I give up
 

I cant do this anymore
I made the absolute worst decision on buying this boat
What a waste of money
NOTHING has gone right since I bought it and I swear nothing is looking good on the horizon either.

I think it is either time to sell it as a whole or part it out and take my tail, shove it between my legs, deal with the loss and start saving for another boat later on in life since this one kicked my ass for nothing.

Man im depressed and pissed off

Anyone want a project?
Jason
Email me if interested

What happened, I thought you were pulling the motors to have them rebuilt??

COME ON IT CAN'T BE THAT BAD???

Well got one engine out, I yank off the exhaust manifolds, there is deeply pitted rust in 2 cylinder heads (2 ports, one each head)
the second motor, wont come out, the rear engine mount bolts wont break free, I used breaker bars, pry bars, cheater bars, impact gun with 650 Ft/LBS ,, bolts wont budge
Then i decided to take the engine apart and see if I could not get away with just redoing the top half of it while in the boat since that was the engine that ran fine, well the freakin exhaust bolts are so badly rusted and gone, that the manifold wont come off
I tried hammering sockets on it, everything, they wont come out.
I cant get the freakin heads off this engine cause of the one exhaust manifold and I cant get the damn engine out cause of the 2 rear motor mount bolts
This thing has been one major upset after another
I have invested so much time, effort, energy, money , everything and for what
a 10 thousand pound paperweight

Sell it now, try to break even and move on I guess
I dont know what else to do
Jason

Try heating up the bolts and then breaking them loose. I have has good luck in doing this especially when it comes to salt water parts.

Heat the bolts up really HOT (BE CAREFUL OF FIRE! KEEP FIRE EXTINGUISHER NEAR BY) and then melt candle wax into the threads. A trick an old timer taught me and it works LIKE A CHAMP!

Good luck and don't give up! You have come this far...:D ;)

heat up just the top of the bolt?
cant get to any other bolt back there
these idioit bolts just thread into 2 nuts in the transom assembly
I cant believe they are so seized in there

Dan, I got so frusterated and these engines look just so beat I was going to call 1800 runs new and get 2 long blocks (have all new accessoires ect ready to go on new motors, new intakes, new everything.

Just bought 2 pairs of exhaust manifolds and risers, all sorts of stuff, 2 msd's, 2 sets taylor wires, 2 polished intake manifolds, redid the carbs, all set and ready to go and this freakin thing is just so wasted
the cylinder head is rusted so bad it is pitted
the whole bilge area and stringers are covered in so much gunk and rust residue and slime, i cant wipe it out or anything and im at the point where I want to cut my losses and just deal with the fact that it is not going to run at all anymore.
Wife is freakin on me about money so i cant go dumping some loot into it or she will have my head.

either it sits for a year or two or I sell it and deal with the financial loss im going to take on it and just keep my head up and move on

Jason

Well the wife is talkin a small personal loan to get 2 engines and just be done with this and get it running and out there.
Still does not change the fact that the 2 rear motor mount bolts are for some reason seized in there.
Im beginning to think that the sleeves in the transom assembly have corroded and are holding onto the shank of the bolts real real tight.
The nuts at the bottom should be like cake, 2 little nylon lock nuts cant hold on to a bolt that tight
It is just not possible
I have one bolt that does sort of move about 1/8th of an inch left and right so god only knows why she wont move and back out.
Wife feels my pain and wants me to get this thing running but how much do you do, when do you call it quits, I bought the boat at a very cheap price (17,000 bucks)
I invested a ton of cash so far
if I could break even and get 17 for it, I would sell it and then look for what the wife wants (sonic)
but god forbid if I get myself into this predicament again.
The marina place I bought this broker boat from KNEW it was this hosed cause they changed the oil on the boat the morning I took it for a test drive.
I thought they did it to be nice, they did it so it would run for 20 minutes without seizing up out there and that I would buy it.

