89 Horizon 180 with stock 4.3 upgrade questions

[djaymasa]

I have a potential 5.0 upgrade in sight. I found an older Merc mcm888 from the 70s for $200. Wondering what's in store to get it installed in my boat. The original motor has very new accessories, but the block and heads are cracked pretty good.

Is it like swapping in the Penta 5.0, or will there be more work? Changes in the outdrive? What am I looking at here?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,...... Welcome Aboard,.... You do know, that the 4.3l will make more horsepower than that ole 305,..?? Right,..??

If you wanta go V8, go with a 350, so that the effort is worth it,....

 

[Scott06]

Ayuh,...... Welcome Aboard,.... You do know, that the 4.3l will make more horsepower than that ole 305,..?? Right,..??

If you wanta go V8, go with a 350, so that the effort is worth it,....

This is good advice. no sense going through it unless you upgrade significantly.

You may be money ahead getting a vortec 4.3 from a wrecking yard and going that route. A good running engine 4 bbl intake and carb and you would be at 225 hp . I would keep the alpha one gen one drive vs going backwards in time to a 888 drive ...

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would do a vortec 4.3 with a 4 barrel. Almost 50 more hp than your 1989 2-barrel

 

[djaymasa]

Well we got the 302, that's done. I'm in this project for the ability and cheapness to get it in the water and have some fun, not spending money on something for more horses or go. I asked my question and anticipated a little more help at least....


As for the 302, I will need to get a flywheel and cover. We are wondering if the outdrive from the 4.3 will work with the 302 system? I see that most people don't have issues with using the outdrive from the 4.3 to 5.0, so wondering if it's any different with the Ford engine itself?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Good luck

 

[djaymasa]

Good luck

Thanks for all the help! Make yourself a home in another post please.

 

[Pmt133]

I'm going to take a WAG and say the front engine mounts aren't going to end up in the correct spot...

 

[Bondo]

Well we got the 302, that's done. I'm in this project for the ability and cheapness to get it in the water and have some fun, not spending money on something for more horses or go. I asked my question and anticipated a little more help at least....


As for the 302, I will need to get a flywheel and cover. We are wondering if the outdrive from the 4.3 will work with the 302 system? I see that most people don't have issues with using the outdrive from the 4.3 to 5.0, so wondering if it's any different with the Ford engine itself?

Ayuh,...... Yer gonna have problems, as Merc never used a Ford motor with the Alpha 1 drives,....
Only with the MC-1s, 'n the rear motor mount spacing is very different 'tween the two,.....
The Ford won't bolt up to a Chevy flywheel cover,..... If you can find a Ford / MC-1 flywheel cover, 'n you get an MC-1 inner transom plate, you might be able to bolt it up to the Alpha 1 transom assembly, but I don't know that as fact, 'cause I've never tried,....
You might also run into driveshaft length issues,....

 

[nola mike]

Well we got the 302, that's done. I'm in this project for the ability and cheapness to get it in the water and have some fun, not spending money on something for more horses or go. I asked my question and anticipated a little more help at least....

On behalf of everyone trying to give you good advice...I apologize.

As for the 302, I will need to get a flywheel and cover. We are wondering if the outdrive from the 4.3 will work with the 302 system? I see that most people don't have issues with using the outdrive from the 4.3 to 5.0, so wondering if it's any different with the Ford engine itself?

Flywheel and/or coupler may be different, rear mounts may be different, front mounts will be different...I'm sure you'll find more problems as you get into your "cheap" project.
If it's me, I pull a wrecker 350 for that same $200.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Thanks for all the help! Make yourself a home in another post please.

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[stresspoint]

some people just cant take good advice when its given.

i too would grab a junk yard 4.3 , bolt all the good bits to that and go boating .

or if you want to upgrade as in your post , do some research and build a 4.3 like mine that has thrashed a few 5.7s now.

no point reinventing the wheel just to get a weel.

 

[QBhoy]

Quite sure a 70’s 5.0 anything will be less potent than most 4.3’s from the last couple of decades at least.
If you think it’s a ford 5.0…it’s not a mercruiser, I’d think. More likely to be of Volvo Penta aq branding originally, I’d think. Or even a retrofit job. Not sure you’re going down the right road here, perhaps.