The restoration is on…

[roffey]

I was out to the boat today. This is the first real time I have had to look at my purchase as I bought the suncruiser 255 in November and had to put it away for the winter. I started the 5.7 350 and it sounds amazing. The only things I have to do are change the lower unit oil, engine oil and install two PCV valves. For some reason the motor was missing the valves?

For year one I am going to have a new mooring cover and camper top made and redo the back sun deck. I will redo the teak wood, replace or refinish and buff out the exterior. Next year I will do the cabin. The cabin will be the big job as the previous owner redid the interior with kitchen cabinets from his house and put ceramic tiles on the floor. The cabin is a real mess.

[smokeonthewater]

they don't HAVE pcv valves.... just breather hoses to the spark arrestor

[roffey]

OK, maybe that's why they’re not there, LOL. I thought the 350 was just the same as a car motor. There would be a PCV valve on the crank case and reticulate the unspent gas back into the carb?

[THEFERMANATOR]

You can install 1 PCV valve. but one has to vent to atmosphere or else you will get all kinds of oil leaks. 2 PCV valves most likely will not be able to keep up with the blow by, and teh excess pressure will push oil out the seals. Leave it like it is, or you can install 1 PCV valve as later boats did this.

[roffey]

OK will do. I have limited experience with motors. I know enough to make me dangerous. The boat is at a friend’s house who is at your level of experience. A farm mechanic, who can fix anything, makes me envious. I thought he said PCV but I may have not got it right. It’s a hose that goes from the valve cover to the carb...? Keep in mind I am a country boy who fixes computers, not tractors.
Feel free to keep telling me where I go off the track, LOL. You guys give me advice on boats… I’ll keep your confusers sorry computers going.

[THEFERMANATOR]

PCV=positive crankcase ventilation valve. It hooks into the engine(normally in the valve cover), and then to the intake. At low loads the engine is at high vacuum which pulls the PCV valve almost closed, but under load the vacuum drops which opens the valve up and allows it to pull crancase pressure back into to be burned by the engine. You must have a vent to atmosphere though for any engine even with a PCV valve. Personally why change it what you have and complicate the system any at all. It's worked this long so why change it(if it aint broke, don't fix it).

[roffey]

Good question, I would change it because the PVC valve it not there and I want to keep the boat in running condition. Having said that, I am looking to you guys for advice and guidance. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect you will fix my boat but maybe keep me off the rocks. I have some money and can put it into the boat if need be but I don’t have the cash to just toss it into the water. Not sue if I make sense or not. Just excited that the motor runs and maybe the boat will float.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Good question, I would change it because the PVC valve it not there and I want to keep the boat in running condition. Having said that, I am looking to you guys for advice and guidance. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect you will fix my boat but maybe keep me off the rocks. I have some money and can put it into the boat if need be but I don’t have the cash to just toss it into the water. Not sue if I make sense or not. Just excited that the motor runs and maybe the boat will float.

The thing is it never came with one origanally, so why add one in? It wasn't until the late 90's that I seen them start getting used in boats. It has no real benefits other than maybe stopping any oil residue from going through the flame arrester, but on the other hand it would just go through the intake instead. A PCV valve is an emissions control device, so boats weren't required to use them.

[smokeonthewater]

the pcv valve it NOT SUPPOSED to be there... just a couple of fittings to attach the vent hoses... the purpose of the fittings and hoses is to direct the gasses from the crankcase to the intake where they will be burned instead of building up in the bilge and possibly causing an explosive condition....

[roffey]

I will go ahead and do nothing. It looks to be set up as you say. One side of the valve cover has a hole with nothing, vented to the atmosphere. The other side has a hose connected from the valve cover to the flame arrestor. No valve just a hose.

[smokeonthewater]

both sides should have a hose

[roffey]

So one goes from the valve cover to the flame arestor thre other goes from the valve cover to where?

I have this week off and go out to the boat every day. I do a little clean up and start the motor, I just love to hear the 350 bark. If you want I can take a picture and show you the motor...

[phatdaddy]

http://cnj.craigslist.org/boa/3705513646.html

look at the motor pic on the left in this ad. both sides feed into the spark arrestor

[smokeonthewater]

yep both feed to the flame arrestor.... for the short term put a plug in the open one until you have the rest of the pieces

[roffey]

Yup, that's what I have. One hose is connected to valve cover going the the flame arestor. The other side has just a hole. So what you are saying is just connect a hose like the other side... No PCV valve, just a hose from valve cover to carb...

[roffey]

yep both feed to the flame arrestor.... for the short term put a plug in the open one until you have the rest of the pieces
We still have some ice on the water so boating is a few weeks away. I will see if I can put it back in working order... this winter is taking for ever.. last Friday and Saturday we had a snow and ice storm

[smokeonthewater]

Yup, that's what I have. One hose is connected to valve cover going the the flame arestor. The other side has just a hole. So what you are saying is just connect a hose like the other side... No PCV valve, just a hose from valve cover to carb...
Correct

BTW 77 deg here today... been is shorts for 3 days now

[smokeonthewater]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCRUISER-AIR-CLEANER-SPARK-ARRESTOR-85785-Cover-/230960032184#vi-content

[roffey]

Correct

BTW 77 deg here today... been is shorts for 3 days now

hmmm, I'll hold comment. The nice wather is still about 2 months away. In the summer we get to about 90, in the winter it's -30. I have been in -50, and that is freeking cold. Nothing starts nothing moves.

[THEFERMANATOR]

77 GEEZ, I want those temps back. We've been flirting with the 90's down here this week. Been in shorts for weeks now.

[roffey]

v1

[smokeonthewater]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AuzyODgWRp4
sorry, couldn't resist... I had a yellow boat once too.

[roffey]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AuzyODgWRp4
sorry, couldn't resist... I had a yellow boat once too.
Ya but yellow boats are better, they go faster and look nicer and they are a chick magnet. .. well may be not. You have to keep in mind I bought this boat at a bargain price, or so I thought. The hydraulics do not work, lights do not work, the galley is a write off. The tire is flat on the trailer, on the bright side the motor purrs like a kitten... but I still love the boat. This is my boat and I will make it right.:beer:

[roffey]

Ya but yellow boat are better, they go faster and look nicer and they are a chick magnet. .. well may be not. You have to keep in mind I bought this boat at a bargain price, or so I thought. The hydraulics do not work, lights do not work, the galley is a right off. The tire is flat on the trailer, on the bright side the motor purrs like a kitten... but I still love the boat. This is my boat and I will make it right.:beer:
with your help.....

[smokeonthewater]

all little things .... she'll be gtg in no time... it's a fine looking vessel... Mine was in pretty rough shape but I loved it... it rotted away or I'd still be sportin it.

[roffey]

I think the bones of this boat are good. Most of the stuff I have to do is cosmetic. When I bought the boat my wife wanted nothing to do it. Last night she was trying to get her boaters license and she bought a fishing rod. I think she likes it more than she lets on…

[roffey]

I had the week off and have taken a harder look at the boat. The motor runs… that's about it. The power trim sounds like it is going up and down but the outdrive does not move. When I try and move the trim tabs I get noting. Most of the lights and radio do not work, that's just wiring. I will be able to check out the trim tabs and hydraulics next weekend.

[roffey]

OK I have pictures now.. and know how to post them.. LOL :pic: