the bottom out and should have a machine shop atleast hot tank and hone it.

Thanks for the advice.
Title: Re: Found an4 54 Engine but RUST!
Post by: GT Jets on May 31, 2010, 10:02:38 PM
Just a quick question, how did you get the pistons out of the block? (the rusty ones)...

GT
Title: Re: Found an4 54 Engine but RUST!
Post by: Motoghost on May 31, 2010, 10:14:44 PM
I havent pulled them yet, I can turn the motor over fairly easy, here are pics of the banks after a little cleaning with scotch brite and oil.
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