Can anyone recommend me a good boat mechanic in San Diego that doesnt charge an arm and a leg? My 455 Olds just crapped out on me and im looking to rebuild. Or if anyone on here could tackle it, let me know please. Working on a beer budget with champaigne dreams (arent we all) if anyone of on here could help me out, youd have 2 be able to take a couple payments or trade for a mid 90's mercury 135 outboard thats never seen water...brand new minus lower shaft (i got it as a replacement for my uncles bayliner before it caught fire) . I just got my tahiti and the 2nd time out it happened, i was about ready to put some rounds in the hull and see it sink i was so upset.....welcome to boat ownership is what everyones telling me. Well if anyone has any shop in mind or is interested in tackling it themselves let me know PLEASE! Help a new boater out.....thanks in advance

That's some great advice, I am sure I can yank the motor out with some help from my pops and a couple buddies, even throw it back in. I may head towards that direction as I just came across a good running 455 with everything on it except for the log snails....but basically ready to drop in for about 1000 bux.....question (may sound stupid but I'm a rookie) what's the major difference with a 454 that came out of a truck and one that was in the boat? Because I also ran across a 454 for decent change? Thanks again for your help.

Whoa whoa whoa there Chief.    Maybe we oughta know a bit more than "... crapped out on me."   Pulling the motor is a bit extreme if it is something minor don't ya think?    Didn't know just how deep that Oldsmobile Envy ran inside you, but I guess I know now. LOL
Swapping your motor for one you found used on the internet does not sound like the best course of action to me.  It will likely still have all the "problems" that make the Olds motor so "special".  I would keep searching for a good mechanic, a motor in a boat isn't very complicated to work on.  How about a better description of what went wrong.   THAT will most likely be the cheapest way to go IMHO.

i guess i could have thrown in some details huh....well lets see here...hmmmmmm white smoke from side of block...followed by knocking sound, and yes I checked the oil before... then it just shutdown on me...tried one restart with no success and then got towed back in by the LA sherriff's  boat....who then told me I had warrants. I "discussed" it for about 45 mins with her before they came up to the conclusion that some other bastard is using my license number and i need to start an ID theft investigation when i got home to san diego.....long story short narrowly escaped jail....motor messed up, official worst 1st boat ownership day EVER! Anyways...any clues on the motor with the details i provided?

Obviously, the masses are gonna tell ya to dump the Olds and go with a Chebbie or a Ferd. I have all three. To be honest, no real difference in "marine" form. Real difference is in "Hot-Rodding" them where the others lend themselves to more handily.

As far as converting from one to another? If you love the hull, or it's worth it, then yeah. But it ain't cheap and ain't easy. Nordie did it to change from a Ferd to a Chebbie..........I think he'd sooner stick his junk in a beehive than do THAT again..........

Pull the momo, pull it apart and see what you smoked. Probably  a rod bearing or two, the white smoke, to me, would indicate valve issues or maybe you stuck a piston. Block full of sand, who knows until you get it apart........ ........I'm a firm beleiver in not doing anything to fix nothing unless you know WHY it failed to begin with. 

Ray

Again IMHO, that kind of thinking couldn't be more wrong.  You want the very best engine builder you can find.  You are going to have a relationship with him for many years.  How good that relationship is depends on how well he does the job.  If he is sloppy, YOU are going to have to live with that for a long time.

I expect Pat or David will chime in here shortly.   Here is a little taste of how a good machinist thinks.  NOT everyone will be this detail oriented.   This is the kind of thinking that you want going into this build.   http://www.socaljetboats.com/engine-mechanical-electrical/clearance-issues/