Prepurchase Detroit rebuild parts

[madhatter1]

We plan on keeping Esperanza until we simply can no longer use it. That could be a lot of years if we remain lucky. I hear more and more about parts availability being an issue. We have an account set up for the boat and I'm wondering If it makes sense to track down and purchase all the parts for rebuilding both 8-92's now as when the time comes to repair of freshen up they may not be. The money is no good if you can't get the part. Of course I would have to properly store the parts to prevent any corrosion or damage. I figure I would occasionally need to replace anything rubber like the O-rings.

Thoughts?

 

[bigbill]

seems like a lot of money to tie up for future use parts. god forbid something like fire or sinking. you would have a lot of parts and no use for them. or if you decide to re-power instead of re-build

 

[SEVEN]

I think I’d grab all the parts that have been discontinued and are no longer made. As far as the rest, I’d buy them off the shelf new at the time you need them.

 

[Boatsb]

I'd look at a repower. If it's that worn-out you're looking at engines and transmissions needing work. Might as well do it all at once with something new and improved.

 

[madhatter1]

Both very good points. Mechanic starts some work tomorrow. I'll start by getting a list of what's hard to come by today and then go from there. Just hoard what I have to so I can feel comfortable. If some stuff is readily available no need to purchase now.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Liner kits availability have been a roller coaster ride for a few years now. They are available, then they are not, THEN a quality issue (not available again). This week, who knows.
Gaskets and bearings will always be available.
Exchange blowers and turbos will always be available.

IMO, anything you need will be available, when you need it, with a warranty.
Injectors do not store well, they will be bad when you try to use them.
A DOA part with no warranty is a waist of money if you have a problem trying to use it.

Next issue;
You purchase a rebuild kit, a year later (6 months), you open the box for use, a gasket is missing, a rat ate another gasket, rain water damaged another gasket, a bearing has an issue (oversized already in use), yada yada yada
Over 6 months later your SOL.

I recommend purchasing everything fresh when needed.

 

[bostonhatteras]

Liner/cylinder kits have four different sizes available or are supposed to. You won't know the liner size until the old liner is removed and the mechanic measures the block. If you buy the biggest O.D. liner and the mechanic hones the block for that size, then that's the end of rebuilding. Perhaps concentrate on finding the specific tools that are used to rebuild the engine like ring compressor, liner height tool etc Rats can't eat those.

 

[madhatter1]

Okay, so overall not a good strategy. I will just be prepared to deal with wait time if there are parts availability if the day ever comes. I have some other toys to play with so theres that. Boat trips are the most fun though.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Perhaps concentrate on finding the specific tools that are used to rebuild the engine like ring compressor, liner height tool etc Rats can't eat those.

There ya go.
Include a hoist frame in this shopping also.
Maybe mods to the deck in prep for a hoist.

 

[Fanfare]

Or just buy a spare engine. Unless you have reverse rotation, in which you will need two.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Or just buy a spare engine. Unless you have reverse rotation, in which you will need two.

Oh, that is one of the sweetest parts of the in-line 71s.
You need counter rotation, Just spin (end to end) the engine (long block) around.
What a great design.

 

[DCMY #92]

I rebuilt one of my 5V63s during Covid. I purchased cylinder kits and gaskets for both engines from DDC, even though I only needed to rebuild one. While preparing for the overhaul I measured all critical dimensions of the parts (liners, pistons, piston pins, rings). Alarmingly, only 2 of the 12 kits had all parts within spec. I've overhauled engines using DDC parts many times and never encountered defective parts until this experience. When I talked to the parts department about this they were glad I wished to return the parts for credit instead of insisting on exchanging the defective parts. They said they were not at all certain when or if they could provide acceptable parts. The parts guy told me he recently sold a new blower assembly that had bolt holes drilled in the wrong location. On the DDC parts department manager's recommendation I purchased 12 more cylinder kits from FP Diesel. All 12 of the FP Diesel kits were perfect, like DDC kits used to be.

 

[rsmith]

Liner/cylinder kits have four different sizes available or are supposed to. You won't know the liner size until the old liner is removed and the mechanic measures the block. If you buy the biggest O.D. liner and the mechanic hones the block for that size, then that's the end of rebuilding. Perhaps concentrate on finding the specific tools that are used to rebuild the engine like ring compressor, liner height tool etc Rats can't eat those.

That’s 71 series 92 are wet liners so no honing or fitting required only one set of liners to buy. In theory you can rebuild 92’s forever. 71’s when you hit the 5th liner the block is done. I’m on my 2nd set in 54 years and 20,000 hours I’m thinking 2075-2080 I might need to repower.

 

[Bob Quinn]

8v92's and 8v71's are actually being produced again for the military.
So some parts will be out there.

 

[cww]

The issue wasn't parts unavailability in the traditional sense, it was that when detroit switched to having their parts made in China a few years ago they got a batch of crummy chinese liners that didn't hold up. It took them 2-3 years and tons of warranty claims to fix the problem with the supplier, recall the bad kits, and then manufacture enough to work through the backlog and fill all the backorders. Plus the COVID supply chain issues didn't help in getting them over here.

From what I understand, it's pretty much back to normal now, whenever you're ready to rebuild everything is readily available. I don't know that I would stock $20k worth of parts I don't need yet. These engines are still some of the most common out there, parts will be available for the forseeable future, like 10+ years at least.

 

[rsmith]

8v92's and 8v71's are actually being produced again for the military.
So some parts will be out there.

Back when MTU bought them that was what I was told by the sales people at one of the boat shows. They’re sold as remans to beat the emissions requirements. The issue is really the soft parts and seals. Cylinder seals in a 92 that lasted 30 years are now leaking in 5-10. Nearly everyone I personally know with a 92 that was rebuilt in the early teens is loosing coolant. Not a lot but unexplained loss that doesn’t show up in the oil. Could be cooking off and going out the exhaust. Nothing rubber today seems to last very long. Maybe the Chinese plan it that way.

 

[DD parts]

Saw your post and not sure how your parts situation is going. Just want to let you now that I deal in DD hard parts. Heads, on blowers I have many in stock or I can rebuild what you send me. Some turbos in stock. I have most jacket and raw water pumps in stock. If you need hard parts, try me.
thank you.
Contact this member off line for further information.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Craig, please see PM sent you about this most. I'll edit the post tomorrow if you have not done by then.