Oil Pickup and oil pan from automotive 4.3 v6 in marine engine

[dlogvine]

Im trying to rebuild a 2002 vortec chevy 4.3 v6 to make a marine engine out of it. Got the marine rebuild kit, marine camshaft, intake manifold for a 2bbl carb with mercarb. Now, the oil pickup in marine engines is much bigger than the one in the automotive. I can buy a marine pickup for $20, but is it necessary? Also the oil pan in this engine is aluminum, do i need to get a special marine one or this one will do? Thank you

 

[achris]

That aluminium pan IS the marine pan. Automotive and marine for those cast pans are one and the same...

 

[Scott Danforth]

There is also an aftermarket cast aluminum front cover vs the problematic cast one

 

[dlogvine]

My timing cover is plastic but it has a note on the cover replace assembly after removal. Can I still reuse it? Saw similar used ones sold on ebay. Thx

 

[achris]

It says "Replace upon removal". That means it's not reusable... a new one is less than $40. If you put the sealer in the right places, as specified in the manual, the plastic cover is fine.

Chris...

 

[dlogvine]

Actually I talked to a mechanic, he said it is a timing kit that needs to be replaced, not the cover, the cocer can be used again. Same for the cars. Just clean the grooves from the old gasket and reuse

 

[Scott Danforth]

Spend the money on a new cover. Plastic has no business as a timing cover. Reuse will gurantee a leak

 

[achris]

Actually I talked to a mechanic, he said it is a timing kit that needs to be replaced, not the cover, the cocer can be used again. Same for the cars. Just clean the grooves from the old gasket and reuse

You need to find a new mechanic to talk to... One who know how to read manuals.... This is from the Merc manual...

 

[dlogvine]

Thank you guys, will get a new mechanic, or better will not listen to my friend who says he IS a mechanic. Sorry. Should i get a aluminum or steel cast cover if im going to use this engine?

 

[Scott Danforth]

new plastic ones are fine.

 

[dlogvine]

I bought an aluminum timing cover. It has a crank sensor hole. I just wondered if I need this sensor or should i just buy and appropriate plug that covers this hole? I know automotive engines are using it since they have computers analyzing the signal from this sender. However, where does this sender send a signal and how does it work on marine engine? Thank you

 

[achris]

You don't have MPI, no crank sensor required. Before you buy a plug for the hole, just make sure that cover fits. Make sure the bolt holes line up and the seal is the right size. If it is, please send me one of those covers.

Chris....

 

[dlogvine]

You don't have MPI, no crank sensor required. Before you buy a plug for the hole, just make sure that cover fits. Make sure the bolt holes line up and the seal is the right size. If it is, please send me one of those covers.

Chris....

Hi Chris, this is the only one of this kind I was able to find. It looks exactly like the plastic cover, but it is aluminum.
I thought that they all are the same size... Would be a bummer if it does not fit.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-GENUIN...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648

 

[dlogvine]

One other thing, I looked at the manual for head bolt sequence and found something strange, it says two size medium bolts are in positions 1 and 4. I thought they should be in 12 and 13 where the head has deeper areas. Or I could be wrong and then I will have to change the bolt location.

 

[AShipShow]

Not sure on the newer vortecs, but one thing I ran into on my automotive 4.3 was the dipstick tube doesn't go to the bottom of the pan if you are interested in pumping out the oil.

 

[achris]

Not sure on the newer vortecs, but one thing I ran into on my automotive 4.3 was the dipstick tube doesn't go to the bottom of the pan if you are interested in pumping out the oil.

That's right. Automotive tubes don't go to the bottom, marine ones do.

 

[dlogvine]

Would it make any difference, since the oil pump im using in the oil change is using an extension plastic hose that goes all the way to the bottom of the pan. I always thought that the oil pickup is the only thing that needs to be changed in this type of oil pan.

 

[greno]

Shouldn't make a difference.
I have one of those electric siphon pumps with the stiff plastic little hose that goes down inside the dipstick tube. It reaches to the bottom of the pan. Used that for quite a while. Then switched over to a flippable oil plug connected to some clear tubing that I just push out the drain plug in the transom and I drain the oil that way now.

 

[dlogvine]

Shouldn't make a difference.
I have one of those electric siphon pumps with the stiff plastic little hose that goes down inside the dipstick tube. It reaches to the bottom of the pan. Used that for quite a while. Then switched over to a flippable oil plug connected to some clear tubing that I just push out the drain plug in the transom and I drain the oil that way now.

I saw these oil plugs online, are they worth buying? Looked like they made changing the oil much easier, but was not sure if they would leak or if they fail often.

 

[Scott Danforth]

get the marine tube as the pumps with the little plastic tubes really suck. another thing to add is the short oil hose kit that goes to the drain plug that you can pull out the transom plug

http://www.cpperformance.com/p-13338-e-z-oil-drain-kit-fits-drain-plug-holes-with-12-20-thread.aspx