A boat I am interested in .. Alberg 35. It still has the Atomic 4,,
Universal Engine .. GAS.

Access to the engine is very easy. And, I am not against a gas engine, per
say. So, to save money [oopps], I want to take the engine out of the boat,
get the engine rebuilt and put back in.

I know about Moyer in PA. I have been on his Web Site and read all the
info.

My first thought,,, drive to Moyer's shop and drop off the engine; have him
rebuild, go and get it and put it back in the boat. That is a 450 mile
drive; one way!

Second thought,,,, take engine out. Bring to local engine rebuilder, have
him rebuild the engine, get the parts from Moyer,,, and put the engine back
in.

QUESTION;; CAN A LOCAL ENGINE REBUILDER DO AS GOOD A JOB AS MOYER?

WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST ECONOMICAL METHOD TO FOLLOW?

The problem with the Beta and some other "bolt
in replacements" is that although they will bolt to the stringers, and
lengthwise they are similar, they are taller than the good ol' atomic
4...I just did a repower on a Columbia, fhe owner had picked up a "bolt
in " diesel, but without major cockpit mods, it was a no go...so it got
a rebuilt A-4,he's going to rebuild the old one over time as a spare...
Here's a good A-4 page with a lot of info for making the A-4/Diesel
conversion decision .....
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=re... AnwIaTz-wxx8w

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 14:52:08 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth"
wrote:

A boat I am interested in .. Alberg 35. It still has the Atomic 4,,
Universal Engine .. GAS.

Access to the engine is very easy. And, I am not against a gas engine, per
say. So, to save money [oopps], I want to take the engine out of the boat,
get the engine rebuilt and put back in.

Does the engine need a rebuild, or just a bit of a tune up in place?
Replace the ignition system for about $120 in Delco parts, test the
compression, and you may be just fine.

Ryk

Yeah... A4s are quite reliable as long as they're in good shape. The main
problem seems like for a rebuild would be getting it out of the boat. The
work should be pretty straightforward.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Ryk" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 14:52:08 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth"
wrote:

A boat I am interested in .. Alberg 35. It still has the Atomic 4,,
Universal Engine .. GAS.

Access to the engine is very easy. And, I am not against a gas engine,
per
say. So, to save money [oopps], I want to take the engine out of the
boat,
get the engine rebuilt and put back in.

Does the engine need a rebuild, or just a bit of a tune up in place?
Replace the ignition system for about $120 in Delco parts, test the
compression, and you may be just fine.

Ryk

Unfortunately,, rebuild is called for. I am working on a couple of plans.
1. Get the existing engine rebuilt. Problem is, I don't own the boat yet.
And, until the engine is out of the boat you can't tell the condition of the
block.
2. Buy a replacement diesel. This is around $7200. If I can find one that
will fit the existing motor mounts [ Beta Marine ] , then I would have to
come up with some type of offer that makes allowances for the new engine.
3. Find an Atomic 4 Universal Gas engine that is still running ok. One
that was taken out of an older boat by an owner who "just had to have" a
diesel. Then do a swap with the engine that is in the boat. This is the
best plan so far. At the end of the season, look around and see in what
direction to follow.
4. Buy the boat with NO ENGINE. Use a dinghy as a tugboat. As nutty as
this sounds,, it might work. And, then I can get the boat and go off
sailing.

5,6,7,8,9 ........... Win the Super Lotto .

Call up a sailboat builder and say "build me a boat"

I really like the sound of 5,6,7,8,9,




"Ryk" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 14:52:08 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth"
wrote:

A boat I am interested in .. Alberg 35. It still has the Atomic 4,,
Universal Engine .. GAS.

Access to the engine is very easy. And, I am not against a gas engine,
per
say. So, to save money [oopps], I want to take the engine out of the
boat,
get the engine rebuilt and put back in.

Does the engine need a rebuild, or just a bit of a tune up in place?
Replace the ignition system for about $120 in Delco parts, test the
compression, and you may be just fine.

Ryk

Capt JG,, I looked into this. I have a plan.. It might cost around $125
but that isn't so bad.

===========

Now all I need is a working AT4, in OK Condition..

===================================
"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
Yeah... A4s are quite reliable as long as they're in good shape. The main
problem seems like for a rebuild would be getting it out of the boat. The
work should be pretty straightforward.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Ryk" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 14:52:08 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth"
wrote:

A boat I am interested in .. Alberg 35. It still has the Atomic 4,,
Universal Engine .. GAS.

Access to the engine is very easy. And, I am not against a gas engine,
per
say. So, to save money [oopps], I want to take the engine out of the
boat,
get the engine rebuilt and put back in.

Does the engine need a rebuild, or just a bit of a tune up in place?
Replace the ignition system for about $120 in Delco parts, test the
compression, and you may be just fine.

Ryk

Moyer provides a warantee for an exchange short or long block.
I dont think you can get the same 'warantee' deal from a local
rebuilder.
If the local rebuilder has the capacity to do micro-boring and
micro-polishing then and only then would the local rebuilder produce a
better engine rebuild.
Obviously Moyer has the highest expertise with A4s



In article s_MAf.279$ie3.212@trndny09, Thomas Wentworth
wrote:

A boat I am interested in .. Alberg 35. It still has the Atomic 4,,
Universal Engine .. GAS.

