Looking at a boat with rebuilt heads

[jobofly]

Hey everyone,

I have finally started boat shopping and have come across a nice 2001 Sundancer with twin 5.7 V8s. The engines have 1080 hours on them and the heads were rebuilt at 800 hours with stainless steal valves? I am planning on getting a thorough survey done on any boat I am looking at but am curious if that is a red flag for this boat.

 

[dwna1a]

Head issues can be caused by many things, owner may have just gotten worried over the hours and decided to rebuild the heads. Hydrolocked and he did them all. See what your survey comes up with

Might have been chasing more horsepower

 

[jobofly]

So is that not something to shy me away from a survey? The boat seems to be in great shape otherwise.

 

[Strecker25]

I wouldn’t let it shy me away personally. I rebuilt one of our motors last year after a blown head gasket and I don’t expect to take a resale hit when we sell. They’re old boats and have some miles on them, but as long as the head and valve job was done properly and the motor checks out via compression and leakdown tests, you’re good. I’d want to see the receipts from the work if they’re available.

 

[Chris-380]

At that hours, I feel that common and possibly a good thing. See what the compression test shows

 

[dwna1a]

It really depends on who did the work but even that really wouldn't bother me much. My slip neighbors worked together to rebuild the heads on his 454's

Mine has about 2000 hours on her 350's she has never let me down...but it is a old classic boat

 

[Shenanigans77]

So is that not something to shy me away from a survey? The boat seems to be in great shape otherwise.

would not shy me away. I have 980hrs on my small blocks and did all four heads due to headgaskets. Headgaskets are technically a “wear out” item. Still had honing marks in the cylinders. I dont use a drop of oil all season. Im going to put another 1000 hours on them

 

[david leonard]

Hey everyone,

I have finally started boat shopping and have come across a nice 2001 Sundancer with twin 5.7 V8s. The engines have 1080 hours on them and the heads were rebuilt at 800 hours with stainless steal valves? I am planning on getting a thorough survey done on any boat I am looking at but am curious if that is a red flag for this boat.

hey there. you should have a look at my 300 sundancer. repowered, in great shape. ready to go at a good price.

 

[jobofly]

thanks for the info everyone, so what is with stainless steel valves? are they better than stock?

 

[dvx216]

Last season port engine had slight miss turned out #5 had a bad intake valve . Had the heads pulled small chip in the valve surface. Inspection of cylinder showed no signs of damage.Asked my mechanic why that happened he just smiled and said it happens why is any ones guess.

 

[Strecker25]

Last season port engine had slight miss turned out #5 had a bad intake valve . Had the heads pulled small chip in the valve surface. Inspection of cylinder showed no signs of damage.Asked my mechanic why that happened he just smiled and said it happens why is any ones guess.

when we blew the head gasket on our starboard motor my first question was why and what can we do on the port side. The answer was largely the same, sometimes things just happen. Turns out the timing wasn't advancing under load so I replaced the ignition system on the other side but for all we know it was fine and would have ran for another 1000+ hours. Sometimes shit just happens..

 

[mrsrobinson]

Hey everyone,

I have finally started boat shopping and have come across a nice 2001 Sundancer with twin 5.7 V8s. The engines have 1080 hours on them and the heads were rebuilt at 800 hours with stainless steal valves? I am planning on getting a thorough survey done on any boat I am looking at but am curious if that is a red flag for this boat.

I bought a 2000 Monterey 302 2+ years ago with 600+ hours on twin 5.7 MPIs. Seller had the heads rebuilt about 6 months before I bought it, which concerned me. Shop said he was noticing some loss of power, which is why he did it.

The engines ran strong though, 180 compression in all cylinders, good oil analysis. I say go for it with compression check, oil analysis, and hooking into them to see how the hours were used (low rpm, high rpm, 75% rpm, etc.).

 

[jobofly]

thanks guys, i think i will proceed to look at the boat in person and try to negotiate the price if i like it. if we come to an agreement i will get a full survey done on it

 

[JVM225]

Not a red flag, but I would still have the motors checked out with compression checked and an oil and antifreeze analysis.

 

[Chris-380]

thanks guys, i think i will proceed to look at the boat in person and try to negotiate the price if i like it. if we come to an agreement i will get a full survey done on it

The 380 I bought 1 year ago passed the sea trial perfect, so much so I considered not having the mechanical survey (compression test). Topped out at 36.5mph gps which is factory spec

thank goodness I did, had 2 cylinders low on starboard motor.... seller paid to rebuild the heads. So glad I did

 

[Pinner58]

If you want to change out a cylinder head I was told you need to match up the numbers under the valve cover. Noticed the cylinder head currently on the engine also has CM6. And the replacement has CM4. What's the difference. Engine is the 7.4. 454 big block

 

[El Capitan]

If the boat has those hours in salt it definitely would discourage me. IMO doing heads can cause damage to old rings/cylinder walls. Some, not all, and I’m sure every expert here will post their experiences w how they’ve never had a problem, but some engine builders I’ve spoken w about this very issue do not recommend doing heads on high mileage/ use engines.
Good luck w the purchase.

 

[scoflaw]

If you want to change out a cylinder head I was told you need to match up the numbers under the valve cover. Noticed the cylinder head currently on the engine also has CM6. And the replacement has CM4. What's the difference. Engine is the 7.4. 454 big block

You can't find info on this with google? Do they look the same? I'm sure they do. I'd be all in on that bet.