3.0 to a 4.3 vortec???

firewoody

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Jun 12, 2010
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4
I have a '92 Celebrity with a 3.0. I also have a '96 Chevy truck with a real good Vortec 6cyl. Can I put the 6cyl in the boat? And what would I need to do so?
 

Don S

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Aug 31, 2004
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Re: 3.0 to a 4.3 vortec???

Yes, all it takes is lots of money. All the engine accessories have to change to marine, including exhaust, cooling, ignition, alternator, starter, fuel system, etc.
Then you have gear ratios in the drive to change, a Y pipe needed for the exhaust on the transom shield, stringers for the side mounts etc.
 

firewoody

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Jun 12, 2010
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Re: 3.0 to a 4.3 vortec???

sooooo, sell the truck 4.3 and buy a marine 4.3.....Thanks Don!!
 

Don S

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Re: 3.0 to a 4.3 vortec???

Buy a COMPLETE marine engine and drive combination.
Probably cheaper to fix your 3.0L, then sell the boat and find one powered the way you want it.
 

firewoody

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Jun 12, 2010
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Re: 3.0 to a 4.3 vortec???

Well actually theres nothing wrong with the 3.0. Its just gutless. Takes f o r e v e r to plane out not even pulling anything. And I have a 17pitch on it.
 

Don S

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Re: 3.0 to a 4.3 vortec???

What is your max WOT rpm you can get?
 

alex3012red

Seaman
Joined
Nov 20, 2006
Messages
65
Re: 3.0 to a 4.3 vortec???

i have a 3.0 on my boat 19 bayliner cuddy, had similar problems when i put 2 or more persons on it, make sure your bottom is clean(the boats), i put doelphin and changed my prop to a diamond 4 18p, now my boat seems to got a 454 in it. at least to me. 4 people onboard full of gas and can hit 35mpg, 2 persons 40 to 45mph. before i was getting 30 max by myself. used to have a 19p prop kind of beat up. i even waxed my bottom!
good luck
 

firewoody

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Jun 12, 2010
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4
Re: 3.0 to a 4.3 vortec???

ok, I tried a 4 blade 16pitch and it worked great. Plenty of bottom end now. Crazy how much difference a prop makes. Not alot of top end, speedo doesnt work but I'm running about 3800 rpms full throttle.
 

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,610
Re: 3.0 to a 4.3 vortec???

That's not high enough. Either your tach is off or you still don't have the right prop. If you keep running like that, you will be replacing your 3.0 engine.
 
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