need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

[leo319]

here we go... i have a cracked engine, there is water in the engine, i took it to the shop and changed the oil, run in for about 1-2 mins, more water went into the engine and loud noise when running. (this is according to the mechanic at the shop, cuz when i ran it three weeks ago it was runnig fine, but lots of water in engine).

Anyway according to the shop i need a marine 4.3 long block 4.3.. they are charging me a lot to do the job so i plan to do it myself. ((i have some experience with outboard engines and more with auto engines)) i also have a manual, tools, the will, time, and this awesome forum.

question is How do i do this? Best way i mean? any step by step instructions?? ways of taking everything out? what do i take out first? etc....

also what is a good place to find a 4.3 marine long block?? i saw some online with warranty for about 1500-3500, is this accurate? what do you experts recomend???

i live in california, the boat is a 97 chaparral 180Le 4.3 mercruiser on it ..

Thank you in advance for all the help, i know im at the right place for help...

 

[Bondo]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

question is How do i do this? Best way i mean? any step by step instructions?? ways of taking everything out? what do i take out first? etc....

Ayuh,... Short story is, pull the drive, unhook, 'n pull the motor...
set it on the ground, swap over all the stuff from the old, to the new, then install in the reverse,....

Some of the guys around here have had Great luck with Rapido, but there's probably engine builders in your area as well....

If ya don't already have the Mercruiser manuals,...
We'll see if We can scare up a set for ya....

 

[jopes]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

Anything rebuilt in CA will be expensive. I am ordering a Rapido 350 tonight due to the same thing. Here is what I have done so far today in about 3 hours.

-removed the outdrive
-pulled the steering pump off, mine has enough lines to put it out of the way without cracking the system open
-removed the carb
-removed the fuel pump
-removed alternator
-removed water pump
-pulled the distributor out with pulling all the plug wires off the plugs
-removed most coolant lines
-removed risers from the exhaust manifolds
-removed the exhaust manifolds " I removed the mani's to access the motor mount nuts better, maybe different for you"

I had my wife out there with zip lock bags, labeling the hardware where it goes. As for pulling stuff off, hoses and such I have been putting them on the same side I take it off from. Port parts stay on the port side, Starboard stay on the starboard side.

I am thinking I have about 3-4 more hours and I can pull the engine out.

 

[jopes]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

another tip I am doing for myself because it will be a few weeks before I reinstall is to leave as many wires connected as possible. there should be room to set everything a side after everything is pulled just before you pull the engine block out.

 

[Don S]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

Here is a link to the OEM service manual. http://www.4shared.com/document/TcnPb3wU/Service_Manual_18.html

While Jopes method of getting the engine out will work, it will also take forever and a lot more work in tight places. If you have a way of lifting the complete engine out at one time, it's about a 1 hour process to unhook it and lift it out.
Pull the outdrive and follow the directions in the manual.
With this method, you can also run the engine on the ground before reinstalling. Then you know everything works and there are no leaks, everything is set and adjusted, the engine cleaned and painted. and easily set back in and ready to run.
Done it hundreds of times.

 

[leo319]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

thank you Don for the reply and the manual!

Now, i will find a way of lifting the engine out at one time, im very interested in the method, i like the idea of running the engine on the ground too. what tool do you recomend for lifting it up in a small place? Garage, pretty good clearance.

Now i gotta say, after reading just a little the manual, im starting to believe i underestimated the work needed for this project. I have never taken an engine out before (not even from a car) ive worked on car engines but nothing this complex.

i know the manual is gonna be my best friend, but there is some things im afraid i will miss.. what do you guys think about this? should i jump on it or have someone else do it for me? i mean i have tools and some knowledge but i just want to do things right. (also id like to check if my manifold exhaust isnt cracked before putting back in the new block. my boat doesnt have a temperature reader, what do i do about internal parts from the old engine such as oil pump, and stuff like that.? well that should be in the new block, man so many questions coming to my head right now..)) really folks, i wanna be able to this job right and dont miss a thing that will have serious consequences.....

i guess im looking to for people to hold me by the hand and tell me what to do huh?,lol..:facepalm:

also in the manual, when it talks about removing the stern drive, it refers you to a STERN DRIVE SERVICE MANUAL, where can i find this?

i will be ordering the block from rapido next week....

 

[leo319]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

oh and about that tool needed for the engine removal? is it really needed?? thanks!

 

[Don S]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

also in the manual, when it talks about removing the stern drive, it refers you to a STERN DRIVE SERVICE MANUAL, where can i find this?

I would have posted a link to it, but you never said what kind of outdrive you have.

oh and about that tool needed for the engine removal? is it really needed??

Have no idea what you are referring to.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

I think he is talking about a engine hoist.... Here is a neat video of a fella installing a engine with a small one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUQSDGS4AgM&feature=player_profilepage

He loves to video but did not video the removal for his big boat, but was able to rent this awesome crane to pull it.. Also of a homemade engine stand made out of a pallet.. Kinda neat..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LZdAPFWH1A&feature=player_profilepage

Do ya have to use one? Nope I would think many a boat engine was pulled from a long low lying tree limb...

a neat way to check your exhaust manifolds
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288629

 

[1ruralmailman]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

one thing i found indisposable through this process this past spring was a digital camera.take pictures of EVERYTHING before you take it apart.this makes putting it back together alot easier.good luck

 

[leo319]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

Yeah ive used a camera for other tasks in the past. i plan on doing it with this one also.

