2000 Malibu Sunsetter Brand New Engine Initail Start

[TylerHartley2000]

Hey guys, I’m new on here. I’m having a serious issue with my brand new motor rebuild on my 2000 Malibu Sunsetter. I bought the boat about 6 months ago, knowing it had a cracked block from not getting winterized properly from the original owner. Brought it home and immediately pulled the motor, motor then was taken to my mechanic who did the tear down as I bought a new 5.7 Chevy long block. With gaskets, new heads, oil pan everything, the crank case and cam shaft numbers were matched up from the old motor and cam to make sure everything would be in sync with the new block. Got the new block and my mechanic started doing the re and re (tear down and reassemble), also got new manifolds and risers so everything is new. All the internals of the motor were perfect just the block was shot. So that brings to my issue, this mechanic is an automotive mechanic and doesn’t have the computer diagnostic hookups for the Indmar monsoon engine to do the initial first start on the engine, apparently the fuel mapping and timing has to be programmed with a computer/scanner? Is this right? I’ve tried all the dealers local close to me and nobody wants to touch it as they didn’t do the work. I’m up in Canada, Vancouver British Columbia. Pls any help would be amazing as it looks like no body is gonna touch this motor as of right now.

[justgary]

Your existing ECM is good to go.  Jump A to B on the data connector to put the ECM into maintenance mode, set the timing to 10 degrees BTDC, remove the jumper, and you should be all set.

[electricjohn]

As long as your (new?) fuel injectors have the same flow rate, I'm not seeing a problem. Are the old heads and new heads both Vortec?

[TylerHartley2000]

@electricjohn the new heads and old heads are both vortec, also the fuel injectors are the same 

[electricjohn]

49 minutes ago, TylerHartley2000 said:

@electricjohn the new heads and old heads are both vortec, also the fuel injectors are the same 

Then let someone "Hold your beer and watch this", and fire it up. Good luck!

[justgary]

You can build your own cable to read the data interface on your MEFI-2 ECM.  This thread has details on how to build it, and also the software:

 

[TylerHartley2000]

Thanks guys for all the help! Been waiting for the boat to get into the mechanic, today was the day. Finally cranked it and fired right up with setting the the timing, but now I’m having an issue with my gauges. Nothing at all there dead, gauge lights are flickering barely working. I’ve looked for fuses under the dash and nothing, help is needed again 

[uk_exile]

Congrats getting it running. Well done.

No gauges and flickering lighting is probably bad connection. Most likely bad earth. Check the connections on the earth bar.

Edited May 15 by uk_exile

[justgary]

9 hours ago, uk_exile said:

Congrats getting it running. Well done.

No gauges and flickering lighting is probably bad connection. Most likely bad earth. Check the connections on the earth bar.

Why stop there?  Dive under the dash and check every connection you can find.