I know there are alot of people on here that could help me but demographics prevent them from just popping over and lending a hand.
Im just trying to deal with this one step at a time but each step forward ends up being 20 steps back
2 new engines wont help the fact either that I cant get that one engine out of there (that is the engine that runs anyway but needs new exhaust)

I guess Ill try to air chizel those bolt heads off of the exhaust tonight and figure out what the Hell im going to do with the actual engine itself.
I dont want to be totally upside down on this boat either as far as money goes.

Man this really sucks
All I wanted was a cosmetic challenge not rebuild a hull from scratch.
Jason

since your in such a lousy mood.. I'm not going to say,,,,,
 

I told you so.. BUT I DID !!!!!:( :( :(

What happened, I thought the " WIFE " was all cool and ****...

P.S. I told you that broker was a scum-bag.. P.O.S

Dil, long time bro
Yeah I know you told me so.
but that is not exactly what I needed right now dude
Jason
PS hows Donna? Whens your wedding date?
I tied the knot 2-3 weeks ago
Feels good to be married

Jason

Transome Bolts
 

Jason,

I had the same problem a few years ago
with the rear two bolts.

It's kinda crewed but it's cheaper than
the frustration.

I used a saw zaw on one set and a torch
on the other set. Then you can take a
punch and drive them write out the bottom.

The saw diffently works better for your
ease of driving them out afterwards.
They are cheap to replace.

Might be easier to hook your hoist on the engine
first. Put a little tension on it and take you side mounts loose. Then unbolt the rear bell
houseing from the engine. Then just take the whole engine out so it's easier to work on those
rear bolts. Remember you need to go forward a
1/2 inch before you go up with the engine. There is two dowels that go from your engine block into your bell houseing. You don't need them hanging you up.

Good luck
It will all come together.

Cougarman

Oh, basically break the little tabs holding the nut in place under the transom mount?
I get it, that is not a bad idea at all.
huh
Ill look at that when I get home
Thanks Coug
Jason

Break what tabs ?
 

Jason,

Your not breaking anything.

Your just cutting the heads off the
top of those bolts, then you can
lift the bell housing off.

Then the choice is yours with the rest of the stud. Those two litte tabs just hold your
nut in there so you don't have to have
3 arms when threading the new stud in.

It's up to you how bad you want them.
But if you decide you don't need them
it might be better to grind them tabs once
you lift the bell housing off. Rather
than break them.

Cougarman

well with the top of the bolt sawed off, all that is left is the shank of the bolt, so you said take a punch and drive them out the bottom, the nut is still going to be on the bolt so the nut will break off the tabs when you slam it with a hammer
Ill deal with holding the nut with my hand if I have to to put a new engine in
As far as tilting the engine , I dont think my particular hull design will accomodate that, engine compartment on a 280 Baja has to be the tightest engine room ever known to man
and that is with the back seat out
I have about 6 inches between the crank pully and the floor in front of it
Doubt it will tilt that much.
i dont even think I can get a pulley puller in there on the crank pulley

How bad is it to cut the top of the bolt off with a sawzall?

Yo Jay...relax dude. This is just a little snag that we'll get though...don't worry about it.
You've come this far with the project and have everthing you need to finish it. Don't let two PHKED UP bolts ruin you dream dude.
Just keep thinking of all the visions you had when the boat will be complete....the mirrored, 200 yd. remote control hatch with all chromed engine accesories....the new paint....the sound of twin through hull exhuast pulling up on Deleware Ave....Think about that stuff again, relax for a minute, and let's fix this.

Give me a call...I'm free most of the nights this week.

Mark

Oh yea Jay.....

I have a cut-off tool that will blast that head right off. I think you have an air compressor at your house right??

I have a small one yes
Works though
Used it to zip off with the impact gun the exhaust manifolds and stuff
what you got?
Have an air chizel at home if that is what your talking about
Let me know
Jason

Jay,

nothing like having someone hit you when your down and tell you they told you so...:rolleyes:

hang in there...and don't give up yet. Taka a day off from the boat and then go back to it...Fred is wise beyond his many years:D :D

If you go out and buy another boat, you could very well be in this predicament again. On the other hand if you put the 1800runsnew motors, you stand a better chance of having a trouble free season. Aside from that, you'll have an idea about the rest of the parts on the boat and how to get at everthing to fix it...you'll know every nook and cranny and that should give you some piece of mind while out on the water---there won't be any question marks about what may or may not break down.

