95' Regal 176 4.3 Engine Knocking

[mogas92]

Hey everyone, I finally bought my first boat..and got hosed lol. I bought it without testing it the lady claimed her husband was out of town and wouldn't launch it at Yuba Lake, UT anyways she said it ran great and she could meet me...I met her he sent her with a dead battery...she couldn't show me it ran. Anyways I got it home and put a battery in, fired it up...gimbal bearing making a racket. I replaced the gimbal bearing, bellows and impeller. I fired it up and now I can hear the engine knocking sorry to bore you but anyways it says Vortec on the valve cover. Can I get an engine out of a truck or blazer and swap my parts over or do I need to find an exact marine Vortec replacement? TIA

 

[biggjimm]

I'd pull the outdrive off & make sure the noise is in fact in the engine & not in the drive. Only takes about 15 min or so to pop it off & if you end up having to pull the engine, it's got to come off anyways.

 

[Rick Stephens]

There are differences in blocks over the years, but if you get a Vortec pull from a S10 or Safari van you can swap over your parts and be up and running.

You got my sympathies on the story. Too many times repeated. I bought a boat which I did get to run on the water pre-purchase and which still had issues in the outdrive which ended up getting the outdrive replaced. Adds a lot to the cost when you have to spend a bunch to get it to minimum operating capability. Sellers that have no need to ever look in the mirror, I guess...

Moving forward...

If the boat itself is in good condition then the end result is worth the effort. Good luck.

Rick

 

[mogas92]

Yeah that makes sense I'll pull it back off to run the motor by itself to hear it. I'm pretty sure it's the engine..lol it's thumpin pretty good! Anyways yeah it sucks I couldn't do that to somebody that's why I'm just going to lick my wounds and fix it up it's in ok shape I probably gave to much if it did run good. Do the cranks all have the same bolt pattern, exhaust, intake ect. so I can swap it easily? How hard is it to pull the motor? I'm mechanically inclined but just started in the boat world.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Easy part is pulling the motor. Mucho simple in a boat. Hard part is finding a picker that is tall enough, or even use a convenient tree limb.

If you get a Vortec pull from a S10 or Safari it should be fine on bolt up. There are others here who know more on variations than I do, but I think the crank bolt pattern is the same no matter year on Vortec engines. Everything else you just swap over from your marine engine. Intake is 8 bolt on all Vortecs, so that will swap over no problem. Exhaust is always same pattern. If you pull the heads use marine head gaskets as replacements. Should be simple swap over of all the marine components.

Rick

 

[wahlejim]

The big things that must be stolen from the old engine are the electrical components and marine carb. These are made for marine engines to not have gas vapors and sparks mixed in the engine compartment.

 

[mogas92]

Ok great I'll get started on the search for a used Vortec. I appreciate the help. What website do you guys recommend for getting parts like head gaskets ect.

 

[nola mike]

A lot of us are partial to iboats

 

[Bondo]

How hard is it to pull the motor? I'm mechanically inclined but just started in the boat world.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,..... Really Easy, compared to most cars,....

Pull the drive 1st, then the motor,....

Links to the factory manuals are in the link in my sig. titled Don's Adults Only section,....

 

[Rick Stephens]

Don't forget the 5% off when forum members buy from iBoats. One note, you have to call your order in.

Rick

 

[mogas92]

Ok awesome I found the gasket kit I need. Just curious why I have to change the headgaskets from the truck/suv 4.3 to marine? Do you know of anyone that sells a bearing/re ring kit for my 4.3 incase it's repairable

 

[Watermann]

When you get the drive off and the water hose in the inlet start her up to see if the knock is still there for sure. If so then use a stethoscope to narrow down where the sound is coming from. I've even heard water pumps make a knock that sounds like the engine has serious problems.

What's the motor oil look like? I always hate to see fresh new oil in a motor when I buy it as that can tell a lot about the motors health.

Summit carries bearing and ring kits. http://www.summitracing.com/search/...gine-size/4-3l-262/main-bearings-included/yes

 

[mogas92]

Sweet thanks for the link. I'll pull the outdrive. I don't completely understand what you mean on the water inlet hose. I know that outdrive has the o ring that goes to the upper housing. I pulled that out when I did the gimbal bearing. Do I need to go any farther on pulling more on the outdrive to test the motor? Also do you know if these kits are marine specific for the head gaskets and if I need a marine head gasket for sure. Thanks for the help

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Just stick the hose in there and let her rip...

 

[mogas92]

Haha sweet that makes sense now I'm a very good visual learner. Does anyone know the difference in vehicle vs marine head gasket materials and why to or not to use them?

 

[Bondo]

Haha sweet that makes sense now I'm a very good visual learner. Does anyone know the difference in vehicle vs marine head gasket materials and why to or not to use them?

Ayuh,..... Auto gaskets use steel reinforcements, marine is ssteel,....