is chevy s-10 motor useable for 130 hp merc

[H2Ocean]

hi there i am looking at a boat with a mercruiser 130 hp 4 cyl. I would say the boat is late 80's. I have been an automotive technician for 20+ years and have an 1989 chevy S-10 with an 151 roller rocker cam setup that is a fresh rebuild. Can i use this engine in the boat or should i just go ahead and sell the truck. I would hate to sell it and find out i just sold a new useable motor for 800.00 and need to buy a 1800.00 replacement motor. The engine in the boat im looking at "dosen't run" but is complete with all the alt,pump,manifolds,carb etc. I may be able to fix it easily but am preparing for the worst, Cheaspeake Bay brackish water use.

Since my first reply was no no marine stuff let me restate that the boat has a COMPLETE engine assembly so i guess in a nutshell my question is "is the block assembly of the 2.5 useable as a short block assy for the 130 hp"

 

[Don S]

Re: is chevy s-10 motor useable for 130 hp merc

Nope, won't work. No water cooled marine exhaust manifold setup, no coupler, not sure if it will even adapt to the flywheel cover with the rear motor mounts.
Then there is issues with finding marine fuel system parts, then there is the starter and alternator that have to be marine grade.

 

[Bondo]

Re: is chevy s-10 motor useable for 130 hp merc

Ayuh,...

The 2.5l motors used in Chevy cars,+ trucks is a Totally Different casting,....
Nothing is interchangable between them.....

 

[JustJason]

Re: is chevy s-10 motor useable for 130 hp merc

The 2.5l motors used in Chevy cars,+ trucks is a Totally Different casting,....

I believe the more modern 2.5s are different castings.... but how about the 2.5s from the old chevy II's.... back in the 60's

 

[daydreamer152]

Re: is chevy s-10 motor useable for 130 hp merc

captJason,

My research says you are right. I have found listings up to about 1970 for that motor. I also believe that it was used in some AMC models at about that time. I didn't follow that thread very far as with the "Chevy connection" it wasn't necessary. Often a really good source of the links is on the tag on the cover of a gasket set. The applications are often listed and there are often more and stranger connections than you would believe.

For H2Ocean the basic engine used for marine use started life as a 153 cu in. and later was enlarged to 181 cu in. I believe the engine you are working with was also known as the Iron Duke and was originally a Pontiac design. I have found a surprising number of interchangeable parts but not the important ones for this purpose, as DonS points out.

 

[Bondo]

Re: is chevy s-10 motor useable for 130 hp merc

I believe the engine you are working with was also known as the Iron Duke

Ayuh,...

That depends entirely on Where you're talking about it....
That's Why nicknanes aren't used Here for the different motors,....

In a Hod-Rod forum,+ in a Boat motor forum,... Iron Duke will mean 2 entirely Different motors...

The 2.5l motor used in Automobiles is called the Iron Duke in Automotive forums,...
And,...
Mistakenly, in Boating forums some people will call either the 2.5l or the 3.0l the Iron Duke,....

 

[Don S]

Re: is chevy s-10 motor useable for 130 hp merc

so i guess in a nutshell my question is "is the block assembly of the 2.5 useable as a short block assy for the 130 hp"

No, they are not the same engine.

 

[daydreamer152]

Re: is chevy s-10 motor useable for 130 hp merc

Bondo,

I applolgize for not making myself clear. The Iron Duke was marketed by Pontiac by that name it was even an important enough "feature" to be mentioned by name in their TV commercials. That automotive powerplant (s-10 included) is one I was reffereing to. I have never, until you mentioned it, heard of the
2.5-3.0L marine powerplant or during its use in automobiles (family had a 1962 Chevy II with one in it in 1962) as being reffered to as the iron duke. Point of confusion for some I guess. I will differentiate it in the future. Thanks.