Replacement Engine?

[Hammer22]

Hey out there in Epic land.  I have been using this site for a little while following the maintenance tips, etc.  Thanks for the service this provides.  I have a problem with an 99 Epic22 that I bought as a demo boat when I was in Raleigh, NC.  Since then, I moved to Nashville, TN and had the boat in storage.  Apparently, I did not do a good job winterizing the boat because when I finally pulled it out and decided to get some use out of her, I found it was leaking water through the freeze plugs.  I was hoping (and praying) that this was the only problem.  No boat dealers here in Nashvegas so I took the boat to a local Toyota car dealer and they agreed to look at her.  To make a long story short, they said water is leaking between the head and the block and the guy in Atlanta told them not to go any further - it needs a new engine.  Hard to believe that there is no possibility to rebuild the engine and they are talking something like $16K for a new one.  I have seen posts on this site about engines closer to the $5K range.  Does anyone know of any alternatives - a rebuild or some other way?  I appreciate any help...

Desperate in Nashville....

[rustnrot]

New engines from Atlanta Marine (I talked to a Ryan Massey) are $6944.45.  I know because I checked this past spring.  They have alot of engines in storage.  In fact, they would even sell me one or two even though I was not putting it in a Toyota ski boat.

The engines come only with the direct drive 1.29:1 transmission attached.  You cannot get an engine with a v drive on it, in that case you would have to reuse your old v drive unit.

If/when you get done and have a broken engine and/or transmission left over, let me know as I would probably buy it.

[tenn162000]

Hammer22 I am right out side nashville at Centerhill lake... I live in Murfreesboro but run the airport at Smithville...  I am in the process of rebuilding my engine as we speak.   I have a couple Aircraft Pilots working on it with me in their spare time. (Going to pull the heads off monday) But if your interested in driving out that way to see how the process goes- please feel free...  And if you decided to go with a new engine - keep me posted cause I might need some spare parts Always good to have another epic owner so close and if you need any help at all- drop me a line - I'd love to help out... hit me up anytime robert.d.schafer@us.army.mil

[cyclone]

In many cases that I've seen and heard of, the heads are where the crack is. Have the heads examined and pressure tested, you could probably by a replacement head(s). The block can be tested too. It might be cheaper and less hassle to buy a crate engine, they're roughly the same price as  a new Mercruiser, PCM, or Indmar.

[Capt Rick]

If the engine froze.....
It will blow out freeze plugs
It will push out the heater bypass hose under intake.
It will warp the cover plate on lower block front . side  w 2 bolts

it may crack the water jacket on the top of each block at the bridge..Not crack heads

I have complete direct drive and complete Vdrive w 1.21 gear  $7676.plus frt
Capt Rick

[Hammer22]

Hey guys:

Thank you for the encouragement.  That is certainly better pricing than I have heard!  I am going to contact Tenn162000 to see how his rebuild is going.  Capt. Rick - Where would the new engine be coming from?  If I wanted to purchase it and pick it up, would that be an option?  Since my boat is a '99, it is not the V-Drive, I think that came out in 2000 or 2001.  I am in Zurich, Switzerland at the moment on business.  The wife will be pulling the boat back from the Toyota dealer while I am here and then we will decide what to do...

[rustnrot]

I was told by Ryan at Atlanta Marine that the price above included shipping to a business.  I also asked about picking it up, if I recall they are warehoused in Michigan.  If I did pick it up, I could save an addition $2-300 if I recall.

[rustnrot]

Hammer22, I emailed to your profile at aol my email exchanges with Ryan Massey earlier this year.  At the time (last Nov. 2006) he would go $6500 if I picked it up in Michigan......

I am headed to MI in a month, let me know if I can be of assistance.

[Capt Rick]

Price  of the engine went up ... for storage cost

[tenn162000]

Great news on my engine so far!!!  Hoping its as simple as it seems but gonna keep checking.  I finally got the heads off and checking out the valves --- SURE AS SH*T one of the valves is not seating properly...  You can see day light though the valve.  AND on another Good note- The bore sight that we used seemed to show a crack in the piston.  Well,  the contours of the top of the piston mislead us to believe it was a crack BUT it wasn't so maybe just fix the valve, replace the head gaskets, replace the timing belt, maybe update (get a new) starter and be out alot cheaper, sooner, and easier than I thought.  I've taken plenty of pictures so I'll be sure to post some good ones.  And I am gonna continue to dig a little deeper to make sure ALL possible damage/issues are addressed.  Feelin Good in Tennessee       (as of now)

[robbie.hamilton]

I haven't been on-line a few weeks so this is the first time i have read this chat.
I am one of the two Irish guys who bought the Epic Sx from the states back to Ireland with the head cracked. We have it up and running perfectly now and it is great. What we did is what i would suggest to you. We went on line and emailed a few car breaker/ dismantles about looking for an LS 400 engine out of a crashed car.
I had over five responses in less then ten minutes and we ended up buying an engine with 40,000 miles on it for around $3000. We the stripped it and got to work.
It is exactly the same engine body it just has a few different things strapped onto it with you can take of the old engine body. All you will need is possibly a few new seal etc. It does involve alot of work but you can be sure you will learn alot about the engine. I hope this helps you out and if you have any question email me and i will try to help you. Robbie