3.0LX - what is the difference

[zuhl]

I just pulled my 1995 3.0LX from my searay 175 yesterday. I am going to take it apart and send it to a machine shop to be honed or bored and have the head worked on. I need to buy replacement parts for it, but I am running into issues with figuring out exactly what motor I have. What is the difference between the LX and the regular 3.0? Is this the "new style" or "old style" motor that mechanics talk about or is it something else entirely. As best I can tell this 3.0LX was only around for a very short time, but I am assuming the block is the same as one of the other models.

Also, if anyone has a good link where I can buy parts that dont cost and arm and a leg I would appreciate it.

Thanks

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: 3.0LX - what is the difference

the regular 3.0 actually has a 2.5 head and the LX has the 3.0 head according to the mercruiser service manual

so the 3.0LX has a little more HP

I looked fairly extensively for a stronger camshaft (IE racing cam etc) to no avail for the 3.0 ....(I wanted to have a really fast 4 banger) no luck....porting and polishing might have boosted the hp a little...hehehhe

other than that Im about 95% sure they are the same block.....a small 4 cylinder GM

I would say yours is the new style since its a 95...but then again....if its carbureted mebbe its old style! lol

 

[zuhl]

Re: 3.0LX - what is the difference

Interesting that you mention those performance mods. There is a website called rebuilt.com that is selling a rebuilt longblock 3.0 that has a more aggressive cam and matching lifters, rockers, etc installed and ported heads and the whole shebang. They claim to have boosted output to 161 hp over the stock 135. If I end up having issues with my block during rebuild I may just go with them. But hopefully it will be okay. I would like to find out where they are getting that cam though.