My first V20

A comment about getting the seals in place over a sleeved camshaft. There are a couple of locator pins sticking out of the engine to locate the cover when you put it back on and I screwed up one seal fighting those pins. Spareparts advised pulling them out and replacing them after the cover was in place - it saved my sanity, what there was of it to start with. One of the pins REALLY didn’t want to come out but several days of applying penetrating oil (I don’t recall what I used- may have been Kroil but use the best stuff you can find),I finally got it. Grabbed on with vice grips (the pins were so hard that the pliers didn’t make even a scratch), harfed up and down, more penetrant, over and over and finally it budged a little and I knew I had it - definitely the hardest part of the job.

By the way, I didn’t know the seal was screwed up until I took it out for a test run and it overheated again. Had to do the whole job again. Pull the pins and be very careful to get the seals in right the first time, particularly if you need to sleeve it.
 
Some great news! I was able to store the boat in a neighbors pole barn for the winter. That means I will be able to make the repair before boating season begins!! If there are any other tips y'all can think of, please let me know. Any special tools or do's/don't s are always appreciated. Maybe I'll take some pics of the project to help out folks in later on. Please let me know of any other mods I should do. It is a unique opportunity for me to have a roof over my head to work on the boat. I'm looking forward to it. Thanks in advance
 
If the water pump impeller in the out drive is over a couple of years old, you should replace it. If you decide to do that, post it here and I can send a plan for a very useful jig that clamps in a vice and holds the lower unit so it’s easy to work on. It even provides a flat area to set a few tools and parts while you’re working on it.
 
scook said:
If the water pump impeller in the out drive is over a couple of years old, you should replace it. If you decide to do that, post it here and I can send a plan for a very useful jig that clamps in a vice and holds the lower unit so it’s easy to work on. It even provides a flat area to set a few tools and parts while you’re working on it.
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Scook, would love to see that plan for the holder. Wondering if it can be adapted to an outboard lower unit? :head:
 
D - pm me an email address and I’ll send you some photos. If you like it, I’ll trace it out and snail mail you a plan. I think from the pictures, you’ll be able to tell if it’s adaptable. I kind did trial and error getting the shape right after seeing a YouTube of a boat mechanic use one he’d made.

It really made the impeller change easy.

Some day I’ll spend the time to get set up to post pictures here - just too busy right now.
 
inaforty said:
I use an old Work mate bench by Black and Decker when servicing a lower unit.
Use the wood vise to hold the unit in place
Not sure it would work for all applications.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/BLACK-D...g-Portable-Workbench-and-Vise-WM425/202516382
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Barry, that's exactly what I presently use. Hoping that Scook's plans might be a little better.My biggest problem is trying to use straight clamping surfaces on a curved object. Never really secure and I don't want to clamp the skeeg because God knows they like to break.

I think I'm going to use a profiler and carve out two pieces of 4x4 wood that have the lower units profile (above the anti-cavatation plate) on the one side and a straight profile on the other. Use a router to carve a groove in the straight side to lock into the straight side of the Work Mate's clamping area. Should provide a good solid clamping surface.
 
Destroyer said:
Barry, that's exactly what I presently use. Hoping that Scook's plans might be a little better.My biggest problem is trying to use straight clamping surfaces on a curved object. Never really secure and I don't want to clamp the skeeg because God knows they like to break.

I think I'm going to use a profiler and carve out two pieces of 4x4 wood that have the lower units profile (above the anti-cavatation plate) on the one side and a straight profile on the other. Use a router to carve a groove in the straight side to lock into the straight side of the Work Mate's clamping area. Should provide a good solid clamping surface.
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:clap: That sounds like it would perfect the use of the work mate
 
Somebody send an email address and I’ll send pictures. You guys who have posting photos figured can post them for everybody to see. Mine doesn’t clamp the lower unit but could be easily modified to do that if needed.
 
scook said:
Somebody send an email address and I’ll send pictures. You guys who have posting photos figured can post them for everybody to see. Mine doesn’t clamp the lower unit but could be easily modified to do that if needed.
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Hey. I just saw these posts. I’m not sure why I didn’t get an email notification. Anyway, I’ll send you a pm now. Thanks!
 
Dschaffer said:
I picked her up in the spring and had several adventures on Lake Michigan and a few in land lakes. I love this boat! What can/should I do to keep her in good shape? The biggest concern, from what I've read, is the Mercruiser 3.7 (165hp). I have yet to experience any real issues except that the coolant bottle sometimes ends up very low. I need to put new gauges on as not all work (any suggestions?). There is a bit of spider cracking here and there that I don't believe to be a concern but it would be great to find someone in my area (Northwest Michigan) with experience with these boats. It's an 88. Any recommendations for trim tabs? I'd like to have a steadier ride through the chop. It almost seems like the bow could use more weight. Anyway, I will spend more time searching the site and learning all I can. Any tips, or fellow V20 owners in the area, would be greatly appreciated!
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The little bit of spider cracking you mention...wear it as a badge...Remember your new love is 30 years old...she looks well cared for! Never had an I/O, but hear it's a good idea to keep a watchful eye on the bellows for cracking or any other signs of age or leaks...they are keeping a lot of water from coming into your boat.

Add the trim tabs...I've had hydraulics and my next will be Lenco electrics. With tabs, you can lower the bow all you want w/out adding weight and it will improve the ride tremendously!

Great TOP!... if yur budget allows, go ahead and have eisenglass clear side panels...
 
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