Engine Swap

Eute

Seaman
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
Messages
68
I think i placed this post in the wrong thread earlier, might be why i got no responses lol. Im new to Iboats, joined in Feb got alot of usefull info. i love Iboats,great boaters forum.

I bought my first Winner boat very cheap. I got a basket case 470 with it, the drive is good shape, what other moter will attach to the drive? i believe i can retro fit the motor mounts to stinger if that is the only issue.
i have read that the 4.3 and 3.0 will attach but not confirmed. 3.0 seems to be alot less HP for a 18'+ boat. i might be retarded and not understanding the info i have found. lol
Wife just diagnosed with Cancer so want to enjoy the time i have left with her out on lake,we like the out doors but money is now a issue with the doctor bills. so need a motor cheap.
sorry i just realized this is in wrong forum thread. im new to this not sure if i can move it.
 

cooter2506

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
733
Re: Engine Swap

Sorry to hear about the wife!! You will need more than just an engine you will need to change the drive and transom shield I believe. Also do some stringer work to make the two front motor mounts work. Lots of money there. Others will chime in but that is what I have been reading on here for a while. Welcome to Iboats!!

Sorry forgot about needing to change the y pipe for the exhaust. Just seems like alot of money and time.
 

Eute

Seaman
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
Messages
68
Re: Engine Swap

I thought i read that it was the Alpha I drive that came with the 1978 470, is this drive not compatible with the same 4.3 thats your running? Or is this the part where you have a gen II and mine is the gen I i bet?
I just find it hard to believe in 78 that one drive only fits one type of motor.
where you find in 78 in Autos they made trannys fit multiple size motors I figure the marine industry would have done the same to keep production design cost down.
And thanks for you concern.
 

cooter2506

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
733
Re: Engine Swap

Ratio in drive is wrong. You have a MR drive I believe and the Alpha didnt come out till aound 1983
 

Eute

Seaman
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
Messages
68
Re: Engine Swap

Hmmm... I remember reading about a ratio issue srry i for got about that.
Ok wonder where i can confirm what drive it is cuz i read Alpha somewhere on the net?
 

Eute

Seaman
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
Messages
68
Re: Engine Swap

I found that its a 1.84 Ratio and i believe a I Drive, MC 120-260 not sure which # it is in that 120-260. So with that said what motors can i attach to it?
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,095
Re: Engine Swap

Ayuh,... The 4.3l will work with that ratio,... After you swap ALL the related parts...
Or,
Another 470...
Or,
An I-6, 165hp Chevy...

The 3.0l will be overloaded by the ratio...
 

Eute

Seaman
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
Messages
68
Re: Engine Swap

Hey bond thanks for response. Iv notice that you and Don are quite the boat knowledge experts from other threads.
What do you mean by related parts? I am new to boat repair but I do know my way around a car motor being that i use to race small time circuit.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,095
Re: Engine Swap

Ayuh,... On the Inside of the transom is the transom plate,... It's probably Different...
Also there's the single exhaust downpipe,... You'll need a Y-pipe, that Fits...
I'm Sure they'll be Other parts, but that's what comes to mind...
 

180shabah

Rear Admiral
Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
4,995
Re: Engine Swap

...and you'll most likely have to build the engine bed, swapping from a front mount style to side mounts.
 

Eute

Seaman
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
Messages
68
Re: Engine Swap

Ahhh yeah Y pipe for the dual exhaust.
i believe i can retro fit some sort of mounts as we did that all the time in racing cars.
thanks guys
 

Eute

Seaman
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
Messages
68
Re: Engine Swap

This is true and i would only be losing 5HP with the 165 and more likely a better motor then the 470 from what i hear. Is the 165 good ski motor is what i wonder, for taking kids tubing and such? And is the 165 cheaper cost motor?
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,095
Re: Engine Swap

Ayuh,.. The I6 is old,+ Obsolete..
You'll have to work with 100% used stuff...

The V6 is current production, with most all the Parts available at the corner store...
 

stonyloam

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
5,827
Re: Engine Swap

Sorry to hear the bad news. I think your best option by far is to find a running 470 and drop it in, and enjoy yourself. Doing a motor change would take a large investment of work, money and time, and I know that you want to get on the water as fast as possible. The other question is how much of a "basket case" is your engine? Is it in the boat with the head off, will it turn over? If the cylinders are not all rusted up you might be able to get running. I am not saying this because I am "470 guy", it's just that replacing with a "like" engine is (with a little help) probably a weekend project be it a 470 or 5.7, as opposed to what is likely to be weeks of fooling around adapting a different engine. Good luck.
 

Eute

Seaman
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
Messages
68
Re: Engine Swap

thank you stony.
the 470 is in the back of my truck from when i picked up boat the head was taking off along with oil pan and one rod connector( probly to start replace of rod bearings) the intake and exhaust is laying in the boat seem to be in good shape, what bolts they gave me is in a bucket they handed to me. I took a look at what was in bucket: new push rods and new rod bearings but missing bolts to vavle cover, oil pan, intake and exhaust. i found all head bolts and rocker bolts, they just didnt keep rockers in order to put back in their original location. just seems to be a little moister rust on everything no bigggy, can clean right up. and all the wireing on motor seems to be sniped and the plug connector (female side) on motor is missing.
finding all the right size bolts might be a task in itself at part stores.
 

stonyloam

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
5,827
Re: Engine Swap

That pretty much sucks:(. But the good news is that if you can find a running 470, you can part out the other engine and recover some of your money. Google "craiglook" and do a search for "mercruiser 470" (or 165 [4 not 6], or 3.7 etc.), that searches Craigslist for the entire country, there are a couple complete engines in Texas. Also e-bay, or check at the local marinas. That's about all I can think of for now. Good luck.
 
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