Pcm 502 python needs new engine block

[PING]

Where is the best place to start looking for a new engine block for a 1999 pcm 502 engine. Also what exactly does one need to look for .ie engine specs?
A severe winter here has f***ked our engine.
Also where can one get a manual for a future engine rebuild?

[WakeSlayer]

Wow. Ouch, dude.

What exactly froze? Are you certain the block is cracked? Could it be exhaust, or anything else? Post a little more info. Also, curious what model the boat is. There were only 11 SAN's made in 99, and I know of over half, would be interesting to know the background on yours.

Lastly, and you don't want to hear this, but why in the world was it not drained at the very least?

[wake_fun]

There were only 11 SAN's made in 99, and I know of over half, would be interesting to know the background on yours.

Wow! 11 Total Super Airs or 11 Python Super Air's built?

[bchesley]

The numbers are really low on each year it was offered but 99 had the lowest. My family had one of the 11 at one time and I am sure the only purple and black to be made. Sorry to hear about your motor. The generation 5 block 502 should not be too hard to find, it just might not be a marinized version.

[Miljack]

Wakeslayer means 11 SAN Pythons built, rumor is 20 Python engines put into boats for the '99 model year. Hey Slayer, do you know about the '99 SS Python down here in SC? I know of three '99 Pro Airs with Pythons, one was in Scotland, and I seem to remember a Sport with one down in TX.
Anyway, to the OP, I MIGHT have a Python engine for sale! I'm working on a nutty deal, and MAY have the engine from my boat available to sell...~600 hrs and runs light a top. I can help figure out a way to ship it over there...

[Mikeski]

I would get the serial number off the block and call Summit or a rebuilder.

It might be this one: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-19170540

Complete remanufactured long blocks in the $4k range from remanufactured.com: http://www.remanufactured.com/Inboar...ne_Engines.htm

[Mikeski]

Another option would be to upgrade to a Dart block at this time?

http://www.coasthigh.com/31273444-p/31273444.htm

[WakeSlayer]

I do mean 11 Python Powered 1999 SAN's. Sorry.

If the just the block cracked, you would be able to remove everything from your existing block and place on the new one. You would want your existing cam, or a duplicate. All the other marinized stuff is swappable and not likely damaged, save exhaust, water pump, etc... Going to be a pain in the *** to remove the motor, etc. They be BIG.

Of the 11:

Mine black and white
Zman purple and blue
Kylie & Matt Down Under Masters colors
Atlanta area green and white this was for sale a couple years ago
Brad's in laws ex boat
The sunken Lake Powell boat that has been making the Craigslist rounds the last couple years believe it was blue/white
This one ??
There was another one for sale last year, but don't remember the colors

Let me do some digging.

Lastly, for Chrissake people, winterize these things. I don't care where you live, or what winters are usually like. WINTERIZE !!!!!!!!

[PING]

thankyou to all for you help so far.

'wakeslayer' I will post a picture of the boat on to the site. It is green and white. I bought it about four years ago in England and now have it hopefully again on Lough Erne , County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. It will I imagine be a costly process but she will be worth it.

regarding what happened was that we thought that the winterization process had been carried out for us in the yard but actually had not been. so yes double check in the future

[WakeSlayer]

Ping,

Love to see pics. Sorry about your loss. Do you have recourse with the facility that screwed you ? Gonna be a few thousand to fix it, not to mention shipping to your part of the world. Also, glad it wasn't the sunken one. Is it a SAN?
Is it for sure the block that broke?

[east tx skier]

Wakeslayer means 11 SAN Pythons built, rumor is 20 Python engines put into boats for the '99 model year. Hey Slayer, do you know about the '99 SS Python down here in SC? I know of three '99 Pro Airs with Pythons, one was in Scotland, and I seem to remember a Sport with one down in TX.
Anyway, to the OP, I MIGHT have a Python engine for sale! I'm working on a nutty deal, and MAY have the engine from my boat available to sell...~600 hrs and runs light a top. I can help figure out a way to ship it over there...

There was a 99 Ski with a Python in north Texas a few years back (maybe 2006). Buxton had it on their site. I called about it a month after they sold it (but had not taken it off the site). It was all white with red pinstriping. Really cool looking boat.

[PGMorty]

I can relate to the 502 Freeze Problem

The first winter that I owned my 1999 Super Air (w/ Python) resulted in a similar situation. That spring I put the boat into the local lake to make sure all was well prior to my upcoming vacation at Norris Lake in TN. Within a few minutes there was something obviously wrong. I had drained all (I thought) of the water out of the block via the drain ports on each side. However my engine compartment was filling up with water which was gushing out the side of the block. A seriously sick feeling!

I have owned many boats over the years with inboard engines including a 1992 Ski Nautique and always winterized them myself without a problem. Later I realized that the V-Drive setup results in the engine at a fairly steep angle which will leave a pool of water in the lowest cavities of the 2 sides- which I had missed on the one side. That is why there is an extra drain hole on each side in the lowest front corners of the block

Being a family of engineers and mechanics my 2 sons and I went to work: pulled and completely disassembled the engine. It only had 60 hours on it! It was essentially a brand new engine. Once down to the bare block I took it to an engine block serivce company here in Dayton Ohio and had it magna-flux tested. This will detect even the smallest of cracks. Crack blocks can be repaired if not cracked into the cylinders or in an inaccessible area. I had no cracks! The freezing water had only pushed out the freeze plug on the lower side: They actually work!

We carefully reassembled the engine with all new gaskets and seals (do not mess around by risking any kind of leak with an inboard engine- unless you want to be the first Nautique on the moon!) and droped it back into the boat. Started first turn of the key and no leaks.

9 years later the boat is still running great and is a delight to own and operate.

If the engine of the guy in Ireland was completely full of water he will likely have a much bigger problem than I had but it would still be worth it to pull the engine and disassemble since you have to do this anyway. The Magna-Flux inspection process is available about anywhere in the world.

[PGMorty]

Wow! 11 Total Super Airs or 11 Python Super Air's built?

I didn't know there were only 11 1999 SAN's with Python. One of them is in my garage. Makes a great wakeboard boat with enough speed to pull this 330 pound barefooter! I think I am the biggest barefooter in the world. I owned a Barefoot Sanger with a modified 200 plus HP Mercury outboard but finally decided that the Python was an excellent barefoot boat as well. The 430 ponies get a bit of a workout when I tighten up the rope on the other end! I have been told that when I am doing a deepwater start that it looks like the boat has hooked up to a hurricane- all you see is a giant funnel shaped spray behind the boat until I stand up -at about 48mph!

[bchesley]

PGMorty,

Lets see some pictures. As a pythonaholic we can never get enough. Have you owned the boat since it was new?

[WakeSlayer]

Yep, time to post some pics PGMorty. Man are you lucky with the frost plug. Same thing happened with my wife's 68, PO left water in it and it popped a plug, and nothing else.

Pythonaholic. nice one, Brad.

We are getting close now.