new some help on info on a v20

[aussie]

hi guys just hope u can help im over in australia and seen a wellcraft v20 for sale on ebay i have a few questions
the seller of the boat has listed it as a wellcraft 20ft 1988 with a 470mercruiser 165hp
what engine do they have
do they preform well and canu mod the engine
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....=STRK:MEWAX:IT

this is the boat after looking on google to find what kind of wellcraft i found out it was a steplift and that the boat was sold in the states 12 months ago because he left the old amercain reg number on it
maybe some old member owned it i really like the look of the boat and any help wpuld be good thanks

[leeprice72]

THe engine I believe is a inline six GM. If the boat was taken care the mercruisers can be real nice. The problem is people generally neglect them. I would have it gone thru by a marine shop if you are interested. There are lots of parts in that outdrive that get expensive fast. One great thing is they get great gas mileage. The boat is a Deep V 20 steplift. I have a friend who converted his to an outboard on a bracket and it is cool. He said it was really not to bad to do and he loves it. If the price is right and it checks out ok with the mechanic, that would be a great boat. How much is it in US dollars?

[reelapeelin]

That's a good looking V-20...somebody took care of it...the 470 is plenty of power for the hull and the trailer even appears to be in good shape...it DOES look familiar, but that could be said about a lot of V-20s...looks like NC hull numbers...I like the fact it's a CLOSED cooling system...

What's the exchange rate...18,000 AU...what's that equal to in US dollars?...nice boat...hope it wokrs out for you...

[cfelton]

Welcome Aussie, that looks like a great boat. The 470 is a 4 cylinder Mercruiser engine with plenty of power to push that V around 40 mph. The 470, 3.7 and 170 are basically the same engine. Its Mercruisers aluminum block and a Ford 460 head marinized for this application. Most have closed cooling systems which don't run sea water through the block, which is a big plus. They're great motors if maintained properly. They had a few minor problems like the alternator behind the harmonic balance, which can be changed to an external one wire alternator easily. But really they're strong, reliable, economical engines that are very easy to maintain and repair. Good luck with your purchase! If you need any advice, just ask.

[brisboats]

That looks like a clean boat. All 470 engines are 4 cylinder 3.7 liter and closed cooled, they had to be as the engine block is aluminum and the head is cast iron. Often called a Ford design becuase 3.7 liters would be roughly one half of the 7.5L 460 cubic inch Ford. This was a mercruiser designed engine with one 460 ford head. They have a very stout bottom end and and yes they can be modified. Most common upgrade would be the oil cooler and 4 bbl carb and intake which mercruiser offered. The 4bbl versions of the 470 series motor were rated at 188/190hp. The 470 engine when it came out in the 1970's had a lot of teething problems. The later versions of the engine in the late 1980's were the best in my opinion and had several upgrades, including a larger 4" heat exchanger, and a better designed manifold and riser. All 470's originally had an expensive watercooled voltage regulator and the stator mounted behind the balancer pulley but many have been converted to a standard alternator set up as the stator likes to fling the glued on magnets. The 470 idles like a tractor pulls like a mule and gets darn good mileage doing it but any 20 plus year old motor needs a mechanical look over.


Brian

[Destroyer]

Good looking setup. The boat appears in good condition. Check the floor for soft spots, check the transom for dry rot. His ad states that the cuddy is big and can sleep 2 guys easy. It cannot. It's a great shelter, and yes, you can put 2 people in the cuddy, but it gets cramped when you do. That being said, the engine is a very reliable unit, and the fact it's freshwater cooled makes it much more desireable.

HOWEVER!!!!!......

In My Humble Opinion.. he's way overpriced on the boat!! The conversion rate for Austrailian to United States means that $18,000 Aus = $18,286.73 US.

http://coinmill.com/AUD_calculator.html#AUD=18000

It's a really great boat, and in most circumstances will get you out and get you home safely and with minimal fuss. But the price is way out of line for the boat. The ultimate decision is, of course, yours. But if it were me I'd keep looking.

[Road King Cole]

"The inside cabin has a large storage area and can sleep 2 guys easily"...

it would have to be 2 guys who happen to be "very close"...

18 grand? you could buy 3-4 of them here for that price....

[aussie]

ok thanks guys for the big welcome
ok one guy said its a 6 and the rest said its a four
i was hoping it was a ford four half a big block
i am a mechanic by trade so if i buy it i intend to do some mods to the engine is the head on it the same as a 460 big block can one be used
what is the power like of the engine do they plain easy never had a inboard for that reason
for the price on the boat its a good price for a baot of its size over here and these boats r not seen here like me exporting a strange car to u guys the price would be high
well this guy has not been responding to my emails only one told me its a car engine that was alot of help
ok can u tell me if these engines vibrate alot dont like vibration
and can we say definite its a ford 4

[brisboats]

Motor is a 4 cylinder a big honkin 3.7 liter four designed by mercruiser. To me it idles like a tractor and has the torque to match. Unlike most of our inboard engines. It is not an automotive motor that has been marinized but rather a mercruiser designed motor that uses some ford components. I used to sell Porsches and we had a 3.0 liter four in the 944, we would say it was the largest most powerful 4 cylinder (normally aspirated) of the time 1989-1990. That 3.0 used balance shafts licensed by mitsubushi to offset vibrations. The 470 series has no balance shafts depends what you compare it to but idle quality is a bit shaky. You get used to it.

Brian

[aussie]

yes i no what u mean the mits has 2 timing belts one for the cam and one for the balance when the balncer one is broken or not timed propley the car shakes rattles and rolls