Good luck and the idea about the bolts sounds good, but try soaking them with penetrating oil first and then try a little heat...those bolts are a pretty soft metal and I think the nuts are aluminum so they mey be frozen in the mount...

Jay Those bolts might be stainless or grade 8 bolts. if they are it would be good to use a carbide saw blade to cut through them or use a cut off wheel. regular blades go dull quickly on hard metal. so if at all possible I would use the cut off wheel. Dont worry .Its not that bad. I been working on my boat for two years now. I just have 3 weeks to go and she is done. I cant wait :D Good luck

Paul

Jay...

I have a 5hp compressor that runs off regular 110v. The cutoff tool is an air tool that has a 1/16 inch cutoff disc on it. Should cut it off, but it takes alot of (consistant) air to run that tool. (75psi)

I guess anything you use to ttake the head off is going to put some gouges in the mount housing (where the head of the bolt meets the mount). Will this matter on the new motor install...anyone??...I would imagine we can file/sand the gouges smooth again and use a washer for the new bolts (rather than replacing the mount) right??

You still have my #??? 215-485-1459. I can throw the compressor in the truck and come up your house.

Mark

Mark, let me know what day is best for you
I can leave work early by a hour or two no problem
I have a wizzer wheel at home too (has the shield on it, have to take that off im sure)
Let me know what day is good for you and ill make sure im there and get you directions
Jason

Not Stainless
 

Jay,

Those bolt's are not stainless. They are just rusty
pieces of crap.

Cougarman

Whenever you want dude!!! I can get there tonight if you want....I get out of work in 10min....can run home get my stuff and be at your joint by 6:30. Gives us 1 1/2 of daylight to wack two bolts.

If you don't want to do it tonight....I have the same schedule tommorow.

let me know.

i had teh same problem with my old exhuast manifolds. Go to home depot buy a dremel and some high speed cutoff discs. Not teh stone ones but the reinforced flexible ones. Cut the heads off the exhaust bolts. Its a pain in eth ass but it will work. ANd it will be much easier to get eth bolts shafts out once you can cranka vise grips on them and you have some space to work with instead of trying to get a socket on a trashed bolt in a recessed manifold hole.

Jay-I feel your pain! I think I am on the down hill again the new 502 from runs new got here to day so with cam change and the bolting on all the goodies she is set to go again soon!When things would go from bad to worse for me I would just rember that I am strong as bull and smart as tractor :D

Hell.......... i'm ready to fly up myself and give a hand..... I feel your pain....This kinda stuff happens to me all the time...usually when the tools stop flying i feel much better...then i pick them up and dig back in... I just used the same cutoff saw on 2 ,1/2 inch stainless bolts on my engine hatch cylinder mount...it'll work...good luck ... and as already said when you are done knowone will know that engine compartment better than you...

Like everybody else said RELAX!!! walk away from it for a while take time to think about what your doing then go back to it. Like Cougarman said use a torch. hell!! if youre not worried about what happens to the engines you can cut the dam things apart peice by peice just be extremely carefull were the sparks and slag are falling.

B-fore you go cutting...............Go to ashop that works on BIG trucks....They will have a 3/4 drive impact gun and a serious source of air. There is a HUGE diff between that setup and a small homeowner setup !!!!! {trust me} somrthing like 8-9 hundred pounds & lots of air to run it!!!!!!!!!!!


Take a deep breathe:D

Jason,I'll not far from you, bring your boat to my shop in paoli and I'll get them out for you. Call me at 610-647-8640 Ike:)

ps. I did not think what chris said was nice but after seeing his avator I'll let him slide:D

Jay,

Keep your chin up bud. It didn't take too long before a OSO member in your area read the post and offered to lend a hand (that's what this board's about):D

I agree with stepping back for a day or two, relax, and then tackle the problem. Don't bail now!

