Repower options for 1988 34 Sundancer

[Docheyser]

I have two 454 Crusader engines and the starboard is dead. At this point, I would prefer to get new or reman engines for both sides. With GM not making the big blocks any more, would love to hear suggestions for repowering the old gal.

Thanks...

 

[thomas]

With 454's still available, try Jasper or maryville marine remans

 

[Daniel P Thomas]

Second the Jasper option.
Been there and have done it.
Best around, unless you can find local.
Dan

 

[bigblockcutlass]

I have heard good things about Jasper and bad things.
I build motors myself. Takes time and know how to do it right.

 

[northern]

I have the same engines. Curious how many hours on your engines and what caused the one to break. From time to time I see adds for used 454s in boat for sale news papers. Some with as low as 1,000 hours.

 

[ray306]

I was in the same position exactly. I have a 1990 350 DA. I lost one engine to water intrusion. The boat came with the original Mercruiser 454's. I found a good deal on a pair of Mercruiser 502's with Electronic Fuel Injection that were a few years old but had never been used nor installed on a boat; they were still bolted to the original shipping pallet. My mechanic verified this via readings taken from the engines.

I had the mechanic install these and also upgraded to fresh water cooling at the same time (there's just something about salt water coursing through the engine block). This was clearly the best thing I could have done. I now have slightly better performance than before. I boat on the east coast of florida so my main concern was reliability, I have made many a trip to the Bahamas without a single problem (related to the engines).

It is not a cheap fix but cheap is not always the best choice. For the engines and the cost to pull the old ones and install the new ones along with all the mechanical work it was just over $21k in the spring of 2008.

Ray

 

[Docheyser]

Thanks for all of the info... looks like I will be selling a kidney on ebay this winter to pay for this!!!

 

[Searaybio270]

I lost an engine the first year I owned my 270. Rebuild it with the help from a lot of poeople at our marina. Lost the second one the following year. Did it again. Granted they were 4.3L mercruisers but the process is somewhat the same. Only cost me a kidney!!!!