Detroit Diesel Rebuild

[yachtsmanbill]

Ya see? These are real world figures, not the numbers that the bookworms and sock puppets here dream about. You are way ahead of the game taking the blocks to a shop for the work. There is no doubt about the quality of the rebuild at that point. Hot tanking alone is worth the weight of the block.
As a new guy here, please feel free to chime in and ad yer $.02 worth. If you do as much as you can yourself, youll save a ton of dough and learn a lot in the process.
You will find a lot of experts here quote from other experts on how stuff should be done. BEWARE! And take a lot with a grain of salt. Youll figure out in short order who to thank and who will make you think (twice I hope!) Now go get yourself a BIG jug of Go-Joe hand cleaner and get to work! ws

[wllmwltn]

I sure am glad I'm not living only on my Social Securety. Boy, ain't this boating fun,..? And cheap too....!!

Bill

[yachtsmanbill]

Now yer talkin! I do this on a meager pension, so my motto is "I aint cheap, just frugal". Welcome aboard and please, enjoy your boat. So many seem not to be able to these days! ws

[CDB101]

Pulled two 4-53t's out and away from anything labeled "marine". Had a diesel farm tractor shop recommended to me and found parts thru a engine machine shop rather that thru Detroit. Took them to the shop during the winter when he was hungry and saved a bunch. Total for rebuild incl kits, injectors, rebuilt turbos (less heads and cranks, they were OK) was under $7k. So had I gone w/ the "professionals" @ $4k/hole I'd be kicking myself.

[DCMY #92]

I have overhauled my 6V53s twice over the years. The last time was was about 8 years ago. I recall that the parts about $5k per engine. I have no first hand information, but I have heard that some 8V53 parts like heads and exhaust manifolds are harder to come by than 6V53 parts. I bought new casting heads with rebuilt valves gear for under $900 each (with core) from DDC when I did my last overhaul. I don't know that new 8V53 heads are available at any price.

[Boatsb]

8V53's have no turbos and are simpler engines than most other detroits because of that. If the heads are good I have been told $5k from a shop a few years ago. I would be surprised if they could not be done today for less than 9 or 10K. Haul them over to a real diesel shop that does industrial and truck rebuilds and see what they say.

[captddis]

The 8v53 blowers are extremely hard to find. There is a bearing that has is no longer made. The replacement is close but I if I remember correctly it needs an oil hole drilled very carefully into it.

[mtadamek]

We did ours about 3 years ago. Did them ourselves, you can find a shop to overhaul them very reasonable. There are still a lot of Detroit 2 stroke mechanics out there, parts are cheap, and they are old reliable technology. Find you a good diesel truck shop and they will do it in their sleep. If you want to go the marine route, look for a tug boat company in the area and go talk to their shop guy. He will give you some ideas. The 8v53's are good engines and should not cost an arm and a leg to overhaul. If you want take outs I know there were a couple on the craigslist San Antonio, TX a few weeks back. Also look in Boats & Harbors (classified newspaper) for takeouts or rebuilds.

[mtadamek]

Here is a place for some harder to find parts:

http://www.dieselpro.com/8v53natural.aspx