Blown headgasket

[Fr. Frank]

Thanks. From my time as a marina manager, I'm familiar with the issues with the cylinder walls on those old Chevy 2.5 and 3.0 engines. As this motor is 46 years old, and has spent it's entire life in saltwater, I'm pretty sure of what I'll find when I pull the cylinder head on Thursday. I fogged the motor just in case it was repairable, but I ain't holdin' my breath.
One good thing is that the oil is clean with no water in the oil whatsoever.
I found a used 1983 Checkmate Enticer 16', with a 130 hp Mercruiser 3.0 freshwater motor outside of Eufala, AL, about 3 hours from here, for $1K. Original owner estimates it has between 200 and 400 hours on it, and it spent it's whole life on the reservoir. I learned of the motor when I heard the story from a clergy colleague of how the owner's grandson was drinking and ran into a tree... 30' from shore.