New guy here with a boat/motor swap situation NEED advise/help/info PLEASE THANK YOU

Fishermark

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Joined
Oct 19, 2003
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5,627
A 4.3 is a 4.3 - they are a dime a dozen. You can even get a used one from a van and put the important externals on. BUT - that can get expensive since you don't have anything to start with. So on the engine you might be better off finding a donor boat. Otherwise you could shop for a complete bobtail engine to drop in. (That simply means it has everything you need including manifolds, bellhousing, coupler, etc).
 

Rick Stephens

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Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
6,118
A 4.3 is a 4.3 - they are a dime a dozen. You can even get a used one from a van and put the important externals on. BUT - that can get expensive since you don't have anything to start with. So on the engine you might be better off finding a donor boat. Otherwise you could shop for a complete bobtail engine to drop in. (That simply means it has everything you need including manifolds, bellhousing, coupler, etc).

What he said
 

ribalov

Cadet
Thread starter
Joined
Oct 17, 2015
Messages
11
A 4.3 is a 4.3 - they are a dime a dozen. You can even get a used one from a van and put the important externals on. BUT - that can get expensive since you don't have anything to start with. So on the engine you might be better off finding a donor boat. Otherwise you could shop for a complete bobtail engine to drop in. (That simply means it has everything you need including manifolds, bellhousing, coupler, etc).


I c ? it seems that a complete merc motor out of a boat that "ran great " is anywhere from 2000-5000 ? and an out drive that "worked" is 1500-2500 ?

Yet whole boats that start and run with decent trailers and all (maybe its older and interior is crappy) are anywhere from 1500 to 5000 lol ?

Doesn't make a whole lot of sense ? pulling a motor and outdrive is about 2-3 hrs of work ? I guess ill keep my eyes out for a whole boat that i won't be sad to part out ? hopefully one with a bad interior or a hole in the side lol
 
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