Access to the engine is very easy. And, I am not against a gas engine, per
say. So, to save money [oopps], I want to take the engine out of the boat,
get the engine rebuilt and put back in.

I know about Moyer in PA. I have been on his Web Site and read all the
info.

My first thought,,, drive to Moyer's shop and drop off the engine; have him
rebuild, go and get it and put it back in the boat. That is a 450 mile
drive; one way!

Second thought,,,, take engine out. Bring to local engine rebuilder, have
him rebuild the engine, get the parts from Moyer,,, and put the engine back
in.

QUESTION;; CAN A LOCAL ENGINE REBUILDER DO AS GOOD A JOB AS MOYER?

WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST ECONOMICAL METHOD TO FOLLOW?

I too bought a boat (Yankee 30) with an A4 in it. I found that a compression check revealed that the mechanicals were
sound, and after a bit of tinkering, it started right up, and ran smooth.

As to having a local shop do a rebuild, I don't think I would, unless they could show me an overhaul/shop manual which
has all the clearences and tolerances. Too many engines (boat and auto) have been ruined by people who declare "All
engines are the same"

If and when I need a new/rebuilt engine, I'm going straight to Moyer...I've delt with them, and am impresssed how well
they know the A4. Because I've replace 'stuff' on the engine, I'd probably get a short block.

Norm

On Mon, 23 Jan 2006 12:57:34 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth" wrote:

Unfortunately,, rebuild is called for. I am working on a couple of plans.
1. Get the existing engine rebuilt. Problem is, I don't own the boat yet.
And, until the engine is out of the boat you can't tell the condition of the
block.
2. Buy a replacement diesel. This is around $7200. If I can find one that
will fit the existing motor mounts [ Beta Marine ] , then I would have to
come up with some type of offer that makes allowances for the new engine.
3. Find an Atomic 4 Universal Gas engine that is still running ok. One
that was taken out of an older boat by an owner who "just had to have" a
diesel. Then do a swap with the engine that is in the boat. This is the
best plan so far. At the end of the season, look around and see in what
direction to follow.
4. Buy the boat with NO ENGINE. Use a dinghy as a tugboat. As nutty as
this sounds,, it might work. And, then I can get the boat and go off
sailing.

5,6,7,8,9 ........... Win the Super Lotto .

Call up a sailboat builder and say "build me a boat"

I really like the sound of 5,6,7,8,9,




"Ryk" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 14:52:08 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth"
wrote:

A boat I am interested in .. Alberg 35. It still has the Atomic 4,,
Universal Engine .. GAS.

Access to the engine is very easy. And, I am not against a gas engine,
per
say. So, to save money [oopps], I want to take the engine out of the
boat,
get the engine rebuilt and put back in.

Does the engine need a rebuild, or just a bit of a tune up in place?
Replace the ignition system for about $120 in Delco parts, test the
compression, and you may be just fine.

Ryk

"Thomas Wentworth" wrote in message
news:uG4Bf.21212$nQ3.8706@trndny03...
Capt JG,, I looked into this. I have a plan.. It might cost around $125
but that isn't so bad.

===========

Now all I need is a working AT4, in OK Condition..

===================================
"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
Yeah... A4s are quite reliable as long as they're in good shape. The main
problem seems like for a rebuild would be getting it out of the boat. The
work should be pretty straightforward.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Ryk" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 14:52:08 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth"
wrote:

A boat I am interested in .. Alberg 35. It still has the Atomic 4,,
Universal Engine .. GAS.

Access to the engine is very easy. And, I am not against a gas engine,
per
say. So, to save money [oopps], I want to take the engine out of the
boat,
get the engine rebuilt and put back in.

Does the engine need a rebuild, or just a bit of a tune up in place?
Replace the ignition system for about $120 in Delco parts, test the
compression, and you may be just fine.

That's cheap...

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Nah
Its easy to determine the remaining 'meat' in an atomic4 versus
internal corrosion. Simply remove a few of the exhaust manifold bolts,
reaching into the thread bores with a probe and then count the number
of remaining threads ... if 4 or more threads then there is 'plenty' of
casting thickness to either 'continue' or totally rebuild.


In article , Commodore Joe
Redcloud© wrote:

On Mon, 23 Jan 2006 00:59:28 -0500, Ryk
wrote:

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 14:52:08 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth"
wrote:

A boat I am interested in .. Alberg 35. It still has the Atomic 4,,
Universal Engine .. GAS.

Access to the engine is very easy. And, I am not against a gas engine, per
say. So, to save money [oopps], I want to take the engine out of the boat,
get the engine rebuilt and put back in.

Does the engine need a rebuild, or just a bit of a tune up in place?
Replace the ignition system for about $120 in Delco parts, test the
compression, and you may be just fine.

Ryk

It would make more sense to do the compression test before spending
any money on ignition parts.

Meanwhile, these engines are so old now that just a compression check
doesn't tell you nearly enough. Interior passage walls may be mighty
thin after 25 or 35 years. You can't properly evaluate one of these
really old engines without a complete teardown and inspection.


Commodore Joe Redcloud©