Keith

Jay,

Not sure how I can help you out, but if you need an extra set of hands let me know.:)

Knowing your frustration, I can tell you that 1/4" fittings, a long length of hose, and a extension all but kill the power of a impact gun. These tools needs lots of pressure and air to work correctly.

If you are having so many problems, look into just getting used motors into the bay and then turning the boat around.

If the heads of the bolts aren't rounded off, and you can access them pretty well, just get a longer pipe to put over the breaker bar. It will either come loose or twist the bolt in two, either way works. Be sure to use impact sockets and extentions. If the heads are rounded off, drive the next smaller socket on it with a BIG ball peen hammer. I have yet to find a bolt I can't twist off if I can get to it. I keep a 10 foot length of 1 inch pipe around for that very purpose. Heat the piss out of it with a torch and it should come out.
Stay with it man, I just took 8 months working on a boat engine, and I would just take my time and break problems down to smaller problems and try to do them one at a time. Luckily I have a couple other boats so I didn't have to be in any hurry at all. Sometimes I wouldn't work on it for two weeks or so. Stay cool and think of it as a challenge, and how proud you will be of yourself for conquering the challenge. Let us know how it turns out.

Jason,

Give me a call if you like.

You have my number.

DAVE

excellent advice cuda. sometimes ya gotta take a few steps back and do things one at a time. i do this kinda stuff for a living and know the value of that advice.

good luck with your project jayl13 this stuff is frustrating but the patience pays off in the end, wish i could help

Jason
Do like one of the others said use a cut off wheel and cut the ex bolt heads off then you can slide the ex off. heat the bolts, and a little around the head and take bolts right out. If you can't get the others out cut head off of them and punch them out.
Chill you will get them do not let it beat you. :) :)

STOP --- before you cut any heads off have you tried PB BLASTER??? It works much better than WD 40. Spray the stuff on a few times over 2- 3 days and they might break free. The rear bolts are probably siezed into the rubberized motor mounts - not the bottom housing. Also if you do cut or break the heads off and need to get a stud out- Go to a profesional tool company and buy a stud remover. They work much better than vise grips.

Jason check your e-mail.
mike

Jay, I've been going through a bit of the same thing as you only I am replacing transom/stringers and floor core---I had to remove all the hardware with my cousin's help and then remove most of the transom and stringers---I know how you feel bud. I agree about the air pressure---it has to be ADEQUATE to operate air tools properly. Heat is another good one if it can be done safely. Ike sounds like he's got a shop that can do the job for you---so many offers of "hands on" help from these guys it should make you feel like SUPERMAN!!! Heck, with all this good will I could start a church with all these guys that have extended themselves toward you---just kiddin' gang don't get your undies in a bunch. LOL---Seriously though, what a support group---I am dually impressed! :)

Jay hang in there bro. Guys like you and me we have to stick together!!!! I know it is easy to see all these guys on the board hitting the water and having fun while we are still wrenching with no end in site!! Remember a lot of these guys on this board are in a different financial league then you and me. This does not mean that we can not afford to own a boat, just that if we brake some times we have to take a little longer to get her up and running and do a lot of the work ourselves. Yes this often times means making costly errors, but in the end as long as you are some what mechanically inclined (and it sounds like you are) you will save more money even with the errors. Some of my best days on my boat have been spent in the bilge. The feeling of compleeting a job that I thought I could not do, like getting the motors out the first time is great!!!

As far as your current problem. Sounds like you need more touque on the bolts. They can not be in there that tight and if they are then you need to just break off the heads and deal with getting them out the rest of the way when you get the motor on the ground and have LOTS more room. If you have to with the heads grind them off with a grinder and then you can again deal with them on the ground. Also some times if you run the motor up and get it nice and warm they will come right out. Hang in there bro you can do it I know you can. If you want to some weekend you can head up this way. We can wrench on our boats and head up and make Biggus give us a ride in his TOP GUN :D:D

Jon