In my boat (see other thread). Took it out on the water last Friday and it was 'ok' for about the first half mile, then it started to miss a little and would only rev to 4200rpm (@40mph). Another mile and it was missing a good bit, finally slid the engine cover back to see if anything obvious was wrong. Had a little steam coming out the PCV breather, figured it had a bad head gasket so I removed the oil fill cap and it dang near went over the stern. Motor cleared right up, but it looked like a steam locomotive coming out the oil fill. Guess the last owner didn't winterize it correctly and it froze up. He also forgot to mention it when I bought it. Did a U turn and took it home. Pulled it down over the last few days and the head has visibly cracks at the bolt bosses between 2+3 and a crack in the oil return line. The head gasket was cutting between 1+2 and had water tracks from 2+3 to their water passages. Inside the block on 2+3 the bore has massive cracks running around the bore precisely where the ring lands were when it froze up. I easily caught my fingertips on the cracks. I'm honestly surprised it didn't explode at 4200rpm under load. It's a real pity because the motor was clean enough to eat off of inside and out. I'll try to get some pics once it's on the stand tomorow and I have the lift plate off the bores.
I have a late 80's ranger on order out of a local towing yard for $50 with a 2.3 in it that I plan on dropping in for the rest of this season, then building a good motor for next year. Tough little motor to run that hard with steam shooting out the top.
Jamie
I have a late 80's ranger on order out of a local towing yard for $50 with a 2.3 in it that I plan on dropping in for the rest of this season, then building a good motor for next year. Tough little motor to run that hard with steam shooting out the top.
Jamie
