Need More Pulling Power from 4.3 Volvo

BoatingCop · Aug 29, 2007

I have a carburated 4.3 Volvo Penta on my '03 18' Glastron. It has good pulling power for skiers with 3 people in the boat and one behind it, but the other day I had 5 in the boat and was pulling a tuber and it was struggling to get on plane. Is there anyway to add more pulling power without tearing the engine down or going to a 5.0 or 5.7? MSD, K&N flame arrestor, maybe through hull exhaust? (I know, I know, through hull exhaust on a Glastron??? Sounds dumb, I know. Just thinking out loud.) Any help is appreciated! Thanks

Don S · Aug 29, 2007

Re: Need More Pulling Power from 4.3 Volvo

V8 or change the lower unit to a DP. It will do wonders for the boat.

MikDee · Aug 29, 2007

Re: Need More Pulling Power from 4.3 Volvo

Wait a second, just had an idea, maybe a set of 1.6 ratio roller rocker would do the trick! Hanging out at the S-10forum, getting info for my truck, I hear this is worth maybe 15hp!, not too shabby. Plus I use synthetic blend oil, for the little extra boost in power, & economy.

Don S · Aug 29, 2007

Re: Need More Pulling Power from 4.3 Volvo

He doesn't have an S-10 truck, he has a boat.

To pull tubers with 5 people on board an 18 foot boat, you need torque. Not HP. 15 HP will only give you maybe 1 mph to your top end speed.

MikDee · Aug 29, 2007

Re: Need More Pulling Power from 4.3 Volvo

Don S said:
He doesn't have an S-10 truck, he has a boat.

To pull tubers with 5 people on board an 18 foot boat, you need torque. Not HP. 15 HP will only give you maybe 1 mph to your top end speed.

It doesn't matter, a Chevy v6, is a Chevy v6! What, you don't think he'll get a boost in torque with this also? Come on!,,, Besides you know yourself, that the Chevy marine motors are built around a Chevy truck block!

superpop · Aug 29, 2007

Re: Need More Pulling Power from 4.3 Volvo

Don is right, this would be a huge waste of money for the minimal gain in HP. There is no replacement for displacement. You could go to a lower pitch prop. I have a 4.3L Vortec with the 4V and I just put on a 17P 4 blade prop and my boat leaps out of the water now with 4 or 5 on board. Top end suffered a bit but how often do you need to go 50+ MPH.

Tail_Gunner · Aug 29, 2007

Re: Need More Pulling Power from 4.3 Volvo

Simple stuff here, go to prop forums......or like Don said spend 6 grand and get a 350

However Don has eluded to the DP drive, what's up with that Don........I mean geessshhh that much less drag.....

Bondo · Aug 30, 2007

Re: Need More Pulling Power from 4.3 Volvo

5 people in a 18' boat, pulling somebody on a water toy,..??..??..??......
That's Got to be Overloaded........

Leave 3 of the spectators on Shore.........

Dunaruna · Aug 30, 2007

Re: Need More Pulling Power from 4.3 Volvo

Optimal tuneup, prop for WOT, polish the (underside) hull.

If that don't ring your bells, change boats.

rodbolt · Aug 30, 2007

Re: Need More Pulling Power from 4.3 Volvo

simple
change props to fit the load.
its why trucks have multi-speed transmisions,
keep lugging it while overloaded and you will post about swallowed intake valves while your tech gets a new pair of shoes.
its just that simple.

germanstyle · Aug 30, 2007

Re: Need More Pulling Power from 4.3 Volvo

what's a DP bottom end? are you reffering to dual prop? i was led to believe that a 4.3 doesn't have enough power for those is that true? i have a 87 seaswirl with a 12v 4.3 could i put a dual prop set up on it?

coastalcruiser · Aug 30, 2007

Re: Need More Pulling Power from 4.3 Volvo

try trim tabs

ktmrider · Aug 30, 2007

Re: Need More Pulling Power from 4.3 Volvo

how about a Stingray XRIII hydrofoil....
It does wonders by getting the boat onto plane faster.

Just sell the boat and get another one with a v8. There are plenty of good used boats out there.

by the way, why is it that I see many "wakeboard boats" out on lakes and rivers but no wakeboarders in the back? then they try to sell the pos boat for $50k....

Need More Pulling Power from 4.3 Volvo

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