5.7 mercruiser

twhrider2

Junior Member
Newbie here asking for advise about the 5.7 Mercruiser. Talked with a seller today about his 87 V20. Good news is sounds like hull is clean and solid. Trialer is aluminum in good shape,new axles,hubs,tires etc. Bad news is the 5.7 runs great but has low compression on a couple of cylinders and two small cracks beneath a manifold from improper winterizing which leaks slightly but has been running this way for a couple of years. I realize this is not a lot of information as I have not yet looked at the boat, but mainly am asking if the 5.7 would be worth considering as a rebuild, replace or just plan to go with a bracket and outboard. So Spare,Skools,Reel and all w/ advise please fire away with opinions as I may go take a look this weekend. Price is 2K neg. Thanks in advance.
Ken
 
the 5.7 is probably the best hp per dollar you can put into a boat. Consider the motor junk. Price out a new long block(marineenginedepot.com). What kind of shape is the drive and transom plate in, that's where you can blow the budget on this job. And check the manifolds/risers, I wouldn't put used manifolds back on a new motor. Check the transom of the boat as well, if you got to put a transom in it, its hard to pass on the idea of a bracket boat. Are you running in fresh or salt water, what part of the country?
 
Back
Top