Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

[wi4x4man]

Does anyone know if there is a conversion kit to take a 165 Mercruiser and adapt it to an Alpha One setup?

I currently have a 4.3, but have a perfectly good and very strong 165. The bell housing is completely different, but big deal, they are both GM engines and will mate up. Same goes for the wheel from what I can tell. The only difficulty will be getting the exhaust to the exhaust outlet. I thought of getting a blockoff plate and running with a thru transom setup, but is there a kit out there that might make these to work together? I would much rather run without a thru-transom outlet if possible.

There are of course a few other items such as engine mounts and how to hook up the power steering, but those to me are fairly minor issues.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

Does anyone know if there is a conversion kit to take a 165 Mercruiser and adapt it to an Alpha One setup?

I currently have a 4.3, but have a perfectly good and very strong 165. The bell housing is completely different, but big deal, they are both GM engines and will mate up. Same goes for the wheel from what I can tell. The only difficulty will be getting the exhaust to the exhaust outlet. I thought of getting a blockoff plate and running with a thru transom setup, but is there a kit out there that might make these to work together? I would much rather run without a thru-transom outlet if possible.

There are of course a few other items such as engine mounts and how to hook up the power steering, but those to me are fairly minor issues.

Ayuh,... Just bolt the flywheel cover, 'n dressin's from the 4.3l to the I-6...
The bellhousing/ block flanges are Standard Chevy...

Donno why ya'd wanta move so far in the wrong direction though...

 

[thumpar]

Re: Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

Donno why ya'd wanta move so far in the wrong direction though...

I was thinking the same thing. The 4.3 is a great motor that is easy (read cheap) to find and parts are very common (alot in common with the SBC).

 

[wi4x4man]

Re: Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

Okay...

I have been having some major problems with my 4.3. Not only are there the problems, but it is a real son of a gun to do any work on it at all. In terms of parts, I would have to disagree with you. I have never EVER had such a hard time trying to find parts for an engine before. Perhaps it is because of where I live, but I highly doubt that.

As for the 165, that engine is bulletproof. I have two of them, one in my 19' Lund that is 35 years old, and another one that I pulled out of my "parts boat" that was still in excellent condition (parts boat's interior is completely shot). That engine is 33 years old. The torque is great, fires every time, I have never had issues. What's more, you can get to anything of interest on that bad boy. Extremely simple to work on to say the least. On top of all this, I am able to go down to the local auto parts store and find more for that 165 than I can for my 4.3. Even the marina's have a heck of a time trying to find parts.

Not only have I had excellent luck with the 165 motor in boats, but I have the same engine (non marinized of course) in my 1967 Chevy dump truck. That thing runs like a swiss watch and has loads of power. You would be suprised what I have put that dump truck through.

Now in terms of adaptation, that is not a problem at all. I have already checked that and given the fact that they are both GM, no problems. However, the current 4.3 has a Y pipe whereas the 165 does not. What's more, is the 165's riser runs right down into the port side rear engine mount if using the original pipe (not to mention the bolt pattern is different). Hence the conversion kit.

You might think this is going backwards, but I would have to disagree on that one.

 

[achris]

Re: Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

I would also say a big backward step. The 4.3 produces more torque and power than a 165, and burns quite a bit less fuel doing it. As for trouble finding parts.... You must be looking under the wrong bush my friend. I have the 4.3 and I am getting parts from the USA without any problems.

Give us a list of parts you need and I would bet I could find them (from Australia) in less than a day.

Chris........

 

[wi4x4man]

Re: Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

Well, I have found all the parts I need for it... But, having motor problems.

Still don't think it is a step back.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

I personally like both engines - and am a big fan of the straight six. A major consideration is the length. You might want to make sure you have plenty of room up front - then add room for access to the front mount adjusting nut. I added a straight six to an 18' Sportcraft that had a 3 liter. We were doing a complete redo of the floor and everything. Even then there was a LOT of work that needed to be done to the floors and support in order to make room for the 165. Just something to look at on your boat.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

Well... someone has to ask... what's going on with the 4.3?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

Well... someone has to ask... what's going on with the 4.3?

Ayuh,... See here....

