Thanks for the responses.

Not sure, but I've been told it overheated. It was the second time I had
the boat in the water, since during my first outing I determined that it
needed a tune up terribly. Tuned it up and was extremely pleased with
myself since I am definately not mechanically inclined. Took it down to the
Illinois River at Morris and off we went. About a half mile downriver, the
engine started making a horrible noise, like a car does with engine run-on.
At the same time, my friend that was with me shouted, "Hey, your motor is
smoking!" I immediately shut it down to a slow idle and limped it back to
the river bank near the boat ramp. Being a complete idiot, I shut off the
motor while I went to back the trailer down the ramp. Motor turns over like
crazy but will not fire, and I have been told that I have no compression in
any cylinders.

Needless to say, everyone at the boat ramp was thoroughly amused watching my
friend and I push/pull the boat back onto the trailer. :-(


"DjE" sevenup AT valiant D0T homeip D0T net wrote in message
...
I cross my little 140 over to a 1965 Chevy II 153 CID for my oil filter
and
spark plugs. All the other doodads are marine items specially made for
Mercruiser (Dist cap/rotor/fuel stuff).

You *should* be able to find a good little 3.0L motor for really cheap.
What happened to yours? Unless the block cracked or it siezed up you
should
be able to repair it fairly cheaply.

My 1977 140 idles a bit rough sometimes but is still able to pull 3 kids
on
the big "tube/raft" thingy with 2-3 adults in the boat rather nicely.
Like
the man said, they will usually outlive the hull of the boat.

-De

"bomar" wrote in message
...
I don't know what on earth would make you think this group is moderated,
given the 90% white noise from idiotic off topic posts..

Anyway,
The little 140 HP 4 bangers were never used in any automobile.
They are not the iron duke engine that so many say they are.
They are an industrial powerplant - forklifts, etc.
There are scads of good used 3 liter engines around. The damn things are
so
hardy they tend to way outlast any boat they were ever installed.
Check ebay, and consider buying some POS boat to get an engine out of.
BTW, just sold an 86 Baja with one of the 3 liters in it......tons of
hours,
still ran like a champ.
They really are hardy.

"Lenny Stover" wrote in message
gy.com...
Is this group moderated? Can't figure out why this never posted, so
I'll
try it again.

"Lenny Stover" wrote in message
news:...
1st time poster...forgive my ignorance :-/

Last year I bought my *first* inboard equiped boat, a 1985 Glass
Stream.
It
is/was equiped with a '85 Mercruiser 140. Well, the second time out
with
the boat, the motor fried. I have been trying for a year to arrange
to
have
the motor rebuilt, but it would cost more than I paid for the boat.
Now
my
question....

I have been told that my Mercruiser is identical to some car engine.
I
don't know how true this is, but am wondering if anybody knows if
there
is
a
car engine that is the same as an '85 Mercruiser 140 inboard. Sure
would
be
nice if there was a car engine that I could get from a boneyard that
would
match up to my lower unit.

Any....and I mean *any* info I could get would be appreciated. The
only
other boat I ever owned had an outboard engine and I am stumped
about
this
inboard stuff. Thanks in advance.