1988 4.3L maintenance

[brooksk]

I am considering buying an older boat, circa 1988 Sea Ray 270 w/twin 4.3L engines. I currently do much of my own basic preventative maintenance and winterization on a much newer, circa 2004 volvo-penta 5.0L engine. I have plenty of mechanics tools and not afraid to get my hands dirty. Can anyone tell me how hard it is to winterize and maintain, e.g. changing fuel filters, plugs, wires, cap/rotor, oil/oil filter on these motors? I do not have a hoist or lift and would be working on such a boat/engines at my residence with boat on stands or on dock.

Kevin

 

[achris]

Re: 1988 4.3L maintenance

If you already work on the VP, then the 4.3 Merc is no different. The 4.3 is just a 5.7 with 2 cylinders missing, and the 5.7 is a bored out 5.0.

The legs are not all that different, except the water pump impeller is inside the leg, you have to split the leg to get at it.... Not really that hard...

Interesting. Because I have always been a Merc man, and I'm now considering a VP for my next re-power....

Chris..........