Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

[ericp501]

Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

That engine is a 97?.. Other then the foam all over that thing looks like new. Everything is nice clean, no rust, no faded hoses.. did this guy make a dying engine look like new to get rid of it I wonder. Black spray paint can do wonders. You could try small claims court, but if it was sold "as-is" u might be screwed.. Sorry man!

And how were u running it? On muffs?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

my first thought would be to hit up the prior owner and let him know the problems your having. most honest people will make it right.

however if your looking to simply do the repair, I suggest a new engine

http://www.rapidomarine.com/default.aspx?p=/engines/default.aspx

however as Don mentioned, the block, heads, crank, pistons, etc. are same as the truck engines. you could also simply find a low mileage 96-2000 4.3, swap cam over, install brass core plugs and go.

 

[Volphin]

Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

What I am suggesting is that I take literally everything off and out of the cracked block and swap it over to an automotive block. Cam, rods, pistons, crank, oil pan, heads, manifolds, intake, carb, etc. If I could get away with a long block out of a truck that would be great, but I'll trust you in letting me know if it will work or not. I can get a bare block for around $100, or a long block for about $400, and just swap the heads, manifolds, intake, carb, and flame arrestor. I am assuming that the GM truck 4.3L's have a similar cam profile, since they need low end torque, so the long block my work. While I am at it, I may look for a 4.3L Vortec, and swap the intake out for a 4 barrel setup, and use a 4 barrel marine carb (I think Edelbrick makes one for the 4.3) with flame arrestor. If I am thinking crazy, please let me know. Thanks for all your help, I greatly appreciate it.

The engine you have now is a Vortec, with an internal balance shaft. If you want to rework the motor, keep the heads if the machine shop says they are not cracked... and pick up a non-vortec 4.3L short block from rapido marine for $1200 (more hp because not using a balance shaft). Your heads will bolt right up. Get the Edelbrock manifold 2114, and the 1409 carb. If you want to get fancy, add some Comp cams 1.6 roller rockers. Should put you right at the 2K mark without manifolds, head machine work or installation.

Personally, I have never seen an engine foam that badly. Where is it coming from? Just curious...

V

 

[kewlkatdady]

Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

this same thing happened to me 2 summers ago...

It wasn't a cracked block. It was the batwing exhaust manifolds. Either way that motor needs to be pulled and rebuilt. I bought a long block from rapido marine and I'm very pleased with it. How do I know its was exhaust and not a cracked block? I put the old exhaust on the new motor and milkshake started again....

Changed the exhaust manifold and did a couple of oil changes and all is well now.

BTW I have a 4.3 block that I'm 99.9% sure is crack free.

 

[mark1905]

Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

I just replaced my 1997 3.0 LX with a BRAND NEW GM crate engine from Flagship Marine Engines. $1750 shipped with no core charge.. mechanic only price. Have yours order one up for you. Don't waste money on a reman when you can get a brand new one for less. Not sure what their 4.3s go for, but I promise that it's cheaper than anything else you can find..

 

[darrinwlowe]

Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

For those who are following this, I had some pretty good fortune today when I spoke with my coworker. He gave me $700 back (only had $1500 in the boat all together with trailer), and I found a 4.3L out of a Chevy Blazer on CL. I am going to look at it after work to know the condition other than just posted pictures. Anyway, a firend of mine is a mechanical engineer and R&D engine builder for Cummins. He is going to help me with the pull, rebuild, and install. I am going to start a new thread once we get the process going to illustrate the process of converting an automotive engine to marine. We are both engineers, so I am hoping that we are pretty detailed in our description of what we are doing, and why. Once again, I appreciate all the help you guys have given me. I will say that I have never had the response like this from a forum, especially when I hadn't posted before.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

For those who are following this, I had some pretty good fortune today when I spoke with my coworker. He gave me $700 back (only had $1500 in the boat all together with trailer), and I found a 4.3L out of a Chevy Blazer on CL. I am going to look at it after work to know the condition other than just posted pictures. Anyway, a firend of mine is a mechanical engineer and R&D engine builder for Cummins. He is going to help me with the pull, rebuild, and install. I am going to start a new thread once we get the process going to illustrate the process of converting an automotive engine to marine. We are both engineers, so I am hoping that we are pretty detailed in our description of what we are doing, and why. Once again, I appreciate all the help you guys have given me. I will say that I have never had the response like this from a forum, especially when I hadn't posted before.

Ayuh,.... I can't believe ya admitted that on an open forum,.....

Good luck with it,... ya gotta watch out with those 4.3s,... Lotsa subtle changes over the various vintages...

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

I am going to start a new thread once we get the process going to illustrate the process of converting an automotive engine to marine. We are both engineers, so I am hoping that we are pretty detailed in our description of what we are doing, and why.

No doubt it will be unreadable by the less fortunate that aren't engineers

Use marine, RV or truck cam shaft, use brass core plugs, and use marine rated head gaskets. All the other details are explained in the OEM service manual.

There, now you know how to convert an automotive long block to a marine long block.

 

[darrinwlowe]

Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

For what it's worth, both of us actually come from humble backgrounds (farming families in Indiana) where you had to fix something if you broke it, so it shouldn't be overly complicated.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

F I am going to start a new thread once we get the process going to illustrate the process of converting an automotive engine to marine. We are both engineers, so I am hoping that we are pretty detailed in our description of what we are doing, and why.

I will save you some time:

remove boat engine
undress boat engine down to long block

remove automotive engine
undress automotive engine - down to long block
remove core plugs
replace with brass core plugs
update head gaskets to multi-layer stainless
change camshaft to marine friendly
dress as marine engine
paint
install

if you keep the cam from the old motor, make sure you keep track of which lifter match which lobes

I would invest in a new timing chain, and oil pump while your in there.

 

[darrinwlowe]

Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

Found a used 4.3 out of a 1997 Blazer (same year as the boat). Got it tore down to the bare block yesterday, and going to get it to the machine shop on Tuesday. Took the batwing manifolds off the current engine today, and am wanting to switch over to the multi-piece setup. Does anyone know the part numbers I need to make this conversion correct? Thanks.