What specialty tools do I need? 3.0 - 4.3 swap

[skijunk]

I have my 4.3 engine and alhpa one gen II outdrive. What specialty tools will I need other than billows ring press and engine/drive shaft alignment tool?

 

[Fishermark]

So you are swapping out the 3 liter for the 4.3? I take it you already have the necessary fiberglass work, if any done.

The bolt heads for the exhaust pipe are unusual, but a 12 point 3/8 socket fits. If you want to take the bellhousing off you will either need the specialty tool or a 1/2" allen wrench.

 

[skijunk]

So you are swapping out the 3 liter for the 4.3? I take it you already have the necessary fiberglass work, if any done.

The bolt heads for the exhaust pipe are unusual, but a 12 point 3/8 socket fits. If you want to take the bellhousing off you will either need the specialty tool or a 1/2" allen wrench.

Once I do the alignment I will measure to make my mounting plates. After I make them, I will fiberglass them into the boat so I can properly set the motor mounts. I have lots of tools and am familiar with engines and engine swaps, I also work on my own jetskis and outboards so I know when I need a special tool, I need that tool. I just want to be prepared to have whatever isn't already in the many tools already in the tool box

Unless I absolutely need to, I don't plan on taking anything off of the 4.3

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Did ya get the drive for the 4.3l too,..??

You won't find a prop big enough to run a 1.98:1 drive behind a 4.3l,....
Ya want a 1.84:1 for hulls bigger than 'bout 20', 'n a 1.65:1 for lighter smaller hulls,.....

 

[Rick Stephens]

I built a jig to determine and build my motor mounts. Basically I would install the transom plate. Lay a piece of angle iron across the rear motor mounts on the transom plate. Have to remove the leather pads that the ears on the flywheel cover sit on. The forward motor mounts are within an 1/8th inch of 4 inches below that. And, the motor itself ALWAYS sits 13? down from the transom angle. As an example, if your transom is 73? vertical from the hull bottom (common transom angle) - that makes your transom 17? shy of 90? vertical from hull bottom. Your engine sits 17? minus 13? or 4? UP in relation to your hull. I believe the range can be anywhere +/- 5? to be in spec. So max transom angle is a range of 8? through 18? from vertical.

Anyway, I built a jig that makes building up your motor mounts really easy. The motor mounts height is exactly 3.5 inches below crankshaft center. From crankshaft center to top of transom motor mounts is roughly a 1/2 inch making the motor mount height ~4 inches below that. The other control is that height is set exactly 13? down from transom angle. My jig was a simple chunk of 3/4 ply. I used a c clamp to hold a 1.5 inch angle iron across the transom mount ears and slid the jig up underneath and held it against the transom. There's your height.

 

[Rick Stephens]

duplicate

 

[Pete104]

I have my 4.3 engine and alhpa one gen II outdrive. What specialty tools will I need other than billows ring press and engine/drive shaft alignment tool?

What is a billows ring press for?

 

[Scott Danforth]

define specialty tools.

if you own a mercruiser, you should have everthing needed to service it - specifically the bellows tools and the alignment shaft in addition to a small vac/pressure pump for checking drives

if you turn wrenches, you already have an assortment of wrenches, engine hoists, band-aids, etc.

since you are swapping a 3.0 for a 4.3, you will need wood working and fiberglass working tools

 

[skijunk]

Ayuh,.... Did ya get the drive for the 4.3l too,..??

You won't find a prop big enough to run a 1.98:1 drive behind a 4.3l,....
Ya want a 1.84:1 for hulls bigger than 'bout 20', 'n a 1.65:1 for lighter smaller hulls,.....

