Hey spare, question

[cfelton]

I noticed the last time I ran my v I saw a couple of drops of anti-freeze under the front of my 470 merc. I know all about the weep hole under the pump housing but it not coming from that.Facing the front of it, on the left side of the cir. pump /timing cover housing,about 3in. up from the bottomtheres a tiny indention in the casting next to a bolt and it drips a few drops out when it gets hot. Im wondering if its corrored from the inside or what. The hole is 1/8in in dia. and very shallow. I guess i could try some Marine Tex on it. You ever seen anything like this?

[spareparts]

man its been a while, got to think about it for a while....If this is the weep hole you're talkign about, then nevermind, but I think this is a different one. theres a weep hole in the front cover, down low, that lets anti freeze that gets by the camshaft/impeller drive seals, if it gets past the first seal, the second prevents it from getting into the oil, its got to go somewhere so theres a weep hole down low on the front cover that lets the antifreeze out. Repairing this involves in removing the front cover(including removing the water pump cover, impeller, balancer, stator), you can get by with out dropping the pan if your lucky. Once you have the cover off, look at the seal surface on the waterpump drive shaft( made onto the cam), lots of time you have use a speedy sleave to repair the surface. Put a pair of new seal in the cover, put everything back together, top off the antifreeze, fire it up, get it warm, check for leaks, change the oil.

If this isn't what you're talking about, a pic would do wonders in diagnosis

[cfelton]

Just got home and looked at it again and it could be the dreaded weep hole. I thought it was at the bottom of the raised passageway. This hole is 4-5 inches up from the oil pan,on the left side of the timing cover,just above the 3rd bolt. This is the only part of this engine I didnt mess with. Guess Ill have to scrub up and do a little more surgery. I dont think it will be too bad. Ive heard about using speedy sleeves on the cam nose if it has grooves in it. Illcheck it out further before I start. Thanks Spare!

[cfelton]

Well, I called the Mercruiser dealer (Shore Flyte of Elizabeth city) today and explained my leak and he said it is the camshaft seals. He said it would only cost 40 bucks for the seals and gaskets, not bad. guess Ill go for it. I hope I dont need to sleeve the cam too. Dosent look like a bad job though.

[spareparts]

yeah its not too bad of a job, you will need a harmonic balancer puller and installer(beating the balancer back on breaks the magnets loose), If the water pump impeller is threaded on( doesn't use the thru bolt and nut) its a left hand thread to remove it

[cfelton]

Thanks Spare, Ive got a puller but not an installer, guess I can use a long bolt. I dont know about the impeller, guess Ill find out when I get to it. I think Im gonna run it a little friday, its the only day Ive got off in 15 days. Ill probley get into it next week.

[spareparts]

you can make an installer by finding a long bolt that is the same thread as the one that holds the balancer on(7/16 fine thread?) adn thread a nut on it all the way to the head, then thread it into the crank, using the nut you can push the balancer on. Good luck finding a bolt the right thread, an easier solution would be to check with Harbour Freight Salvage to buy one( they're cheap enough to justify for one use), or go by Auto Zone( they rent them out with a deposit)

[cfelton]

Thanks Spare, I work at a big paper mill .Ill look around here and see what I can find. If I need sleeves for the cam do ya have any suggestions on what size and where I might get them. I have a NAPA , and a few more auto parts stores close by. I guess I could ask them.

[spareparts]

i can't remember the size of the shaft, you will need to mike it(NAPA shoul be able to find one based on the shaft diameter), I don't think I still have a service manual for those motors, but I'll look

[cfelton]

I got my seals and gasket set yesterday. Ive got five days off starting friday evening,so I guess Ill start on it soon. It only leaks a couple a drops when running but I hate a leak.I might run it a little this weekend before i tear it down. It runs so good I hate ta mess with it , but its gotta be right. Ill try and take some pics if my hands aint to greasy.

[C YENSEN]

well i guess if my 470 needs work done I know who to call ;D ::)

[spareparts]

ther's a complete 470 for sale on Charleston Craig's list for $300, its a couple pages back, saw it while going back thru looking for soemthing else, he's got teh drive to go with it as well

[cfelton]

Ill have ta check em out. Id like to have a spare to rebuild and keep in the garage. Ive got twin counter rotating 225 slant six chrysler marine engines and velvet drives that I might trade for a 470 at Budget Boats in Chesapeak VA. I called them and they told me we could work something out. CYensen, Ill try to post up a few pics of the repair, incase ya ever have to do it. It looks pretty simple though.

[spareparts]

those 3.7's are getting scarce. Mercuiser had a bounty on cores a couple of years ago till they got their inventory on reman up to stock

[cfelton]

I finally got around to replacing the cam seals and water pump gaskets.
It wasnt too bad. I drained all the coolant, pulled the harmonic balancer and removed the impeller cover. The impeller was held on by a single bolt. After removing it I could see the seals. I slipped a single edge razor blade between the timing cover and oil pan gasket so it wouldnt tear it. the timing cover came straight out 1/2 in. off two dowel pins. I changed out the seals , cleaned it all up and knocked the dowel pins back through the cover to allow it to turn up a littleso as not to push oil pan gasket into pan when installing it. I replaced the gaskets ,and all bolts and tapped pins back in. I used a long threaded stud and nut with washer to push the balancer back on ,filled it with coolant and fired it up. NO LEAKS YEAH!!! Now Ill change the oil and Ill be ready ta go. I took a few pics, will get them posted this week, working 11-7.

[spareparts]

well done ;D