Engine removal 420 aft

Engine installation 3116 on my 420 aft cabin

  • Take out floor

    Votes: 1 100.0%
  • Install in parts

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    1

Cali Quigley

New Member
Apr 27, 2022
3
Toronto
Boat Info
420 Searay Aft 1997
Engines
3116
I’m wondering if anyone has ever replaced the engine in their 1997 420 Searay AC. I bought the boat last year and the engine (3116) blew in September from I believe captain error. We can’t figure out how to get it back in, if the floor needs to come out or the engine should go in in separate parts. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
My old dock neighbor had to replace one of his on the same year (1997 42 aft cabin). The marina did the work and they dissembled the old engine and the same thing for new one. Very tedious job but it did work. I have often thought about this since we have the same boats. Will be following this thread. Best of luck and wish I could be help to you.
 
This is what I heard would have to happen as well with the ex father-in-laws 420 with the 3116 CATs; take the old apart, remove part by part, reinstall the same way.

OP, you said "back in", who removed the engine?
 
Is it is a full new engine, new block or rebuild?
Rebuild or block the labor is already going to cover swapping or pulling a lot of the parts anyway.

If full new you don't really want the mechanics pulling to many parts just to put them back on the same engine.
More chances to introduce a miss or leaks.

An experienced marine engine shop should have invested in a collapsible aluminum gantry system like below.
This makes the work easier. Pull the hatches remove minimal parts and lift out/in. Put the hatches back in, some plywood, set the engine down reconfigure the gantry to lift and get out the door to crane off the boat.
I've done this professionally years ago on several boats, Hatteras 45' twin 8v71s out/Johnson&Towers 8v92s in
Talk to your shop and check a few others see what their capabilities are.

With hatches out should look like this, which is a bit short (gotta love Sea Ray)
But with a good gantry you lift, slide over and rotate as needed to get out.
upload_2022-4-28_10-40-18.png
upload_2022-4-28_10-41-14.png


304650.jpg

Ours didnt have wheels for a boat, we used plywood blocks to protect the deck.

employees-of-panama-citys-gulf-coast-marine-service-removing-an-engine.jpg
 
An experienced marine engine shop should have invested in a collapsible aluminum gantry system like below. This makes the work easier. Pull the hatches remove minimal parts and lift out/in. Put the hatches back in, some plywood, set the engine down reconfigure the gantry to lift and get out the door to crane off the boat.
Ours didnt have wheels for a boat, we used plywood blocks to protect the deck.

That gantry is sweet!

On an AC like the 420, aren't you limited by the width of the sliding door into the cabin? And wouldn't you have to go up the cabin steps, on to the cockpit above the aft cabin, and down the back steps? Or could a crane take it once you got it out the sliding cabin door?

I've always wanted an AC but this is the main thing that scares me :eek:
 
Yes that is my thought and opinion as well having spent a lot of time on that make and model with those engines. I remember asking the mechanic once this very question and he said part by part.
 
That gantry is sweet!

On an AC like the 420, aren't you limited by the width of the sliding door into the cabin? And wouldn't you have to go up the cabin steps, on to the cockpit above the aft cabin, and down the back steps? Or could a crane take it once you got it out the sliding cabin door?

I've always wanted an AC but this is the main thing that scares me :eek:
We had a short and along beam
Short for in the cabins and the long to get it of the cabin
Then a truck mounted crane to get it off the boat
All dimensions need to be looked at.
A tape measure is your best friend…
 
If you purchase a complete rebuild the guarantee will not be good if is disassembled to be installed. You would be ok with a short block assy. but everything is torqued and engine has probably been run on a test prior to leaving the factory.
 
So I had the floor removed, for anyone curious. The engine is going in whole and rebuilt on Thursday.
 

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Thanks for the update on your project. Any chance of getting more pics? Kind of hard to see from your pic what was done. it would very beneficial to all of us 42aft owners to get a handle on this project as I am sure some will go through the process as time goes on. Some before and aft pics would also be much appreciated. Good luck to you
 
Soooo. how did the project turn out for you? Any pics, comments, cost etc.?
 

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