2001 2500 SCR - pulling engine to replace head gasket

[Jrt5000]

Has anyone replaced a head gasket on this model? I've been told by the marina that because the top deck is tight to the distributor at the back of the engine..... They can't remove it....which I guess needs to be removed before removing the head.

Seems crazy.....is this a design flaw or is my mechanic an idiot?

Thx

[mmwjr]

Jrt what engine do you have?

Can you post a picture?

So is he saying he needs to pull the engine to perform the work?

Try removing the distributor yourself

[forbes210]

I got 2500 scr from 2002 with merc 5.7 and recently mechanic rebuild both of my heads without taking the engine out. I think after removing manifolds and risers theres plenty of space to remove the heads.

[mmwjr]

The key may be to remove the distributor cap to get the needed clearance to pull the distributor.

[Jrt5000]

Originally Posted by mmwjr

Jrt what engine do you have?

Can you post a picture?

So is he saying he needs to pull the engine to perform the work?

Try removing the distributor yourself

Thanks Mike. Sorry I can't take a picture because the boat is 3 hours away right now. But my understanding is if you take the cap off you only have around 8 inches of clearance and the distributor has a pin that's around 12 inches long....that's what I got from the phone call anyway.

The engine is a 5.7 mercruiser, 2 barrel carb, closed cooling.

Thanks again Mike.

One last question. Can you have no water in your oil and still have a blown gasket? I thought that was the indicator...

[Jrt5000]

Thanks. It seems to be the removal of the distributor to be the problem. Do you know which ignition system you have? I'm embarrassed to say....but do all engine types have the same distributors?

[mmwjr]

Your engine should have Mercruisers Thunderbolt V ignition.
Yes all GM small blocks have the same distibutor length. The lower portion is a smaller diameter so you can tilt it as you remove it which may allow it to come out.

Seems that the mechanicas that worked on forbes boat were able to do it so I do not see why the sam would not be true for yours.

The 2400 SCR is similar and several here have done this job without pulling the engine.

A headgasket can blow between 2 cylinders and not allow water into the oil. Did they perform a compression test on all cylinders?