Between myself and the local Merc Platinum dealer we have probably a lot of hours watching live and datalogging both engines. No discernable differences. The problem is that the ECU's on these do very little in terms of logging and trouble codes. They just kind of keep it running. The only red flag I found on the engine is a rusty knock sensor on one side.

Ok, had a busy day today. I media blasted all of the brackets, pulleys, intake, etc. The steel components were then sprayed with a rust converter / primer and the aluminum with aluminum primer. Tomorrow is Easter so not sure how much time Ill have but maybe sneak away for a few to get the other sides primed. Every step I take, I get more excited about seeing them all done up in Bright Red and Carbon Fiber !!!

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Black epoxy on the brackets and mounts.

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Ferrari Red enamel on the intake, pulleys, etc.

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Carbon fiber valve covers !!!

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Nice looking covers. Everything is coming out great. Keep up with the pics. Good luck with the build.
Eddie

Another busy weekend media blasting, painting and now starting to reassemble.

One engine back together and on the new engine cradle I built out of U-channel

http://www.univsystems.com/ejn/engine30.jpg

More parts in primer

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And even more parts in primer

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New toy from Harbor Freight, a vibrating tumbler to clean the paint and rust off of bolts and other little parts

http://www.univsystems.com/ejn/engine33.jpg

Starting to come together... the painted intake manifold

http://www.univsystems.com/ejn/engine34.jpg

Awesome thread lots of cool pics, I have always wanted to build my own engines

Very cool. Did you paint the block or machine shop? Is this paint your using just a high temp engine enamel or a specialty product?

Did all the media blasting, primer and paint myself. The actual paint paint is just rustoleum professional. Very good stuff to work with.

Pretty boring weekend. Spent some time ordering parts and working towards finishing paint.

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Updates from the last two weekends... they are slowing going back together. Lots of little details to work our as I reassemble them.

Starboard Engine (waiting on heads)

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Heads assembled and on the port engine

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Intake and valve covers on

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New coolant temp sensors from Merc, better than the plastic crap that was on the engine originally

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Hand painting the Merc logo on the air cleaner

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Port engine most assembled. Carbon fiber valve covers are SO SEXY! Note the "rear" lifting eye on the front. I replaced the big ugly front one as there is no longer a cheap plastic coolant resevoir to mount to it. The new resevoir will be in back.

http://www.univsystems.com/ejn/engine44.jpg

Port engine almost ready to go back in the boat. Just some electrical, fuel line and coolant resevoir to finish up.

http://www.univsystems.com/ejn/engine46.jpg