Is this the end of my V20?
 

Newly registered to this site, although I have been viewing it for years. Unfortunately, my first post is not a good one....

1983 V20 w/ 1983 Mercruiser 470 - best boat I've ever owned.

When de-winterizing my boat this week, i was running it on the muffs when it died and a spurt of water/oil mix came out of the vent hose at the top of the crankcase (next to the flame arrestor) - maybe a quart of water. I knew right away that this should never happen. The boat had been running for about 10 minutes. (It was a little rough but i figured that was just because it sat all winter). I'm trying to determine what the problem might be and i was wondering if any other V20 owners had experience with this. I'm thinking possible head gasket but also a possible crack in the block or exhaust manifold issue. Either way, I know it is bad. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks, in advance, for your comments.

I had a similar experience with a 4.3 litre mercruiser engine. Unfortunately, turned out to be a cracked block, and I ended up buying a whole new engine.

I had a issue like that and it turned out to be that the head rotted a hole in it and allowed water in the crank case, I replaced the head and was fine for another 2 years when the motor rotted internally and was junk!

If I was you I would remove the engin and all and fill the hole and add a bracket and Outboard, Thats what I did and it was the best thing I ever did!! and if you are handy you can do all the work yourself and get out of it pretty cheap

Good Luck

UGH!!!... Not a pretty problem. :sad: You have a clue to the problem with the fact that it's the first time you started it since the winter. Winter is hell on I/O's.. just a small amount of undrained water in the wrong spot can crack a block. Fortunately, you're not in that bad a position IMHO. Blocks are waaaaayyyy cheaper than outdrives, and if you can do the work yourself you should be able to find a good block and get by for under $500. But I have to agree with Macojoe... patch the hole, get a bracket and an outboard. You'll thank us later..

So guys...it never even crossed my mind to go the bracket/outboard route. I'm intrigued. How is this accomplished / what type of bracket is necessary? The other obvious question is cost. For a V20 I'm guessing at least a 150hp outboard, correct?

Do a search on the site, a couple of people have bracketed their transoms and documented it.
One of the best is BibShrimpins, he made his own bracket.

You can get a good used 15t0 Merc for like $2000 or less!!

Fix the hole about $200 for material and your time, A usexd bracket $500 or less.
Check ebay, crigslist, local boat yards for a take off.

I had mine all set to go in a week end after I located all the parts

Go to the gallery and look at my gallery shows pic's there of my redo, ask all the questions you want, I am not the only one that has done it!!

Here is a link to the gallery home page:

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/v20_step

look at it as not the end of your v-20, but the re-birth of your v-20!!

Some of these brackets look great. Macojoe - I am impressed with what you did.

My only thought is that it would cost me 2-3 grand to do this, and a rebuild on my motor now would cost that, maybe even less. Is it worth it? Are there any performance benefits to going the bracket/outboard route?

The boat itself is in great shape for an '83 and i hate to get rid of it, but spending a) lots of time to redo it and b) lots of money to do it - are not what I was hoping for as we enter boating and fishing season.