4.3 Mercruiser rebuild 2006

[Slyder69]

Hey guys,

have pulled the engine from my 2006 Starcraft Seastar deck boat as it was locked up. In doing so to prep for the rebuild i removed alot of the accessories (power steering, alternator, water pump, thermostat housing etc...). The Engine block with heads, intake and oil pan are at a shop getting checked out for them to rebuild.

I have been shopping for marine gaskets for the exhaust for after block is rebuilt and ready for reassembly. Any band that is better?? Was also wondering about some of the other parts I know i want to replace. Can i get a water pump and thermostat from advance auto for the same year/make of GM block or do I have to go through mercruiser?

I know there will be more parts that will come up on my rebuild (fuel pump, pulleys etc) and wondered if there is a difference in the "Merc" parts vs Gm.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

 

[alldodge]

Yes you can get gaskets from the local auto store except head gasket. Now if your in fresh water then IMO you can also use auto parts gaskets. I would recommend FelPro gasket sets

Differing opinions will be along shortly

 

[Slyder69]

will be brackish/salt water mostly down here in florida. What about parts such as the water pump/thermostat/fuel pump? mercruiser prices seem high but if the product is better then I understand

 

[alldodge]

Brackish/salt you want full marine parts, gaskets and all. Still recommend FelPro but don't skimp on water pump, use marine and "Never" ever use anything but a Marine fuel pump in a boat

You can use non-Merc fuel pump and water pump, but it has to be marine

If you need a mechanical pump look for Airtex, they make the Merc pump

 

[achris]

There are significant differences in some parts between automotive and marine. Water pump and thermostat are a couple of them. A 'car' water pump will last about 6 months, maybe, on a boat engine.

Make sure your re-builder knows it's a marine engine, and that standard head gaskets and core plugs just won't cut it. Core plugs need to be brass or stainless steel, and the head gaskets need to be composite or stainless. And while 'fresh' water isn't salt, it's also not a non-corrosive coolant. Even in fresh water, stay with 'marine' for anything that the lake/sea/river/bath tub water touches.

Is this a carbed engine or MPI?

Chris.......

 

[nola mike]

Brackish/salt you want full marine parts, gaskets and all. Still recommend FelPro but don't skimp on water pump, use marine and "Never" ever use anything but a Marine fuel pump in a boat

You can use non-Merc fuel pump and water pump, but it has to be marine

If you need a mechanical pump look for Airtex, they make the Merc pump

I just got a Carter for mine, cuz I'm cheap (airtex was a lot more and didn't come with as much "stuff")... I'll let you know how it turns out. I'm also brackish and got a marine tstat kit as well. Tough to find a 140' auto stat anyways.
i also got my mahle gasket set in. It is indeed composite and looks high quality. Fel-pro doesn't make a marine gasket set for the vortec

 

[Scott Danforth]

will be brackish/salt water mostly down here in florida. What about parts such as the water pump/thermostat/fuel pump? mercruiser prices seem high but if the product is better then I understand

No.

marine water pumps have a stainless back cover and a brass impeller vs a stamped steel impeller which will rust in about a week in Florida

core plugs need to be brass or stainless as Chris mentioned.

same goes with the T-stat

all fuel and ignition components need to be marine..... or you WILL blow up......that really makes for a bad day boating

Napa carries marine parts if you want to buy local.

 

[Rick Stephens]

I just got a Carter for mine, cuz I'm cheap (airtex was a lot more and didn't come with as much "stuff")... I'll let you know how it turns out. I'm also brackish and got a marine tstat kit as well. Tough to find a 140' auto stat anyways.
i also got my mahle gasket set in. It is indeed composite and looks high quality. Fel-pro doesn't make a marine gasket set for the vortec

I got FelPro Marine Vortec gaskets..... not a full set since I have a pre-balance shaft block, but they certainly make Vortec top end sets. Here's the full set.

Rick

 

[nola mike]

I got FelPro Marine Vortec gaskets..... not a full set since I have a pre-balance shaft block, but they certainly make Vortec top end sets. Here's the full set.

Rick

Nope, just went through this. That set isn't for a vortec. I called fel-pro. And look at the second question from "Joe". That's me!

 

[Slyder69]

Its Carbed, with an electrical fuel pump. My machine shop has a good reputation and they are aware its a marine engine.

 

[NHGuy]

Also, and very importantly. Since the engine locked up there is a real chance that the water bath exhaust rotted through and caused the issue.
14 year old engine used in salt & brackish water, I'd get new exhaust and look into closed cooling. Since your rebuilder will be doing over the block you can add closed cooling now without the worry of getting scale caught in the heat exchanger as some have had happen when doing it with an existing engine that's already had outside water through it.
Sorry about the run on mess of a sentence.