Yes, I bought an entire boat so I do have the complete sterndrive but the donor boat is larger (22' I think) than mine (mine is 18.5 feet) so I will need to address and confirm the gear ration once I get that far. I am prepared to buy the appropriate gear drive if need be

 

[skijunk]

I built a jig to determine and build my motor mounts. Basically I would install the transom plate. Lay a piece of angle iron across the rear motor mounts on the transom plate. Have to remove the leather pads that the ears on the flywheel cover sit on. The forward motor mounts are within an 1/8th inch of 4 inches below that. And, the motor itself ALWAYS sits 13? down from the transom angle. As an example, if your transom is 73? vertical from the hull bottom (common transom angle) - that makes your transom 17? shy of 90? vertical from hull bottom. Your engine sits 17? minus 13? or 4? UP in relation to your hull. I believe the range can be anywhere +/- 5? to be in spec. So max transom angle is a range of 8? through 18? from vertical.

Anyway, I built a jig that makes building up your motor mounts really easy. The motor mounts height is exactly 3.5 inches below crankshaft center. From crankshaft center to top of transom motor mounts is roughly a 1/2 inch making the motor mount height ~4 inches below that. The other control is that height is set exactly 13? down from transom angle. My jig was a simple chunk of 3/4 ply. I used a c clamp to hold a 1.5 inch angle iron across the transom mount ears and slid the jig up underneath and held it against the transom. There's your height.

Thank you! I appreciate your taking the time in being very helpful instead of telling me that I shouldn't own a boat unless I am a master marine mechanic with a full compliment of master marine mechanic tools and factory service manuals. I should be able to get it done using this though I may have a question or two when it comes down to it. Thanks so much !

 

[wahlejim]

If you have to buy a new drive, I highly recommend the SEI drives. High quality, good warranty, less than $1500 brand new, ready to bolt on.

 

[skijunk]

What is a billows ring press for?

whatever the master marine mechanic name for it is, I don't know., but it's the disc made of a plastic tool used to press in the ring that holds the billows in place

 

[harleyman1975]

Glad to see you are going to be replacing the bellows when you do the swap. The folks at this sight are pretty good about not making condescending replies. The goal of this sight is to help each other when we can. nobody knows it all...even bondo and achris have asked for advice from the panel. Welcome!

 

[Bondo]

I built a jig to determine and build my motor mounts.

Ayuh,.... I do just as explained in post #1,....

Mount the motor on the aft mounts, snug 'em down, 'n with a crane on the front of the motor, align it with the bar,....
Measure from there, pull the motor, 'n build up the front mounts,....

 

[Rick Stephens]

Thank you! I appreciate your taking the time in being very helpful instead of telling me that I shouldn't own a boat unless I am a master marine mechanic with a full compliment of master marine mechanic tools and factory service manuals. I should be able to get it done using this though I may have a question or two when it comes down to it. Thanks so much !

You'll do fine and have lots of fun. Ask away with questions, you will get real answers. The knowledge base on this forum is absolutely incredible. Your post just hits in my wheelhouse since I just last winter switched from a 3.L to a 4.3L. I received a ton of advice on doing it. Here's the thread where I built the mounts.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Ayuh,.... I do just as explained in post #1,....

Mount the motor on the aft mounts, snug 'em down, 'n with a crane on the front of the motor, align it with the bar,....
Measure from there, pull the motor, 'n build up the front mounts,....

Bondo is right. I didn't have that option at the time I built my mounts, my motor was off getting machine work done. No need to do a jig, but it was really nice to be able to quickly check heights as I built it up. That jig just slid under the piece of angle iron in this photo. You can see the corner of the jig in the lower left.

 

[skijunk]

Bellows.. not billows. Proper spelling goes a long way. .

 

[Pete104]

whatever the master marine mechanic name for it is, I don't know., but it's the disc made of a plastic tool used to press in the ring that holds the billows in place

I thought you meant "bellows" but the ring press part escaped my mind. So now I got it.
I've seen in previous posts that some have used a piece of PVC or 2 X 4 cut to the right length that sets the ring. Some use WD-40 or liquid soap as a lube, personally I use power tune.
Do you need to buy the tool? No.

This is a fun project!

 

[Bondo]

personally I use power tune.
Do you need to buy the tool? No.

Ayuh,..... A squirt of power tune, 'n push the ring in with yer fingers,....