engine removal

[danshat]

Ok so I didn't think this through all the way before I started (what's new). Once again need some help from some experts to get me out of a bind. My boat is now on the hard. I am pulling the chrysler 440's and probably going with the 5.7 EFI's. Problem is I can't find a way to get the engines out. I arranged to have a tow truck with a boom come to lift them out. I cut the hole in the roof of the salon before the tow truck got there. OOPS! Truck shows up and says he doesn't have the reach. Now the engines are still in and the hole is still there. Any ideas on how to get the engines out short of paying the big money for a crane? I'd hate to have cut the hole for nothing. Thanks in advance.

P.S. I can't figure out how to respond to posts either. Maybe I just need a vacation

 

[yachtsmanbill]

At 1500 lbs. have the travelift come over and rig a chainfall from the beam.
A crane rental in Chicago STARTS at $500/hour with an operator depending on the size up to $500K per day!.
Pay the TL guy a quick hundred and go have lunch! ws

 

[MikeP]

It would be time consuming but an option is to disassemble the engines in place and remove the parts separately. The block could be lifted out by two guys with a rope. You MIGHT be able to lift it as a short block which would mean you wouldn't have to pull the pistons/crank. OR you could pull the crank without removing the pistons. If you do that, wrap a rag around each free rod bearing end so it doesn't bang against the bore as you move the engine around.

 

[SeaEric]

Some yards have forklifts with enough height and reach for this job. Or, perhaps (not sure on this) a backhoe? Good luck and let us know how you proceed.

 

[NAN-PO 41]

Have you looked into a larger wrecker? You may find that a wrecker for large trucks will have a long enough boom and be substantailly cheaper than a crane. Also, if you can move the exsisting engines within the boat ( set on deck in the salon with a-frame and chain fall or come along? ) you could prepare the bilges ( ie: clean and paint ) and then have the removal and install done at the same time thereby saving money by only using the wrecker/crane once.
Fred

 

[captddis]

I usually hire a crane company, they have the reach and capacity and EXPERIENCED drivers. Around here it is 225.00 for 3 hours including travel.
Whenever I need to use a yard to do the lifting it is always risky. Some operators are better than others. To some up a couple inches means a couple feet.

 

[Genesis]

The solution to this is a truck with a stinger on the ass end.

Be very sure they know what they're doing. You don't want to know what happens if not (truck goes in water, engine goes through boat, etc)

This much mass on this much lever arm usually means counterweighting is necessary.

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

i had the yard use the travel lift to pull mine thru the hole i cut in my flybridge. very scary watching them dangle up that high. as suggested, go to lunch during the process.

jim

 

[Boss Lady]

go here for some action pictures removing my 8v71s through the salon roof. www.starcarpentry.com

 

[danshat]

Thanks guys for all the advice. Unfortunately the only yard i'm in is my back yard so a travel lift is out of the question. I think I will try a bigger wrecker. If that doesn't work I'll be moving them inside, which will probably work well the more i think about it. I'll get the wrecker on Tuesday so I'll let ya know.

 

[Boatsb]

Rent a forklift wit 2 x the capacity you need and long forks with a place to secure the lift chain.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

On my Roamer (36' express) we used an articulated high lift fork lift with a 10' pipe rig on the forks with a chain fall to pull the 283s and install 454s.
DO NOT GET UNDERNEATH this stuff!
After a 10 year rebuild we had to put them back in with the travel lift. Got them up on deck, slid them on planks to engine bay and re-rigged the TL with a bar ACROSS through the side windows on the front TL slings, to pick and lower them in. The side windows open about 16" and the bar was about 8" that left 4" on either end TO NOT TOUCH THE GLASS! ws

 

[Mako440]

Do not waste your time disassembling the engines. You will probably lose a few parts and the short block of a 440 weighs around 500 lbs. The complete assembled motor weighs in the neighborhood of 700+.

I would probably go the extended lift method described above.

There may be another option. They make engine hoists that disassemble so you could get it in the salon, put it together, then put the motor on a dolly and wheel it out, depending on how wide your doors are.

I would be fairly certain that the floor would support the weight, but I would put down plywood so the hoist rolls easily and doesn't damage the floor.



Once you get it to the rear deck, then you could call a wrecker to lift it out, just make sure you have a place to put the motors!

You should be able to rent the hoist and dollys at your local tool rental store.

Added with edit: Looking at a brochure for your boat, it looks like there is enough room to take one motor out, sit it on a dolly, take the other motor out and then call the tow truck to take the motors out the side door. Hopefully, you have enough room in the yard for this maneuver!

 

[Trojan]

Try a private sign company. They have boom-trucks big enough. A complete engine only weighs around 1200. lbs. .

BILL

 

[67hat34c]

I would think you could make a rig out of 4x4's and a 4x6 beam. make an engine hoist with a traveler , pull engine up and move over to the door opening then lift out with the fork lift or small crain. by the way the tow trucks for semi's have a crain boom. possibly you can hire one of these guys.

 

[31FlyCruzr]

I used a tree service to pull the enigne when I spun bearing a few years ago. You can rig a comealong or chain hoist from their hook if you have a distance to go straight up. This was pulled in the water from under the hard top and worked very well.

Bill

 

[brian4190]

i will throw my two cents in on your engine replacement selection. unless you plan to travel at displacement speeds the 5.7's are very marginal power for a heavy 34 ft hat. i repowered my 1966 28ft sportfish with crusader 5.7mpi 330 hp and wish that i had put in the 6.0's or big blocks. although on paper the horsepower is more than your 440's the small blocks will struggle to give you the cruise the bigger displacement engines will and will significantly shorten their life and wont give you the fuel savings you might expect. also remember that you need to change out the fuel tanks to ethanol resistant material. good luck.

 

[Mako440]

Silly me, I thought you were putting in 5.7 HEMIs!

I would agree with Brian about switching to small blocks. They don't have as much torque as the 440 and that is what moves your boat.

An upgraded camshaft swap, like a "six-pack" or "purple shaft", good valve job and you would be surprised just how good those 440s will run.

The automotive version of the 440 six pack was conservatively rated at 390HP and 490 ft. lbs. of torque. The legendary 426 HEMI was rated at 425 HP and the same 490 ft. lbs. of torque.

I would probably go with a six-pack cam and install some type of fuel injection.
You probably have the old Carter AFB carburetor on there and the injection setup will probably increase the mileage. It may take time to recoup your investment in the injector system.

 

[MikeP]

Dan,

I sent you a private message...