4-53 DDs with rusted airboxs & blowers but no apparent leak???

Discussion in 'Diesel Engines' started by leop, Jan 6, 2014.

  1. leop
    Joined: Jan 2014
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    leop Junior Member

    What's an RR badge?
     
  2. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

    Rolls Royce
    Own 50% of the company that makes DD's
     
  3. leop
    Joined: Jan 2014
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    leop Junior Member

    Heads pulled. Pictures. Evidence???

    So I spent my weekend on the boat pulling the head off one of her engines to see if the motor might be rebuildable, and to also see if it provided any evidence of what happened.

    Cylinders 1 and 4 held WD40 for two weeks and counting, so if they did flood recently the water stayed there. Cylinder two had more water damage/rust then than cylinders one or four, but it was not too bad. Cylinder #3 is a total disaster. Number 3 just happens to be the only cylinder that had the intake ports exposed ...... Hmmmmmm!
    [​IMG]

    I assume this means that the water came in via the air box and up and into cylinder 3, with humidity damage being the reason why I see rust in the the other cylinders. A high water-mark/rust-line one inch down from the air box roof seams to confirm this.

    Here is a close up of cylinder #3. Note that there is no rust damage to the liners where they meet the block. The only rust damage is in the cylinders, air box, and blower. Does anyone have any idea how thick the 4-53 DD block is in airbox area? Could it take a lot of rust damage there and still be usable with new liners, a new blower and obviously new pistons???
    [​IMG]

    The white arrows show the intake ports and the red arrows show the relatively intact liner-to-block connection; which i hope is a positive sign that the block is saveable.

    What do you guys think? Is there any chance she could be saved, or should I start prepping to purchase new engines?

    Thanks for the opinions as usual. Sorry for the cell phone picture quality.

    Leo
     
  4. rasorinc
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    rasorinc Senior Member

    I won't comment on if they can be saved--I'm not up on DD engines. You might as well pull the engines out now because I don't think you can repair the damage to those engines in place. Boring machines take up room and must be well anchored. I would pull them out and really clean up the area.
     
  5. FAST FRED
    Joined: Oct 2002
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    Location: Conn in summers , Ortona FL in winter , with big d

    FAST FRED Senior Member

    Boring machines take up room and must be well anchored.

    The DD engines have replacable liners, so the question is if enough block is left to accept new liners.

    The in-frame overhaul kit is liners, pistons with rings bearings and gasket/seals set.
    The engine must be lifted to get at the crank, but not removed.

    Trucks , generators, pumpswith 2 stroke DD , (that dont sink) can have 2 -4 overhauls before the engine is completely removed for machine shop work and a rebuild.
     
  6. WestVanHan
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    WestVanHan Not a Senior Member

    Rebuild kits for 4 cylinders are dirt cheap...IIRC about $900 gets you everything that wears out, and remans run around $4k.

    However I know a guy who was not all that mechanical,and with the manual did it himself.
     

  7. leop
    Joined: Jan 2014
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    leop Junior Member

    Well they (the engines) are coming out one way or the other. The engine room is so filthy that a frame in rebuild would be a waste of money, as it would be impossible for me to keep dirt out of the engine.

    The only issue now, is how to get the engines out of the engine room with the boat still afloat???
     
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