merc v6 to v8 swap

[Bondo]

I wonder if my old accessories bracket will swap over and everything still line up...

Ayuh,..... Probably just fine,..... you'll know soon enough,.....

 

[chartersj]

Noticed last night that the blazer block has brass core plugs in it already. Also is there any way to tell which head gaskets are on it? on the outside edge between the exhaust ports I can rub some of the black coating off to expose the middle layer.

 

[chartersj]

This is the head gasket on the blazer 4.3

 

[chartersj]

here is the core plugs on the blazer motor

 

[chartersj]

little bigger pic of the head gasket material

 

[thumpar]

I don't think those are brass core plugs.

 

[Rick Stephens]

They don't bother with brass core plugs in automotive engines because antifreeze keeps the corrosion down. Freshwater cooled motor will rust out steel plugs in no time.

 

[chartersj]

Yeah for sure I understand that. There is steel plugs that cover the end of the balance shaft and cam shaft above the flywheel on the back of the block. But i still think the plugs on the sides of the block are brass . I even did a magnet test on them and it wasn't attracted to it.

 

[alldodge]

Take a magnet to the plugs

As for the head gasket I can't say

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Any possibility its a crate motor replacement, rather than original,..??

GM has been puttin' brass core plugs in crate motors for years,....

As for the head gaskets, hard to say, but it looks like a composite, not stamped steel,....

I'd run it, if it rusts out, replace 'em then,...

 

[chartersj]

Ayuh,.... Any possibility its a crate motor replacement, rather than original,..??

GM has been puttin' brass core plugs in crate motors for years,....

As for the head gaskets, hard to say, but it looks like a composite, not stamped steel,....

I'd run it, if it rusts out, replace 'em then,...

It is very possible. I am only going by what the junk yard guy told me so hard to say what the real story is on it lol. I think you are right about the head gasket not being stamped steel, the black coating rubs right off and the inner material is flaky and will also rub off as well. I think i will test my luck and run it as is like you say. I finally got my steering un-stuck although it is still quite stiff, the rod at the end of the cable was locked in solid in the ram....The boat was run in salt water and then when it gave him problems he pulled it out and let it sit as it was for 4-5 years so lots of corrosion

 

[chartersj]

Ayuh,.... I think the balancer goes with the rotatin' assembly,....

I'd find the right pulleys, 'n leave the balancers on the motors they came on,....

I have been looking into this and the balancers on a auto vortec are different then a marine one. The bolt holes are recessed in the auto balancer and will not accept a marine pulley. So should i be looking for a harmonic balancer for a marine vortec with the flat front? I did come across one guy that used a 2011 4.3 and he cut the edge off the auto balancer so the pulley will bolt up flat.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Balancers should be right off the GM assembly line for whatever year your motor is. When GM went serpentine so did Merc.