 

[wi4x4man]

Re: Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

For the 165, plenty of room if I re-design how the front engine mount sits.

I am an engineer by trade, and design custom engine systems for a living, specifically diesel engines (both marine and industrial). Chances are very good that you have seen my designs out there on industrial and marine equipment (wood chippers, rock crushers, rough terrain lifts, water pumps, generators, railroad maintanence equipment, barges, tugs, etc, etc, etc.). All of this being said, I know how to power and repower equipment.

My guess is that no one has a kit out there for the exhaust... I will make one up.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

For the 165, plenty of room if I re-design how the front engine mount sits.

I am an engineer by trade, and design custom engine systems for a living, specifically diesel engines (both marine and industrial). Chances are very good that you have seen my designs out there on industrial and marine equipment (wood chippers, rock crushers, rough terrain lifts, water pumps, generators, railroad maintanence equipment, barges, tugs, etc, etc, etc.). All of this being said, I know how to power and repower equipment.

My guess is that no one has a kit out there for the exhaust... I will make one up.

Ahhhhh,... So,.. yer the guy,....

I'm the guy that hasta Fix all that stuff,...

I usually Re-engineer my stuff, so's it can be Repaired easier...

Fer yer downpipe Issue,...
Find 1 from an early model 3.0l....
So long as it'll bolt up to the transom assembly, it oughta top out in the Right place...

Later models are more to the portside...
Ya might get the later model 3.0l riser to mate up to yer manifold, to marry 'em up...

 

[wi4x4man]

Re: Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

Yes Sir, I am that guy!

If it makes you feel better though, when I design stuff I try to make it "service friendly" as I have worked on equipment in my life and have cursed out engineers over and over again for making things so damn hard to work on.

But, I have to say that in this modern age, we are being forced to cram more and more stuff into smaller and smaller engine compartments. You take a simple pre-tier Diesel engine, there was nothing to them. Now with IT4 engines, there is about 200 lbs just in wire harnesses alone, pipes going all over the place, and oh yeah, the OEM will not allow the engine compartment to grow at all. And on top of all this, you need to make things cost effective for assembly (nevermind disassembly or service). There was a project I worked on where the engine had to be moved into the machine through the use of a forklift (amazingly enough, it was a rough terrain fork lift that the engine went into). The skid that the engine was attached to actually had integrated fork pockets and etc. Slide it in, bolt it down, hook up the driveline, fuel, and electrical system, and away you go. Forget about the fact that the only way to work on the engine is if you pull it out of the machine. That part was not up to me though, you would need to talk to the OEM on that one. When I finally saw the end result, I was shocked to say the least. For this very reason, I refuse to tell what brand of equipment that machine is, for I would surely get death threats or my truck egged in the parking lot.

But yes, chances are good that if you worked on a piece of equipment that has a John Deere engine and is not a piece of John Deere equipment, I problably designed the engine system.

 

[wi4x4man]

Re: Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

As for your exhaust pipe solution, I was thinking the same thing you mentioned. However, I was not able to get a drawing of it to verify, and I didn't want to go buy one that I wouldn't use.

I had originally toyed with this quite some time ago, after I first got the boat (boat came without engine). But, I was never sure if it would work.

Do you know of anywhere you can get dimensional drawings from? I had tried to contact Mercury, and they forwarded me to some guy that makes special fancy racing exhaust pipes which I don't give a hoot about.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

Ayuh,... I probably have a few in the garage, but know of nowhere to find an Engineer's drawin' of 'em...
There are a couple different lower bolt patterns, 'n atleast 2 different spots they daylight at the top end...

I'm a seat of the pants re-Engineer myself,...
I hold the pieces together, 'n Look at 'em,...

 

[wi4x4man]

Re: Conversion Kit for 165 to Alpha One

Yeah, might have to do that.

That is what I did when I rebuilt my Tree Farmer Forwarder (aka skidder for all of those who don't know what a forwarder is).

I am going to give this 4.3 one more shot though. I have half of the damn thing torn apart right now. Looking at it with a flashlight, it certainly appears as though something is odd about that valve (from what I can see through the intake hole). The head should be off tomorrow.