4.3L 190hp on stingray

[stugots]

what can I buy to give this boat more balls? I have been out of boating for many years now and lost touch so sorry for the dumb question?

Also im having a HELL of a time finding ANY parts for this boat can anyone drop me a link?

Thanks

 

[bhammer]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

Ahh, maybe add more men when you go out boating. That should do the trick.

It is a lot easier for us to help if you descibe the problem you have a little more. What does it do now and wht do you want it to do? How is it propped and what are your current RPM and MPH by GPS. How heavy is the boat and what kind of gear do you carry? Has it had a tuneup recently? Are you trimming properly?

Right here at iBoats, you can find just about every part you need and if not, google is your friend.

 

[bhammer]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

oh, and welcome to iBoats.

 

[stugots]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

my speedo does not work and I don't have a GPS as of yet, like I said I JUST got back into boating and to be honest I don't know the answer to ANY of the questions you asked me LOL

 

[Maclin]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

The first thing in any hot-rodding venture is to maximize what you have now, and that means trialing it amd marking down performance measurements (top speed, rpms, time to plane,etc.). That also means learning what all it has, what drive model, what gear ratio, what prop pitch and diameter and blade count, what the true speed at wide open throttle is, what the rpm is at top speed. Also what model number the boat is, and report all that back here so we will know how big or little the boat is and how it seems to measure up now.

If the boat is a 18-19 footer that engine should make it fly. If it is a 22 footer then it may be under-cubed.

 

[bhammer]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

Maclin has it right.... We need that to help you out. You can pick up a cheap GPS like the Garmin eTrex from ebay for under $50. Start collecting the info. If you run into issues, like how do tell whatdrive do I have or gear ratio, just start a new thread and ask away. Lots will help you out.

 

[stugots]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

I do know the size its a 20' (paper work says 20.3 to be exact)

and I just found out they put a "recon'd" propeller on it which does NOT sit too well with me.

 

[JustJason]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

a recon prop can be better than new if done by the right shop.......
all the props you buy are all cast over in china....
a recon prop is hand welded and hand balanced by good ole usa labor!!!
but it all depends on the guy who does it

 

[stugots]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

ohhh ok I got cha.

I hear that makes HUGE diffrence in speed is there any truth to this?

 

[45Auto]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

On a standard Mercruiser outdrive (not talking surface drives or exotic stuff here), assuming it's propped correctly so your WOT RPM is correct, 2 or 3 MPH between props would probably be considered a HUGE difference. You can trade off a little top end and acceleration by changing prop pitches, but there is no secret prop thats going to give you HUGE increases in power.

This Stingray Performance Calculator has been pretty close on everything I've seen. It gives you a choice of 4 or 5 different props and you can see how much difference they make.

http://www.stingrayboats.com/products/calc.php

 

[stugots]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

thats a pretty cool Calculator Thanks.

So I gues my best bet would be to tune it up (since im not sure if they did) with IX plugs and all, and maybe go with a 4 bbl.

 

[Maclin]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

I do not know what IX plugs are, but do not stray too far from stock specs on anything. Marine engines run cooler and richer and under constant load at higher rpm when compared to automotive applications. It is literally like towing a 5,000# trailer uphill both ways.

There is a Marine 4bbl setup for the 4.3 so swapping over to that could be a good thing to try. But you described your engine as 190hp and I thought 190hp versions were already a 4bbl carb, but I am not sure on that.

But the point I was trying to get across before, work with what you have first and learn how to tweak it. Then once you actually add power it will all get used. Take small steps, only change one thing at a time.

Go the full tuneup route first, all electrical items, checking dwell and timing, fuel filters all of that first. Then when you think it is running right do a WOT run and record RPM's and speed to see where you are at. You need a baseline to start from.

 

[45Auto]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

A fresh, complete, competent tune-up is always a good place to start. After that, it's up to you to decide how much you want to spend for a couple of MPH. In the 50-70 MPH range it takes about 10 HP to gain 1 MPH. A 4-barrel manifold (probably $150 or so) and a 4-barrel carb ($300 or so) might gain you 15 - 20 HP if you're lucky. Putting lots of carb on an engine that isn't optimized for it (heads, valves, cam, exhaust, etc) won't do much for it. You might get 250 HP max out of your motor if you bolt on everything you can think of ($2000 or so) which would gain you 5 or 6 MPH.

How fast do you want to spend?

The way the boat market is now, if you want something with "balls" the best thing you could do is sell your boat and buy something with the biggest motor you can find!

 

[stugots]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

IX plugs are iridium plugs.

ok let me ask this what does a good tune of consist of? and where can I get the parts?

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

It would probably help answer some questions if you posted what you are working on, year, model etc. Every 4.3L engine is not the same ya know.
Read this thriead.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=220416

 

[stugots]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

1994 stingray 609

4.3L V6, Alpha one

balanced shaft thunderbolt IV ignition.

 

[JustJason]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

iridium plugs will foul in a boat..... stick with ac delco mr43t's and get in the good habit of changing them every spring

 

[stugots]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

ohh ok.

as far as everything else? what should I change and where do I get it?

Thanks

 

[stugots]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

im not even sure what a boat tune up consists of to be honest.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 4.3L 190hp on stingray

im not even sure what a boat tune up consists of to be honest.

Ayuh,.....

This Thread,+ This Thread,.....
Pretty much cover Any,+ All maintance issues that need to be dealt with, with Boats....