Repower recommendation.

JVM225

JVM225

Well-Known Member
Apr 8, 2008
6,560
New York
Boat Info
2002 410 Sundancer, Monaco Edition.
Engines
3126 Cats.
The time has come to replace my starboard engine. It's original to the boat and although I replaced the heads about a year ago I am now having a compression problem which is basically the end of the line for this motor.
The port was replaced back in 2003 by the previous owners.
So far I'm leaning towards a brand new base engine (a long block with new tins) and the company that I'm thinking about is Michigan Motorz. They have what I think I want, the price is competitive, and the guy I spoke to on the phone was very nice and knowledgeable.
Does anyone have any suggestions for replacement motors or any experience with this company?
My choices are kind of limited with engines because I really want to try to match the port side motor. That one is an 87-95 5.7 with a Quadrajet and stock GM Spreadbore intake manifold. It has the valve cover bolts that go down the center of the valve cover which means the later style heads and intake.
The bad (original) motor is kind of a Mercruiser freak. It has the one piece rear main seal (newer style block and crank) but older style heads with the valve cover bolts around the perimeter and the matching intake. It seems that early 87 was a changeover year where they were getting the new style blocks from GM but still putting the older top ends on them. My boat wound up with two of these freaks.
My guess is that the people that replaced the port motor in 2003 went with matching up the lower end so the flywheel would bolt right up. I'm planning on doing the same thing. I just need to track down a stock intake to match it.
 
My boat has a Jasper reman on the port side, replaced by a previous owner. It runs fine. I was going to go with Michigan Motorz when I repowerd my last boat but went with Jasper to keep costs lower since I was selling the boat.
 
I repowered this year with a remanufactured motor from Michigan Motorz. They were very good to work with and the motor is good as new, runs like a top.
I replaced a very low hour Jasper that due to incorrect setup of the line bore on the main bearings caused the mains to wear out prematurely. I know some have had good luck with Jasper but I would not recommend them.
 
My port motor was replaced by the previous owner too. I'm not sure what kind of replacement they went with though. It was done for them by a Sea Ray dealer under a 30 day warranty when they first bought the boat back in 2003. I'd like to think it was a new long block, but since it was done under warranty I'm betting it is re-manufactured. When I bought the boat at the start of the 2007 season I knew the day would come when it would be time to replace the other motor. It's given me trouble off and on the last two seasons and I even replaced the heads on it last year. That was probably a waste to do. I should have just replaced the motor instead.
I started looking at remanufactureds to replace the starboard motor but since it is salt water cooled the core will be worthless and by the time I pay for a remanufactured motor and the core charge I think I'm better off getting a brand new Long Block instead. Plus the new motor comes with new oil pan, valve covers, and timing covers so I don't have to worry about re-using my 24 year old tins.
I'm still in the research faze but I was pretty impressed with how helpful the guy from Michigan Motorz was on the phone. He is actally the one that pointed out to me that for what I would be spending I might want to go with the brand new GM base engine long block. He also has the best price.
I was hoping to get more feedback on them if possible before I buy from them.
I've heard good and bad about Jasper. I think that anything can happen with any engine you buy. They are mechanical things subject to lot's of variables. But I think the chances are always a little better with brand new.
Regardless of whether I go with brand new or remanufactured, I want to deal with a company that is honorable and stands behind their stuff.
 
I restored a 1986 Model 300 DA back in 2006/2007, and I used two new 5.7 L Vortec longblocks from Michigan Motorz. They had a good price, were a pleasure to deal with, and shipped quickly. Both engines ran perfectly until the day I sold the boat, which was about 3 years later.

Dale
 
If you go with a new engine and are in salt water, now would be the time to put closed cooling on. I figure to keep this boat awhile so if I am faced with your decision in the future I'm thinking of adding fresh water cooling.
 
SCORPIO said:
If you go with a new engine and are in salt water, now would be the time to put closed cooling on. I figure to keep this boat awhile so if I am faced with your decision in the future I'm thinking of adding fresh water cooling.
Click to expand...

