One owner Jetstar 520.....

[BN]

Hi Robert, where you live there must be many boat yards with hoists, who would happily remove the engine if you remove all the wiring and connections and leave them with a straight lift. I used to know a couple of yards on Hayling Island who helped me out like that. With my Dowty, I raise the bow and drag the engine out over the stern, once I have dragged the engine to the stern manually. It is a mid engined boat so no straight lift. In a Searay jet boat I owned, I used to take the wheels off the trailer, bit of a fiddle, but did the job, providing I left enough for the wheels of the hoist to get under the trailer.

I am sure Mark and Alan will come up with all the help you need. If there is interest, I might hold another Jetstar meet next year up here on the lake.

[king]

There are as you say several yards that will take the engine out at a price including Birdham Pool where I berth my big boat.
Trouble is with Health and Safety these days they want their staff to do the whole operation which comes a bit pricey! I also was quite keen to do the lift at home so that the engine can go straight into my garage on a pallet I have with castors. If its taken out at the yard I then have to transport it home and lift it out there. I wouldn't like to risk the garage roof with a chain hoist but I've found a Material Handling hoist which I can hire and which may be suitable. Taking the wheels off the trailer to reduce the height is a useful tip. I'll keep you posted as to how I get on.
If there is a Jetstar "meet " next year I would certainly be interested in coming assuming we are all back together by then.
Regards
Robert

[BN]

There are as you say several yards that will take the engine out at a price including Birdham Pool where I berth my big boat.
Trouble is with Health and Safety these days they want their staff to do the whole operation which comes a bit pricey! I also was quite keen to do the lift at home so that the engine can go straight into my garage on a pallet I have with castors. If its taken out at the yard I then have to transport it home and lift it out there. I wouldn't like to risk the garage roof with a chain hoist but I've found a Material Handling hoist which I can hire and which may be suitable. Taking the wheels off the trailer to reduce the height is a useful tip. I'll keep you posted as to how I get on.
If there is a Jetstar "meet " next year I would certainly be interested in coming assuming we are all back together by then.
Regards
Robert

All the best and I hope you get the engine out soon.

[enginuitytriumph]

If you end up doing a full rebuild there is a great essex specialist in Lancashire called      'Car Clinic'. They did a great job on my crank as it's such a big lump to balance. They were reasonable & knew a lot about the essex engines as it's all they do! 

[BN]

If you end up doing a full rebuild there is a great essex specialist in Lancashire called      'Car Clinic'. They did a great job on my crank as it's such a big lump to balance. They were reasonable & knew a lot about the essex engines as it's all they do! 

I understand these guys will take your old stripped down engine and you get a full reconditioned unit for a reasonable price over the counter. You then put back your marine bits and pieces.

[king]

I'm hoping that it won't be necessary to have a full rebuild as the engine has only done 247hrs. Once I've found the problem with the coolant getting into the oil then I will have a better idea or what's required. If its a head gasket that's easy but if its a cracked block the its probably better to look for a recon engine, or it might be the oil cooler in the heat exchanger. I can't think of anywhere else where the water can get into the oil. I'll keep you posted but in the meantime thanks for you interest and helpful comments.
Robert 

[enginuitytriumph]

[Lincsoutboards]

When I saw it I had the feeling that the water had not been properly drained before lay up and there did not seem to be a lot of anti freeze in there. I suspected that it could possibly have got a cracked block - but that was just an assumption. I have a fully rebuilt Essex that has been tuned up to about 180 bhp - I was going to put it in the Jetstar had I been able to buy it. It has cross drilled and tear dropped mains, fast road cams etc, it's been rebored, all new seals and gaskets, the carb is twin choke weber. It's at my mates house, I can get photos if you are interested. I also have an early 3.0 that I bought as a spare, it's not siezed and the block looks ok but it would need to be fully checked out. If either are of interest to you, let me know.
Regards,
Dave.

[Admbeattie]

Dave,

Thank you for the offer - that's good to know should the worse case come to light. Once we get the engine out and have a good look we might well be coming back to you! All the best,

Will. (Younger part of this jetstar project!)

[king]

[BN]

When I first saw the boat and spoke to the owner, I knew it was a very viable restoration job. Had I more space, I would have bought the boat. I am offered so many many boats, but without a doubt, with your boats history, it was a bargain.

When it is finished please come up to the lake here and join the other Jetstar guys one day. I would be great to invite the previous owner as well.

Re the engine, there is a guy up north who specialises in Essex engines, but loads of other Ford V6 re-builders.

Keep the good work going, because with AlanR and Mark with you, there are no better guys for a Jetstar to help.

[enginuitytriumph]

I've never discovered which engine mounting it's come off of, but to be honest, the front engine mount is not really as crucial as it looks for 'torque'.  In a normal car / engine fitment it needs to take quite a torque twist as you put it under load. As the engine is pretty much firmly fixed to the jet drive, which is bolted tight to the boat, it doesn't move  apart from a feeble few mm! As mine had come apart (& every time I've taken the engine out since) I simply re-glued it using a Wurth RTV silicone;D. It only rests on it & acts as a spacer to keep the engine in line & weight off of the jet unit. So if it's in fairly good shape, personally I'd glue it & leave it"!!     Mark

[king]

Thanks or the advice Mark. I may well end up gluing the existing one back together if I can't find a suitable replacement. The "depth" of the Rubber block when out of the boat is 60mm do you happen to know if it compresses when installed with the weight of the engine on it? I never thought to measure it before I took the engine out.
Regards
Robert