Advice wanted on winter engine maintenance
 

Only got about 25 hrs on my newly rebuilt engine this summer. It got hot a couple times when alt belt blew off but was not real bad. Its coming out of the boat anyway so should I open it up and check/replace bearings and head gaskets? Oil pressure was Ok but had dropped quite a bit from first fire up. 20 at idle 50 at WOT. Compression is good all cylinders. Havent done leak down yet. I dont want to get too crazy because engine #2 is getting a major this winter. Is it better to leave the existing bearings in if clearances are Ok or should they always be replaced??

I would definately remove heads, check for cracks, flatness and install new gaskets. Your oil pressure sounds normal to me if you have a standard melling oil pump. I wouldn't touch the bottom end. In fact, that is what I am doing (among other things) to my two.

BTW... you still want the bolster pictures? I'm going to take them to the upholsery guy saturday, so I need to give him a camera if so. I am also going to ask him to quote on fabricating new bolsters from scratch. Know a number of guys looking. I bet they can be made for $500 each.

BT :cool:

Ive got a Melling HV. Its got the taller gears. Yea, I definetly want the pics or if that guy can build them for that kind of money, Im in. I can do all the stand fabrication so I would just need the seats themselves. That would be great.

In my boat I have one engine with HV, one with standard. One with HV has about 40 hrs one with standard has about 20. Both remanned by the same company. Both 454 four bolt mains. Both engines idle cold with 60-70psi which drops to 40psi hot on engine with HV and 20psi hot on engine with standard. At 3500rpm hot the HV will go to about 70psi and the standard about 60psi. I am comfortable with both, but am changing the standard to a HV to make myself feel better since I have both motors out anyway. Makes me think I have more room to wear. I would plastigage the mains at a minimum if I were you. I would also cut the oil filter apart for ****s and giggles if you think you were seeing a bad trend in pressure over the last few runs.

I'll let you know what I can come up with on the bolsters.

BT :cool:

I have cut all three filters apart since break in. Yea, Im nutty about changing oil. Nothing in there to speak of.