Spare motor 3.7/170hp

[cfelton]

I've been looking around for a spare motor to rebuild and keep in the garage. Mercruiser does'nt make these blocks anymore. Looking on craigslist one night I found a siezed 3.7 motor for sale for 150.00 about 35 miles from home. I called and went by to look at it and was amazed at how clean it looked, so I bought it, the entire gimble, trim cylinders, shifter and cables. I got the motor home and dissambled it and found the riser had frozen and cracked letting antifreeze down into #3 and #4 cylinders. I soaked it down with Kroil oil and PB Blaster penetrating oil and let it soak for a week. Went back and cut a block of wood to fit the cylinders and tapped down on the stuck pistons freeing them up. After cleaning up the cylinders, intake and exhaust manifolds, and head and reseating all the valves I reassembled it. I squirted a little gas in the carb and it fired on up. I let it run for about 10 seconds. I guess I'll have to go back in though cause #4 cylinder only has about 55 psi. of compression. I guess I got some rings stuck in the piston or a broke compresson ring. Still for the money I got a hell of alot of parts for a small amount of cash. It really pays to keep your eyes open!