My advice to you that I should have taken, myself. Newbies, just so no.

[skijunk]

Ok so I get this 1998 tracker tahoe runabout for free. The engine is soaked and useless. I think it's a good idea to pull the 3.0 and swap in a 4.3. whoohoo!!! I'm gonna get a 4.3, pull the 3.0 and swap them out ... How hard can that be?? I do my research and buy a salvage boat that has good 4.3 gear in it. I am very mechanically inclined and I have a fair amount of tools. I even have engine hoist, engine stand. I think I have everything i need.... well, this engine swap is a complete PITA. Making stringer risers, fiber glassing(I had forgotten how much I hate fiberglass!!) , getting in and out of the boat a million times checking alignment, measuring, bolting, unbolting, pulling the motor, putting it back in...... is it worth it? NO!
The 4.3 is in the Tahoe and it looks good, alignment is good... I have barely enough room in the engine compartment for the 4.3 but it's in there !

The advice
If you think you are going to do a budget swap for a recreational boat - do a lateral swap and put the same engine back in or BUY A DIFFERENT BOAT !

 

[gm280]

Some times bigger is not always better. :sorry:

 

[Scott Danforth]

Free boats are the most expensive.

I actually enjoy these kind of projects. Fiberglassing is easy (messy and itchy, however easy) Then again, Im the kind of guy that shoehorns a Buick 215 (with a 300 crank) into an MGB or a Buick 3.8 liter into an Opel GT and am currently in the middle of going from an SBC to a BBC in the boat

 

[skijunk]

Free boats are the most expensive.

I actually enjoy these kind of projects. Fiberglassing is easy (messy and itchy, however easy) Then again, Im the kind of guy that shoehorns a Buick 215 (with a 300 crank) into an MGB or a Buick 3.8 liter into an Opel GT and am currently in the middle of going from an SBC to a BBC in the boat

You are the man! I once put a 440 in a '71 slant six Duster so I'm no stranger to abusing myself! ha!

 

[Scott Danforth]

dusters and darts came with 340's and 383's from the factory, so the 440 shouldnt have been too much of a stretch. from last time putting a 383 into a 68 dart - start with a a-block K member, cut the K-member, move the motor mount location 1" for the B/RB block, trim out the inner fenders, use a-block torsion bars and crank them in a bit for the added weight of the B/RB

 

[jkust]

I cannot imagine having the time to do some of the projects people get into on Iboats. I am doing something wrong.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I cannot imagine having the time to do some of the projects people get into on Iboats. I am doing something wrong.

now that I am remarried, I no longer have as much time...... or money....... or fun projects......

 

[Rick Stephens]

I had as much fun last winter swapping to a 4.3 from a 3.0 as I do using the boat. It was a blast to make the boat better'n new in pretty much all ways. I got to add power steering, new carpeting and near doubled the horsies. What's not to like?

 

[tpenfield]

I think that many folks who look at a boat project with great optimism get the nautical slap in the face and realize that mechanical skills is only a prerequisite, but not necessarily a measure of qualification. Boats are just different

 

[Speak]

I also like the challenge. I was the 350 into the s-10 guy. Anyway I'm with Rick,equally as much fun doing the project as it is to run them. I guess there is something wrong with our kind !!!!!

 

[muc]

If you enjoy a challenge, by all means do these types of swaps.

But for the average person ---- and this is over 30 years in the boat business speaking ----- if you want a faster boat, buy a faster boat.
Because if you run into real problems and want to bring it to a "pro", all those hours you spent working on it. We will have to spend those to and when you charge by the hour, it gets expensive fast.

 

[stonyloam]

Just think how much easier it will be next time

 

[skijunk]

Well, I don't have as much time as is required to do something like this. Until you get into it, the time you guess it will take to do this is just a guess. What I think I can do in a few hours takes me a whole day. And since I haven't done this I don't know what the unexpected is.... like finding out both bilge pumps are busted or that the fume evacuation plenum that is made into the boat is in the way of the exhaust or that I probably need power steering. And I haven't even hooked any wires to it to see if the existing electrical systems work.
This could really be a lot of fun ...... but right now it just ain't ha!

 

[Scott Danforth]

As with any project, take the estimated budget and multiply by 3 and take the estimated time and multiply by 4