Engine replacement help…

[Ogbign]

Yeah I agree finding and older non vortec may be difficult given the age and makes less power. ou can easily find marine intakes for vortec 4.3 or vortec 5.0/5.7 Engines. If you have a new carb I’m sure that can work, but may need re jetting.

on the swim platform brackets not sure if they are stainless or aluminum? A decent local welder can likely repair them if you remove them

There plastic an destroyed,

 

[Scott06]

There plastic an destroyed,

I once made and welded similar brackets out of stainless sheet bent into an L at like a 95 degree angle , weld a tube to support it. Again see if a welding shop can make something up Would like be your best bet .

 

[Ogbign]

I believe I’m stuck with a v6 . My boat has the space for a v8 but, my motor mounts sit on a hump moving them forward I think would require some extensive work, I’m also disassembling the engine to find a crack in the block as full as it was on water I’m sure it busted somewhere

 

[Scott06]

I believe I’m stuck with a v6 . My boat has the space for a v8 but, my motor mounts sit on a hump moving them forward I think would require some extensive work, I’m also disassembling the engine to find a crack in the block as full as it was on water I’m sure it busted somewhere

KISS principal may be just keep it V6. Not sure if your current V6 is a 4 bbl / 205hp or 2 bbl/175 hp version. A Vortec Headed 4.3 is like 220 /225 hp with a 4 bbl carb, and weighs less than a V8.

4.3 usually cracks in the valley below the heads. Not sure how much it had been used, they some times need to go through a couple heat and cool cycles to start leaking. While it is possible the water cross over in intake is cracked I would have the block magged before investing any machine work.

My old neighbor at the lake who had more money than brains was convinced his master craft was self draining or didn't need winterization... the two old farts in the neighbor hood who are mechanically inclined (my dad and other neighbor bob) told him you need to winterize it, so he has the mobile mechanic out in December after sever hard freezes. Finds a core plug pushed out that he knocks back in lets it idle no water in oil. Next summer after 3-4 weeks of use, boat is getting a new long block...

He did the same with his jetski a couple years before. Kind of admired the guy, the company they owned kick off enough cash to just write a check at the Master craft dealer than worry about maintenance...

 

[Ogbign]

KISS principal may be just keep it V6. Not sure if your current V6 is a 4 bbl / 205hp or 2 bbl/175 hp version. A Vortec Headed 4.3 is like 220 /225 hp with a 4 bbl carb, and weighs less than a V8.

4.3 usually cracks in the valley below the heads. Not sure how much it had been used, they some times need to go through a couple heat and cool cycles to start leaking. While it is possible the water cross over in intake is cracked I would have the block magged before investing any machine work.

My old neighbor at the lake who had more money than brains was convinced his master craft was self draining or didn't need winterization... the two old farts in the neighbor hood who are mechanically inclined (my dad and other neighbor bob) told him you need to winterize it, so he has the mobile mechanic out in December after sever hard freezes. Finds a core plug pushed out that he knocks back in lets it idle no water in oil. Next summer after 3-4 weeks of use, boat is getting a new long block...

He did the same with his jetski a couple years before. Kind of admired the guy, the company they owned kick off enough cash to just write a check at the Master craft dealer than worry about maintenance...

Mine was a very clean engine, but is only the 2brl . No freeze plugs have popped or cracked but it had water in the pan probably 4qts or so plus 2 gals of oil on top of that, I won’t spend money at a machine shop not any here I can trust, long block is cheaper anyway. The oil an water wer separated, I was also told it had a bent crank an that’s almost impossible, so it’s possible it threw a rod on the lake an the owner just didn’t wanna winterize it then..

 

[Scott06]

Mine was a very clean engine, but is only the 2brl . No freeze plugs have popped or cracked but it had water in the pan probably 4qts or so plus 2 gals of oil on top of that, I won’t spend money at a machine shop not any here I can trust, long block is cheaper anyway. The oil an water wer separated, I was also told it had a bent crank an that’s almost impossible, so it’s possible it threw a rod on the lake an the owner just didn’t wanna winterize it then..

I got a new base engine from Michigan Motorz in 2016. They sell remans that are fairly reasonably priced. Obviously cheaper if you can get a truck engine from wrecking yard but for turn key was a nice cost balance in between piecing it together and new bobtail. They did give me $150 for my cracked core including the cast oil pan and mercarb. . I assume to harvest rod crank and maybe heads.