Well im not so worried about safety issues when lifting the engine etc, i will find the proper tool and do it properly. im getting help from a good friend mine, hes a technician at lexus but little knowledge with marine stuff.. im sure hell be helpful on some stuff..

my worries come when taking things apart, specially the removing the engine from the outdrive, once the engine out put it back aligned and right into place. .. i think it shouldnt be hard to strip the engine i have and dress the new block with the parts i already have... again thats my thinking reality could be different, is it??

 

[leo319]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

Don i have alpha drive gen +, on my sig youll find my engine serial if that helps in any way...

the tool im talking about is the Quicksilver Alignment Tool (91-805475A1)... shown on page 2B-1 of the manual you provided me.

Thanks!

 

[NHGuy]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

I'd get an alignment tool from Iboats, E-bay, or Mercstuff. They're all .com's. You don't have to get the Mercruiser one, just get the type specified for your drive.

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

I swapped a new 5.7 into my 25 foot Donzi a few months ago. I was in the same boat as you. I had never done anything like it before.

I had a mechanic friend help me. It is alot to do and remember. I have lifted lots of heavy stuff so lifting the engine wasn't a big deal for me, but if you haven't done stuff like that before you can get hurt fast.

You do need an alignment tool but you don't need a Merc one. I got mine on eBay for $45 after shipping.

You probably should have a mechanic or someone with the know how to loom over the setup you have now to make sure you order the correct new engine. I ordered a 1pc rear seal 5.7 because that's what I thought I had but I actually had a 2 Pc. So I ended up having to buy a new flywheel and coupler. Something that could have been prevented.


So can you do it? Yes. But your probably gonna make some mistakes and its gonna take you a whole lot longer.

 

[StevNimrod]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

It's not too bad of a job at all. If anything your first time is more time consuming than it is difficult just because you'll spend time trying to figure out what needs to come off and what doesn't.

For me I have to (Chevy 383/Alpha Gen 2):

0. Take pictures.
1. Disconnect batteries.
2. Remove outdrive.
3. Remove risers (I have thru hull exhaust so I need to; YMMV).
4. Remove two power steering lines at the ram, put small bags around each fitting and zip tie to prevent leaks/dirt intrusion.
5. Remove engine grounds and zip tie together.
6. Remove water hose (the one coming off the transom assembly going towards the circulating pump) at the oil cooler.
7. Remove any water hoses (at the engine) that go to/come from a water heater if you have one.
8. Remove fuel supply hose at first fitting after the gas tank; plug hose with appropriate hardware.
9. Remove positive battery cable from starter.
10. Disconnect cannon plug.
11. Disconnect leads for trim limit and sender switches + any other connections that stay with the boat.
12. Remove two rear mounting bolts and two front mounting nuts.
13. Install lifting apparatus (I usually use a balance bar and chain bolted up to the front of one head and the rear of the other).
14. Remove engine.

That's just what I have to do, going off of memory. If you miss something and started pulling the engine it will be obvious what you missed and generally easy to disconnect. I normally just pick a place to start and work my way around the engine; find I don't miss as much that way. I've seen it take anywhere from 30 minutes to 8 hours; depending on the engine, the boat, your motivation + speed, and distractions/issues.

Don't skimp on what you use to lift the engine out. Even if you have to give your shop the few bucks to lift it out after you have it all disconnected, it will be a lot better than if you think something can handle the load and it gives way.

Hope this helps!

 

[leo319]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

yeah definitely not where i wanna end up.... i have mechanic friends with knowledge on engines but nothing on marine.... i think ima start taking things apart and call (or post) when i get stuck,,,, i rather do it that way than paying 2-3k for labor alone!!

Anybody with instructions on how to take out the outdrive on this engine?? ((i might have to start another thread..)) its an AlphaOne outdrive, serial no 0k202390???? More info on my sig.. thanks!!

 

[Bondo]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

Anybody with instructions on how to take out the outdrive on this engine??

Ayuh,... Shift to Forward, disconnect the speedo tube, disconnect the aft ends of the trim rams, remove the 6, 5/8" nuts, 'n Pull....

 

[kewlkatdady]

Re: need help about swaping 4.3 long block. experts please chime in

I'm on the home stretch of this exact swap for the same reason. I've taken my time. Worked when I had time. AND USED PLENTY OF LABELS!!!!

My father is a auto mechanic by trade and I've been tinkering on motor and using these tool for 20+ years.

This has been a relatively simple swap with 2 engine on engine stands side by side. I pulled the motor whole and literally unbolted from one block and installed on the new block.

I got the motor from Rapido Marine. The motor seems to be fine (I haven't cranked it yet) the main issue I had was my motor was a 090M motor. Raul said that my motor was assembled in Mexico more than likely. The motor mount and bellhousing bolts on the old motor were all metric and the new motor standard...other than that *****whipin, everything else has gone smoothly.

Or at least I can say that until next Saturday when we fire it up for the first time.

(fingers crossed)