Selling My Cigarette Cafe. NEED HELP!!
 

I have my 1986 Cigarette Café sold, but the buyers credit union is wanting the serial numbers off the motors. The boat originally came with 454's. There are no serial number on the current motors. The motors currently are ZZ502 motors that have been rebuilt several times. The casting numbers on both blocks are 10237300. The credit union state they must have the serial numbers off the motors. Can anyone provide any incite to what credit union or bank that would not need the serial numbers?? Thanks again for your help!

Darin

Read between the lines.... Is the credit union coming to verify and inspect??

They are not coming to inspect. But I would like to get give them the right amount of digits for the serial number. ;)

Just use casting number followed by the casting date for each engine............unless they are the same dates, which I doubt.

I think this comes from outboards more then inboards, but that said you cannot give what you don't have. Being a CU they probably haven't dealt with this before. I would just be straight with them and provide any info that is available, and not make something up that isn't there. Push the requirement higher up their chain of commend. Most folks getting the info are just worker bees with boxes to fill in

The casting numbers on both blocks are 10237300. The credit unions want a unique identifier for each motor, hence why they want a serial number. I just called JEGS and asked them if I bought a new ZZ502 would they provide a serial number with each motor and the response was NO. And they do not even give a MSO number. The guy was stumped on the phone as well on how to handle this situation.

The boat I finished a deal on yesterday had 2 letters and 5 numbers 7 digits total

Do you have the tags off the old motors. Usually just a little metal plate around the DIst or the Carb or tacked to the block around the starter. I have Mercury (mercuriser) tag on a wall from a SBC. This block is from the 80's but the serial number is 3600799. No letters at all.

86 454's serial number range is 0A631894 THRU 0B785148

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/454-m...-v-8-1986-1988

The CU wants the serial numbers as if it had production Merc Power (where each engine has a Merc identified serial number to each specific engine) in case the buyer defaults, the CU can seize the boat and engines complete without having to prove those engine are the power plants borrowed against at time of purchase.

Giving a fictitious serial number can lead you into possible legal issue down the road.. have the CU come up with an appropriate engine identifier they want to use on on your "custom" built engines

I agree to push it up higher chain of command. Also, when I tried to sell my café many many people asked for it, seemed to me it was a last ditch attempt to back out if they couldn't get financing for it with out saying they couldn't get approved... just a FWIW

I contacted my local mechanic that has worked on the boat and he has been in the motors as well. He is going to stamp the motors and we will see how this goes.

yep went through this with the sale of my Baja. the would not do the deal till it was given to them. showed up with the boat and they asked how the hell I got numbers off of it? I just smiled

Mine was the same way. They just want to identify the engines and make sure it's not removable.

I have lost some tools from my truck before. As well has a co-workers company can broken into. Without identification and pictures it is hard to get properly reimbursed for anything stolen and recovered. I stamp or engrave all of my tools and have pictures of everything. Just lay a bunch of them on the floor and take a picture. At least this ways it's documented. I figured I would do it to my boat motor I built as well since it wasn't a mercury block originally. A stamping set is cheap and I would rather be safe then sorry. This way if it gets stolen I can prove the motor was mine.

Have the engine builder vibra peen a unique 7 digit number (6numbers 1letter) into the block pad where GM would have. Take a photo of each and send to CU. This is legit and documentable for a custom built engine.

My Sterling motors are only 3 digit serial numbers, FWIW. I guess SOME type of identification is better than nothing original.

I remember going through the same thing when I financed with my CU. I am guessing I made something up and moved on with my life.

You really have to question whether they should be lending money on something they have such little understanding of, but I understand the red tape side of it. Go to Haorbor Freight, but a set of punches and make yourself a serial number to pasify them

In Ohio I had to title each engine with literally a title and that was a cash deal, says 300hp, and a serial number, I think they gave me a number for title because the boat did not have engines when I got it, there has to be a way to do something like that.

The credit union signed off on the serial numbers me and my mechanic put on the blocks. Closing on the deal tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed.