?? Repower / rebuild options for 1988 4.3L V-6 mercruiser (Alpha one)

For 1988 Checkmate. Bought as a project with lunched motor in it. Thinking about options and want to make a decision and pull the trigger in the next couple of days. I'm not afraid to drop it in the boat and am even willing willing to put one together first, but think I would prefer to buy longblock that'll drop in for now, clean / rebuild the carb and go with it for now. Unless changing intake / carb, cam, etc.. would yield significant gains. This is my first I/O drive boat, but I've built or rebuilt car, motorcycle and outboard engines and picked up the service manual.

Any thoughts / experience on best performance for the $$ out of box? I've currently got what looks like the original set-up with 2bbl carb, stock exhaust, etc... It was on the water until late last year. Thanks up front for any advice / experience. Thanks!!

Re: ?? Repower / rebuild options for 1988 4.3L V-6 mercruiser (Alpha one)

get ready to spend some $$$$ i did the same thing its not cheap..would i do it again yea because i like the hull design
bob/p

Re: ?? Repower / rebuild options for 1988 4.3L V-6 mercruiser (Alpha one)

but think I would prefer to buy longblock that'll drop in for now, clean / rebuild the carb and go with it for now.

Click to expand...

to me, that's the ticket. do it up oem. if ya want to play. do it after yer runnin right so ya know whats happenin with the mods.

Re: ?? Repower / rebuild options for 1988 4.3L V-6 mercruiser (Alpha one)

A Well Built 4.3l with the Factory Cam,+ the addition of Vortec Heads,+ a 4bbl. Carb will net you around 215/ 220hp.............

Re: ?? Repower / rebuild options for 1988 4.3L V-6 mercruiser (Alpha one)

Thanks much for the pointers! Where's the best place to order a reman from? I would like to go with best baseline reman i can get, stock exhaust, etc... guessing that should get somewhere in mid 50's or so with th 23 pitch ss prop on it. I love the hull and planned on spending some cash on it when I hooked it up to the truck. I've got about the cost of a new prop and two trailer tires in it now and aside from the gelcoat oxidation that's coming out nicely and some wear on the upholstery it's in very good shape. If I run it this year and decide to spend money for more speed next year, there's room for a 350 with som minor modifications....

Re: ?? Repower / rebuild options for 1988 4.3L V-6 mercruiser (Alpha one)

Some of the guys here deal with Rapid-O engines out of Florida. Plus you may want to look at ebasicpower.com,i know people who have run their engines with great results.

Re: ?? Repower / rebuild options for 1988 4.3L V-6 mercruiser (Alpha one)

Thanks! ebasicpower is out on Harker's island. That's just a hop skip and a jump down the road... I'll give em a ring and see what they've got on hand...

Re: ?? Repower / rebuild options for 1988 4.3L V-6 mercruiser (Alpha one)

www.rapidomarine.com is the place to go. Talk to Raul. That would be the most inexpensive longblock around..

Re: ?? Repower / rebuild options for 1988 4.3L V-6 mercruiser (Alpha one)

i got my engine from rapido
the dealer messed up the install so i cannot report back good or bad yet..ebasic has great prices on parts and fast shipping. raul gave me a great deal. while in fla. i stopped by his shop paid for the motor and he shipped it to philly.
but if it were a 350 long block i have seen a few new ones not rebuild on internet looking aroung for h=jusat a few hundred more
bob

Re: ?? Repower / rebuild options for 1988 4.3L V-6 mercruiser (Alpha one)

anyone know off the top how far off the motormounts would be for a 350?