The 2 bbl version of vortecs put out 190 hp if you want to stay with the same carb. Would assume it would need re-jetting which is no big deal

 

[Scott Danforth]

a low-mileage 1996-2005 vortec V6 from a wrecked S-10 or Silverado with a 5-speed

get just the longblock and flywheel (because none of the other stuff is boat friendly)

$15 for new brass core plugs
$100 for new marine head gaskets
$75 for the intake gaskets

swap over the accessories from the 1990

Edelbrock Marine 4-barrel intake and a good 4-barrel carb

you now have 220hp (prop rated) marine V6

 

[Ogbign]

a low-mileage 1996-2005 vortec V6 from a wrecked S-10 or Silverado with a 5-speed

get just the longblock and flywheel (because none of the other stuff is boat friendly)

$15 for new brass core plugs
$100 for new marine head gaskets
$75 for the intake gaskets

swap over the accessories from the 1990

Edelbrock Marine 4-barrel intake and a good 4-barrel carb

you now have 220hp (prop rated) marine V6

Those are very good engines an very easy to find , transmissions are always bad on them lmao

 

[Ogbign]

Those are very good engines an very easy to find , transmissions are always bad on them lmao

Why a manual the flywheel different?

 

[Scott06]

Why a manual the flywheel different?

The mercruiser coupler is made to bolt to a stick shift flywheel - flexplate used on an auto wont work. You can always buy a new flywheel but better if it comes with it

 

[stresspoint]

to add to the above , the reason for the flywheel change is because the early vortec / non vortec is not internally balanced so your FW and harmonic balancer off the old motor cant be used..

best is to use the entire rotating assembly as a matched set ,that said i have no idea if the truck harmonic balancer will work with the marine accessory's, so that might be a question for someone else here . we did not get any vehicles here in AU with 4.3 chev motors.

i used a entire 2014 Mercruiser rotating assembly in a 2011 engine block and had no issues with any of the accessory's from a 2008 motor bolting up .( yea : i have a bitza motor but its a powerful little sucker)

 

[Scott Danforth]

Why a manual the flywheel different?

What they said regarding the marine flywheel just being a truck flywheel for a manual transmission. plus, most people that drive a stick actually maintain their vehicles as those that prefer automatics generally do not.

most people will also shy away from the manual trans motors and transmissions in the salvage yard .

 

[Ogbign]

What they said regarding the marine flywheel just being a truck flywheel for a manual transmission. plus, most people that drive a stick actually maintain their vehicles as those that prefer automatics generally do not.

most people will also shy away from the manual trans motors and transmissions in the salvage yard

 

[Ogbign]

I’m lookin at one from Michigan motors don’t think I’m gonna find one at a salvage near me

 

[stresspoint]

I’m lookin at one from Michigan motors don’t think I’m gonna find one at a salvage near me

as posted earlier ? why not find an old rotted boat with a good motor, pull that motor and drive and stick it in your boat, much cheaper and a lot less guess work as to what will fit .

 

[Ogbign]

as posted earlier ? why not find an old rotted boat with a good motor, pull that motor and drive and stick it in your boat, much cheaper and a lot less guess work as to what will fit .

My boat is a 1978 an it’s not rotted, so far all these boats near me have had the inline 4cyl or the blocks are junk. I can make anything work, but does the cost of making it work exceed a new engine ? The wife’s already said it won’t be sold again. I had a v8 in mind as soon as I thought it might need an engine, I have the room for a v8 just don’t think moving my mounts are a good idea , but I’m not a fiberglass expert, I’m tearing into this engine gonna see if I can find a crack or bad bearings on crank,

 

[Ogbign]

My boat is a 1978 an it’s not rotted, so far all these boats near me have had the inline 4cyl or the blocks are junk. I can make anything work, but does the cost of making it work exceed a new engine ? The wife’s already said it won’t be sold again. I had a v8 in mind as soon as I thought it might need an engine, I have the room for a v8 just don’t think moving my mounts are a good idea , but I’m not a fiberglass expert, I’m tearing into this engine gonna see if I can find a crack or bad bearings on crank,

Unless I can hear an see the used engine run I’m not gonna buy it

 

[nola mike]

Mine was a very clean engine, but is only the 2brl . No freeze plugs have popped or cracked but it had water in the pan probably 4qts or so plus 2 gals of oil on top of that, I won’t spend money at a machine shop not any here I can trust, long block is cheaper anyway. The oil an water wer separated, I was also told it had a bent crank an that’s almost impossible, so it’s possible it threw a rod on the lake an the owner just didn’t wanna winterize it then..

This guy doesn't sound like a great buddy lol

 

[Ogbign]

This guy doesn't sound like a great buddy lol

A friend of a friend I guess u can call it, I don’t have any friends really… there only your friend when they want something

 

[nola mike]

to add to the above , the reason for the flywheel change is because the early vortec / non vortec is not internally balanced so your FW and harmonic balancer off the old motor cant be used..

Pretty sure this isn't true. Though I used the flywheel that came with the block, I don't recall which balancer I used

I’m lookin at one from Michigan motors don’t think I’m gonna find one at a salvage near me

These things are a dime a dozen in the scrap yards. I got mine for $180. IMHO, you're much better off with a truck engine than a 30 year old Marine engine. Almost by definition, a boat with a rotted Hull is going to have a neglected engine (btdt). I did almost the same swap, you can definitely learn from my mistakes