Whats a fair price for a 2.5 drop-on with a bad hole?

[Percher]

I would like to build a motor and have a couple leads. What is a fair price to pay for a complete top end drop-on 2.5 that has a bad hole or two in the mid 90's up year model? I understand its a gamble but I wanted some input. What price range would YOU pay? Any other advice is welcome. Thanks

[Jay Smith]

Percher,

One or two bad holes , the difference between those numbers can be quite an amount. The year model makes a difference also the big rod, Mahle piston (1991-1994 ) models are to me less desirable. The eariler models with 2 bolt mains are even less desirable. Motors with digital boxes are a plus and anolog are certainly a minus ( If there are any of those left in somebodys garage ) My opinion a nice 260 powerhead with all matching parts with no weld and decent middle main saddle wear with ONE bad hole is worth $4000.00 US - $4500.00 US ish....Geographic region make a difference also in the going prices I have found.....

Good hunting !

[allyfreak2]

hey jay, what's the reason for the "undesirable" 91-94 models? i thought the first generation mahles were better pistons than the current ones.

[Jay Smith]

Pistons would be now 13 years old with side pinned locator pin issues, upgraded ECU's on newer motors ( digital on newer motors) , and rotating mass ( Pistons and more so rods ) very heavy ( and I find VERY un like weights with LARGE variances ) until 1995.Some were 2 bolt mains weaker containment for crankshaft, and the sleeves on the older 1991-1992 were prone to sink in the parent metal creating head gasket seal issues. Also newer style motors have upgraded top bearing ....

My opinion !

[Wile E. Coyote]

Gamble is the operative word.....need more history, define bad, stuck piston bad, or hole punched thru piston sawed a sleeve in half bad....what kind of 2.5? has it been opened? left inside or outside? from what you described to me in the first post, sight unseen i'd offer $500.00.....if on the other hand you can get it torn down and get an accurate report on the damage, the offer would go up accordingly....just my .02

[Percher]

Jay and Wile,
Sorry I didn't give more infomation the first time. One example is a stock motor never rebuilt that has gotten hot enough to melt the sensors in the heads but paint looks like new. I pulled the heads and all jugs have some light scorring and the bottoms ones have some allum. skid-marks in the sleaves. All will clean up with .010 or first over. I'm looking at six pistons and boring for sure and assume the crank will need turning but have no experiance to base it on. I can do my own work and even have a boring bar but will likely just let a shop do the machine work. Just wondering what the cut off it for getting in too deep. Thanks much, Don

[Wile E. Coyote]

well, again if it was me, before I handed over any funds it may be worth having a professional look at it. From the words youre using (jugs, crank turning, first over) maybe your more familiar with car motors? or aircraft? Outboards are different animals.....i dont think cranks can be turned, so maybe a new crank? if its painted its most likely a fishin motor and can be bored, (if its got steel sleeves, dont know if they made fishin motors with anything but steel sleeves, but another thing to look into) I would still get it torn down so you know what your gettin into....as for the offer thing, its all relative, what can you get a drop on 2.5 fishin motor for? what will it cost you to repair this one? the cost of your repair plus your initial investment will give you the answer

[Percher]

Thanks Wile. Sorry for not using the approved terms. I've been building HD motors for the last few months. I had no idea cranks couldn't be turned or repaired. In answer to your question, I don't know what I can get a drop on motor for or what it cost (in parts and machine work) to repair a motor. I haven't seen many drop on fishing motors listed in the week since I found this site. I'll figure it out on my own though. Thanks to all and have a great weekend! Headed to the races tomorrow maybe someone there can give me advice. Seeya, Don

[Wile E. Coyote]

There isnt really any "approved" terminology (if it came across bad, I apologize), its just a different world, when I got into outboards it took a LOOOONG time to get rid of the small block v-8 mentality.....it took a hammer in the head and the folks at fallicon (crank repair) to convince me that a mercury crank couldnt be repaired (welded and turned and i still find it hard to believe) and even so there is no gurantee you will actually NEED a crank, but its best to find out before hand to avoid over paying, but to throw some numbers at ya, i've seen drop-on fishin motors on this site from 3500 to 4500 depending on the time of year and quality of motor, sometimes the market seems to be flooded with motors and others you couldnt buy a break....this site is very good for finding deals and there is a wealth of information to help you along the way, good luck
Bill

[Percher]

Well,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I have a lot to learn but like everything before, I have to do it. Something in my blood or genes that makes me want to build and do everything. So far I've built Street rods, hot rods, fast Hondas, fast Harley clones, everything RC, anything old & motorized, an airplane with motors for all of these. I do all the work myself since paying for labor is aginst my religion. I checked list of things to do and playboat/motor is next. I'll may use a "fishing motor" to start with. Seeay, Don

[jphii]

Thanks Wile. Sorry for not using the approved terms. I've been building HD motors for the last few months. I had no idea cranks couldn't be turned or repaired. In answer to your question, I don't know what I can get a drop on motor for or what it cost (in parts and machine work) to repair a motor. I haven't seen many drop on fishing motors listed in the week since I found this site. I'll figure it out on my own though. Thanks to all and have a great weekend! Headed to the races tomorrow maybe someone there can give me advice. Seeya, Don

Cranks can be fixed.

[Wile E. Coyote]

Cranks can be fixed.

According to the folks a fallicon, a mercury outboard crank cant be welded and reground to original specs, they have tried, and they cant find an alloy weld that will last....from their own words, they have tried and had little or no success, making it more trouble than its worth....that was in 2001, things may have changed since then, but I dont know....if they can someone pleeeese give me the info cause I got a $%#@ pile of junk that needs fixin...:D now that white motor stuff you seem so partial to is another story....one which i know nothing about.........

[jphii]

Get a hold of T Rex. He's posted the info here and there a couple of times, and I'm too lazy to search for it. I seem to rmember it's not exactly cheap, but it's a lot cheaper than a new crank.

[jphii]

OK, I guess I'm not too lazy to search. HERE IT IS (http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95424&highlight=crank+rex)

[jphii]

And just to show you what a nice guy I am, HERE (http://neecaprecisions.com/2006_prices) is the pricing info.

[mikej]

Cranks can be fixed. Maybe the people at falcon dont have good luck doing it, but there are people that can. I had my crank repaired by marine crankshaft 2 years ago and I have not had any problems. I raced my boat all last year with the motor seeing 10k + rpms every pass with no problems. The motor is a 300 drag.

[AlaskaStreamin]

A friend up here will be selling a couple 2.5L 200 carb fishing motor drop on's or complete 25" motors by fall. They both run great with no issues. He'll be looking for around $2000.00 ea for the drop on's and $3500.00 for the whole motor. Hope this helps on pricing.

[Wile E. Coyote]

And just to show you what a nice guy I am, HERE (http://neecaprecisions.com/2006_prices) is the pricing info.
I know you are a nice guy, anybody who travels all that way to race FBI cant be all bad ;) ....the link you gave is good and has now been entered into my favorites....thanks