Cracked block - now looking to replace motor

[TurnerBFC]

So I had a forum post here last year about chasing down a milky-oil situation. Ended up replacing head gaskets, magnafluxing, etc and in the end... it wouldn’t hold pressure so I had to assume a crack deep in the valley or cylinder wall.
Anyways, I have a lead on a truck motor. I know the camshafts are different but I plan to put SS head gaskets in it, use the water pump from my 4.3lx and swap the freeze plugs.
My question is this, the boat and motor is a 1992 Searay 200 BR, the truck motor lead is an 05’ GM 4.3. Will this motor work? Or do I need to stay in the same generation as my boat?
Thanks Guys !

 

[Bondo]

So I had a forum post here last year about chasing down a milky-oil situation. Ended up replacing head gaskets, magnafluxing, etc and in the end... it wouldn’t hold pressure so I had to assume a crack deep in the valley or cylinder wall.
Anyways, I have a lead on a truck motor. I know the camshafts are different but I plan to put SS head gaskets in it, use the water pump from my 4.3lx and swap the freeze plugs.
My question is this, the boat and motor is a 1992 Searay 200 BR, the truck motor lead is an 05’ GM 4.3. Will this motor work? Or do I need to stay in the same generation as my boat?
Thanks Guys !

Ayuh,..... 'bout 20 bucks will buy a package of brand new brass core plugs,....
No swappin', they usually get bent up takin' 'em out anyways,....

The truck motor will work just fine for yer conversion, If yer willin' to do a few updates, 'n you'll have a better motor for yer efforts,......
You'll need an electric fuel pump conversion, 'n a different intake manifold, makin' it a great time to slap on a 4bbl. carb, if not already equipped,....

 

[TurnerBFC]

Ayuh,..... 'bout 20 bucks will buy a package of brand new brass core plugs,....
No swappin', they usually get bent up takin' 'em out anyways,....

The truck motor will work just fine for yer conversion, If yer willin' to do a few updates, 'n you'll have a better motor for yer efforts,......
You'll need an electric fuel pump conversion, 'n a different intake manifold, makin' it a great time to slap on a 4bbl. carb, if not already equipped,....

That’s great to hear. Can I take my intake and current 4bbl carb and swap into the 05’ motor?

 

[Bondo]

That’s great to hear. Can I take my intake and current 4bbl carb and swap into the 05’ motor?

As I just said,..... No, ya need one,.... the bolt pattern changed in '96,....

The Quadra jet carb can be used though,....

 

[nola mike]

The core plugs on the new motor are likely already brass. Check before pulling them out. Also, is your old motor v belt or serpentine?

 

[Lou C]

You MIGHT want to swap the head gaskets to a set of Fel Pro marine gaskets, as well if raw water cooled. I don't know if this is 100% necessary in fresh water but in brackish or salt for sure I'd do it.
The '96 and up is the Vortec manifold, no exhaust crossover and 8 bolts to hold down instead of 12 as on the Pre-Vortec.
If you have a '92, you probably have the Weber 4bbl carb which has an electric choke. The only issue with some of these conversion is if you had an older one with a Quadrajet, these used the well type heated choke on top of the exhaust crossover. The Vortec manifold doesn't have that provision, so you'd have to use the Edelbrock or Holley or figure out a way to mount an electric choke on the Q-Jet (there is a way to do this, but finding a bracket to support the linkage is the issue. I might do this with mine if I repower with a Vortec 4.3.

 

[nola mike]

You MIGHT want to swap the head gaskets to a set of Fel Pro marine gaskets, as well if raw water cooled.

Fwiw, the newer motors may have composite head gaskets as well... The '01 that I pulled had composite hg and brass core plugs.

 

[TurnerBFC]

Long story but cracked block on old motor and finally found a new one. He bought it rebuilt with vortec heads as a remanufactured motor from quicksilver in 2011.
here’s my question, my current setup is a 1992 Searay with a 4.3lx (non-vortec) with an Alpha 1 Gen 2 drive. He has the motor in a 1987 Chris Craft with a Gen 1 drive. If I take this motor, will my Outdrive work with it? Or do I have to take something from my old motor to ensure it fits?

 

[nola mike]

Your outdrive will work. Are all the accessories coming with the new motor?

 

[TurnerBFC]

Your outdrive will work. Are all the accessories coming with the new motor?

Great. Yes he’s giving me everything.