Engine rebuild

[ken]

Looks like we'll be rebuilding the atomic 4 is winter. Are there any hints to removing the block from a bubbled boat?, Or will we have to pull the boat?. I would have to have it towed to another marina to have it pulled out, so I would like to do this in the water. Is it much of a chore to remove the sink and galley?.

 

[Les Murray]

Have you thought about repowering with a diesel

Instead of rebuilding the ol' Atomic, how about replacing it with a diesel. There are several manufacturers out there who make Atomic 4 replacements that fit in the same mounts and space.Les Murray

 

[Richard]

not so hard to do

Removing the sink is a piece of cake. Don't forget the couple of screws holding the counter top inside the little sliding cabinit above the stove.I just replaced the head gasket and a couple of valve springs while the engine was still in the boat. The engine access is so great you may not need to pull it. Many folks say if you remove the alternator, head, flywheel, etc the engine only weighs 200lbs or so and can be lifted by two people.What do you need to do to your engine? If it is just a head gasket leave it on the boat. I might be tempted to remove it if you are planning more.Feel free to email me with questions. I can tell you how to get the head off at least. There is also the atomic 4 list on www.sailnet.com that has tons of folks who like to talk about their A4 engines and how to maintian/rebuild them.Richard (r_clack@hotmail.com)