I have thought about it and probably would do it if I were changing both motors but I probably won't do it for just the one.
One downside to it is that it would further reduce the amount of room in the bilge for working down there. The other is the added expense.
I figure that the motor I'm replacing lasted 24 years with the saltwater which is probably longer than either I or the boat will be around.
 
JAndrewG said:
I used these folks in Spokane WA a few years ago and was very impressed with their work. Very thorough rebuild, somewhere on their site they give an overview of how extensive their builds are. They even have a 1 year warranty.

http://www.rebuilt-auto-engines.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=821&p_catid=199
Click to expand...

The price of a brand new motor isn't too much more than a rebuilt/remanufactured once I factor in the price of a core charge and return shipping for the core. There is no core required for the new motor.
 
MasterFab said:
I restored a 1986 Model 300 DA back in 2006/2007, and I used two new 5.7 L Vortec longblocks from Michigan Motorz. They had a good price, were a pleasure to deal with, and shipped quickly. Both engines ran perfectly until the day I sold the boat, which was about 3 years later.

Dale
Click to expand...

Did you go with the Brand new carbureted 275 HP Alpha replacements that come with the ignition and fuel system all hooked up? That looks like a nice motor and if I do both motors I'd like to go with those.
If I were to go for both motors I'd probably go for the FWC too!
 
No, mine were just the bare longblocks - I did all the exterior outfitting, ignition, carbs, etc. But I did upgrade to the modern Vortecs.

Dale
 
Put in a 350 long block this year from Rapido Marine ($1600 shipped no core charge). A buddy of mine that is a car tech. did the install. Sounds great and runs like a top so far all is well.:smt038

final instal-1.jpg
 
Hello: There,
I use Michigan motor four years ago with a new long block. Great service even the spark plug where on!
no complains. last year I use Rapido Marine for the cheap price on a remanufacture long block. to make a long story short the heads where bend so it burn the head gasket on the first trial them the cyliders where bore to .80 thats the maximun bore for a block on it.
it wil run but not for long time. I will not recomend Rapido Marine to any one. Raul the onwer never respond for warranty.
i get for what i paid. I learn my lesson. If it is to good to be true ,it is not...
Go with Michigan Motor is my best recomendation. Ask them at Michigan Motor to get the more horse power you can using you remaining parts. them when you replace the other engine do the same . a got now two replaced engines at 260hp, when there is 330hp on these new ones. remenber that boats get heavy with time and we are 1987.
good luck.
Jorge:thumbsup:
 
I bought the 275 HP Vortec Alpha Replacement complete motors from Michigan Motorz. They are brand new from Mercruiser. Since the motors are new I decided to go with FWC half systems on them. I bought the motors, FWC cooling systems, manifolds, and risers from Michigan Motorz. The owner and his brother were great to deal with. They were both very knowledgeable, patient, informative, and made some great recommendations to me while I was in the research and decision stage.
There were some mistakes made later on with accessory stuff that I ordered. I'm not sure if the problem was a miscommunication with the salesman or with the shipping department, but I was a little disappointed after spending so much money with them. I can't help but think that the problems would not have occurred if I had placed the order with the owner or his brother. They were both busy when I called back to place the actual order and I had to deal with a salesman. I was a bit uncomfortable dealing with him. Although he was courteous, he wasn't nearly as knowledgeable and a little laid back.
I have to say that the owner personally called me back about the problems and seemed to be as upset as I was. I would still absolutely recommend them because I feel strongly that how you deal with problems says a lot more about you than the problems themselves.
I think that recommending a vendor after you've had problems with an order is a pretty strong endorsement.
I hope to have everything in by the end of this week or sometime early next week. The hard part will be waiting for the Spring to get here so I can take it for a ride.
 
that was a great choice you made. new is new you will have no complains , I have a great experience with them evendought is litter more expensive you will like the up-grade. good luck...:smt038
Jorge
 
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