Blower Motors
 

I am looking at a boat with blower motors. The engines are 454's with blowers and were built by MRD.

According to the seller the motors have 300 hours on them.

Are these motors about pooched or ready for a rebuild?

If so how much does it usually cost to do a rebuild on an engine like this?

I dont know much about these types of engine so if there is more info needed please let me know and I can try and dig it up so you ol' pro's can advise me.

Oh yeah and the blowers are apparently only boosted 5lbs

Thanks very much.

Call MRD direct, they may be able to give better info on the motors. They are a sponser here. Life span depends on how it was run.....you'll never know. It's possible to get 400+ hrs out of a blower motor. A compression and leakdown test will give a good indication of the condition of them.

300 hr blower motors. Rebuild time.

Minimum will be a top end refresh with valve job and springs.

I would love to get 300 hours out of my engine!

Anybody have Skip at MRD's email address?

I am trying to send him the pictures but I cant seem to get the email through.

If it's a mile blower setup it should last a long time with regular maintenance. If it's got some big power then reduce the time.

Cleaning mine up at 180

Motors supposedly have 4-5lbs of boost.

I think I am going to need to factor in rebuilds into my offer because I cannot take the boat at his asking and then put ten to fifteen into them, might as well buy a different boat.

Anybody know of a good guy to do a leakdown and compression test on a boat with blowers?
SHould I get a surveyor to do this or do it myself?

I have never bought a boat before so if I sound like an idiot dont make too much fun!:D

boat is about 30 miles south of DC

Where is the boat at i am not too far from DC?

You just summed it up!
And 300hrs is not over the edge on a mild set up if she leaks down well ,it may only need a top end,the problem is you really don't no .
After my last boat purchase with engines that I new needed to be rebuilt but were built by one of the 2 biggest names in the Marine industry so I factored that in on my purchase.Well I didn't factor in near enough.
Can you say different pistons in the same bank,wrong bolts I can go on and on, my projected 10k per side turned into quite a bit more.
My buddy just did the same thing on a pre owned boat with a pair of factory Merc short blocks and he payed full price.First engine ate cam shaft second dropped valve seats .
At this point unless they have a warranty on them I think you have to figure on deducting the cost of rebuilding anything you purchase used or just pass.
Good Luck!

not exactly sure, all the guy told me was 30 miles south of DC.

I am waiting on a call from my engine guys before I call him back and make arrangements to have someone see it.

Everyone is telling me to do the leakdown and compression tests. I have a vague understanding of what this entails but I do not think I can do them.

I need somone who is knowledgeable in this area and knows good or bad motors.

The engines were built by MRD apparently and Skip told me that they didnt look too bat at all from the pictures but obviously needed to be torn apart to figure out what is really going on.

Leak down check pretty much the intergrety of the sealing in the cylinder check blow by, bypass of rings ect, The compression test check the pressure at which that cylinder is making. I think its no more the a 5% difference from your top psi to any other cylinder. Wish i could help more, if i was in DC id do it for you. There are plenty of guys hear that could help you out in the D.C> area i am sure