Can you use a Car Carburetor on a boat

[mercruiser4.3]

i have a mercruiser 4.3L with the factory two barrel carb on it and i was wondering if you can use a holley 4bbl carb made for cars on it or would you have to use a marine carb and if so would you have to replace the intake manifold to.

 

[CapnMorgan]

Re: Can you use a Car Carburetor on a boat

Yep, it'll work. you'll need a 4bbl manifold for it tho. check early 80s astro vans in the junk yard, they came with 4.3l w/4bbls

 

[phoenixisrizen]

Re: Can you use a Car Carburetor on a boat

Hmm. I always thought marine carbs were different do to fire hazards........

 

[skipdow]

Re: Can you use a Car Carburetor on a boat

NO you cannot use a car carburetor in a boat... that is unless you WANT to blow up and die.
seriously tho a marine carb is designed to not let any gas outside of the carburetor. you can tell a marine carburetor usually by the curved vent tube on top so if it overflows it dumps the gas inside not out.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Can you use a Car Carburetor on a boat

Yep, it'll work. you'll need a 4bbl manifold for it tho. check early 80s astro vans in the junk yard, they came with 4.3l w/4bbls

Dangerous move. In marine carbs, the float overflow tubes are turned so that any excess fuel gets sent into the primaries. This is not the case with car carburetors.

Car carbs are also not designed to handle a constant load like a marine carb will. In a car, nobody ever puts their gas pedal to the floor and leaves it there for half an hour. This is often the case with marine carbs because in order to maintain speed the throttle has to be left open.

If you can get a hold of a marine 4 bbl instead, do it. You can get a re-manufactured marine holley 4 barrel from ebay for $220.

 

[Icefire55]

Re: Can you use a Car Carburetor on a boat

Just did it on mine, my marine carb was rebuilt and still acted up, used a spare car carb (both QuadraJet).

My marine carb didn't have a "J tube" but a straight up tube with a small aluminium block machined so the gas would go in the primairy, so I transfered that block.

Also used the same Flame arrestor.

 

[mercruiser4.3]

Re: Can you use a Car Carburetor on a boat

I had the Holley 4bbl 750cfm laying around the house thought i would rebuild it and put it on the boat do you think it would be safe if i used some pipe on the overflow tubes so the overflow goes back in the carb.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Can you use a Car Carburetor on a boat

dude..get this nonsense out of your head. Marine carb or no carb.
I wont reitterate why..It has been posted.
If you had an issue with loss of life or limb, your insurance wont cover you or any innocents hurt by your carb hack job.

ALSO..do a quick search with "auto parts" and see what comes up.

 

[jtmarten]

Re: Can you use a Car Carburetor on a boat

I had the Holley 4bbl 750cfm laying around the house thought i would rebuild it and put it on the boat do you think it would be safe if i used some pipe on the overflow tubes so the overflow goes back in the carb.

No. The base plates are different too. Different bushings/seals to prevent leaks. The marine versions are designed to run richer too, since boats are usually under more load than auto engines.

VERY doubtful you could lean the carb out enough for the 4.3 to even run without smoking like an old diesel. A 750 is too much carb for a stock 350, and waaaaayyyyyyyyyy too much for a 4.3.

If the $3-400 is worth the risk, do it.

 

[mercruiser4.3]

Re: Can you use a Car Carburetor on a boat

Thanks for all the info and help im gonna sale the car 4bbl carb and buy a marine one thanks again

 

[cr2k]

Re: Can you use a Car Carburetor on a boat

Marine carbs are as stated above, Internally Vented, Sealed Throttle Shafts, and are jetted richer because Marine Engines, with carbs, DO NOT HAVE SMOG controls and different camshafts then automobiles.

So if you have an automotive carb on your boat, unless the engine is out in the open, you could very well blow up next time out.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Can you use a Car Carburetor on a boat

Yep, it'll work. you'll need a 4bbl manifold for it tho. check early 80s astro vans in the junk yard, they came with 4.3l w/4bbls

Dude,... You otta be Readin',+ Not giving advise....
Everything I'm seein' your postin' is WRONG....

People can Die using your advise....