Installed 4.3 Vortec engine from Chevy S10 in a boat

Gerhard Peters

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Aug 13, 2019
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75
I'm here to share my experience now that my boat is working and on the water. I have seen several questions and discussions on this subject so I figure I would share my experience and with that will pose a question at the end of this post

I bought a 1995 Bayliner boat with a non winterized engine with a cracked block, one head and both exhaust manifold cracked. I figure there is no point in saving the engine. Too far gone

I got myself an engine from a 2002 Chevy S10. I sourced the intake and exhaust manifolds from https://www.michiganmotorz.com/ (the 1995 intake does not fit as I'm sure most of you know)

At first, when I started the process of finding a 4.3 engine for my the boat I didn't know the difference from a marine engine to one from a Chevy truck/van. After I got the engine I learned about the camshaft differences.

I proceeded to install the engine anyway exactly the way it came from the truck. I redid all of the gaskets on the engine by removing the heads and oil pan and cleaned it up very nicely as well.

Since the 2002 engine come with a serpentine belt I removed all pulleys and the water pump. I used the water pump and other components from the old engine. The timing belt cover on a 2002 vortec is plastic and the bolts stick out further. The water pump would not fit with one of the bolt heads in the way. I took one of the bolts by grinding down the head and cut a grove so that I could tighten the bolt with a flat screwdriver.

There were a few other small modifications I had to make but everything works.

For those of you who are highly familiar with the 4.3 engine and knowing the difference between the marine and truck/van engine what difference does it really make once in the boat is on the water?

The engine performance nicely.

I look forward to some feedback
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
....For those of you who are highly familiar with the 4.3 engine and knowing the difference between the marine and truck/van engine what difference does it really make once in the boat is on the water?

The engine performance nicely.

I look forward to some feedback

Regarding the engine block, the head gasket material, the core plugs and the circulating pump are the main differences...

You did change the core plugs to brass or stainless, didn't you?

Chris....
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
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Apr 17, 2002
Messages
70,513
Ayuh,..... Congrats,..... Sounds like a successful swap,.....

I wouldn't loose any sleep over the cam either,......

If the motor came outa a fire breathin' Hot Rod,..... Ya, change the cam,.....

Outa a truck, or even a dead stock sedan,..... Forgetaboutit,.....
 

nola mike

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Apr 22, 2009
Messages
5,062
Regarding the engine block, the head gasket material, the core plugs and the circulating pump are the main differences...

You did change the core plugs to brass or stainless, didn't you?

Chris....

So did any of the blocks come with brass? My '01 has gold colored non ferrous plugs... Anything else they'd be?
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
So did any of the blocks come with brass? My '01 has gold colored non ferrous plugs... Anything else they'd be?

You sure they are non-ferrous? I've seen plenty of 'gold coloured' steel. It's gold coloured because they have been anodized. They'll rust out just as quick. As far as I know, all car engines have steel plugs from the factory, it's cheaper than brass.

Chris......
 

chartersj

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 14, 2013
Messages
281
I did the same swap with a 93 bayliner 2052 4 years ago. New motor was an 02 vortec. Core plugs where also non ferrous. I also bought new marine head gaskets to swap out but they were the exact same gaskets that was already on the engine so I didn't bother.
I ran the boat for 2 years in salt before I sold it and has been run in fresh last 2 years with no problems. It runs faster then it ever has at 50 mph on gps
 

Gerhard Peters

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Aug 13, 2019
Messages
75
I should have added too that the gaskets I bought at https://www.michiganmotorz.com/ were the exact same as the gasket set I bought. I doubt that there is any difference in head gaskets. Nevertheless, I ended up using the ones from Michigan Motorz
 

nola mike

Vice Admiral
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Apr 22, 2009
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You sure they are non-ferrous? I've seen plenty of 'gold coloured' steel. It's gold coloured because they have been anodized. They'll rust out just as quick. As far as I know, all car engines have steel plugs from the factory, it's cheaper than brass.

Chris......

Yeah, I still have one of the old plugs--I took it out before I realized. I'll grab it tomorrow and double check. There was a screwdriver hole through it, and IIRC it was gold all the way through, so I'll reinspect it tomorrow and report back. Internets has complaints of these things rusting out on blazers and being impossible to access, so maybe GM decided to spend the extra $0.50 on brass at some point. Seriously, I got 8 on amazon for $10, what do you think they cost GM?
 

nola mike

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2009
Messages
5,062
You sure they are non-ferrous? I've seen plenty of 'gold coloured' steel. It's gold coloured because they have been anodized. They'll rust out just as quick. As far as I know, all car engines have steel plugs from the factory, it's cheaper than brass.

Chris......

Ok, so got the plug. Definitely non magnetic. I filed the edge, looks gold throughout.
 

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achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
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27,468
Yep, looks like brass. Try filing it.
 
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