Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

[SgtRollo61]

Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp Mercruiser to make it a 205 hp?? I have a 3.8 185hp with a 4V in my Cheetah.. The Reagle 2150LSC I'm looking to buy has a 190 hp 4.3 with a 2 V.... I'm thinking it's underpowered..(haven't taken it out yet) just seems like more boat than engine.. Does any know if the intake and carb on the 3.8 will work on the 4.3? I would like to have the 4V for planeing off and the smaller front 2 barrels for cruiseing.. Is the extra 15 hp worth the effort??

 

[achris]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp Mercruiser to make it a 205 hp?? I have a 3.8 185hp with a 4V in my Cheetah.. The Reagle 2150LSC I'm looking to buy has a 190 hp 4.3 with a 2 V.... I'm thinking it's underpowered..(haven't taken it out yet) just seems like more boat than engine.. Does any know if the intake and carb on the 3.8 will work on the 4.3? I would like to have the 4V for planeing off and the smaller front 2 barrels for cruiseing.. Is the extra 15 hp worth the effort??

What year is the 4.3? The intake is the same, but only up to 1993 (for the 4.3l), after that, you'll need the newer style intake. The carb may need to be re-calibrated too...

Chris........

 

[SgtRollo61]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

the 3.8 is a 84..... the 4.3 is a 98.. Any thoughts?

 

[SgtRollo61]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

the 3.8 is a 84..... the 4.3 is a 98.. The engines look the same on the outside... How about a carb adapter.. like we used when we were kids.. (remember.. putting a 4V on a 2V intake) Will that even work on a marine engine??

 

[achris]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

the 3.8 is a 84..... the 4.3 is a 98.. The engines look the same on the outside... How about a carb adapter.. like we used when we were kids.. (remember.. putting a 4V on a 2V intake) Will that even work on a marine engine??

Won't fit. The heads and the way the manifold bolts up are very different. It's not where the carb bolts to the manifold, it's where the manifold bolts to the engine. And using a 2bbl to 4bbl adapter is a waste of a perfectly good 4 bbl carb... You just can't get the flow through the small hole....

You would need the correct marine manifold. If you are in salt water don't even think about an aluminum manifold unless you are running a heat exchanger and use anti-freeze.

Agreed

Is it worth it? Only you can answer that I'm afraid. My take on it, don't buy an under powered boat, it just costs too much to change it.

Agree with that too...

Of course you need to take it for a sea trail, you might be surprised at what the 4.3 can do. I'm just saying I'd never recommend buying a boat with the idea of upgrading power until you know a lot more about what it takes and costs.

And again.... But here's the rub... The 2bbl 4.3/190hp is producing more power than the old 4.3 with a 4bbl (180). You (OP) have forgotten that the new 1998 4.3 has vortec heads and roller everything. I have a friend with my old 4.3LX (180Hp/4bbl) in a 23' cabin cruiser. Does 36 knots WOT, and he's over the moon with the available power... As Bubba suggests, take it for a spin... then make the decision.

Chris.......

 

[SgtRollo61]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

Thanks guys!That makes me feel alot better. I didn't know about the vortex heads.. I'm old school when it comes to engines, (more cid. More is better) Thanks again!

 

[tahoejag]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

Thanks guys!That makes me feel alot better. I didn't know about the vortex heads.. I'm old school when it comes to engines, (more cid. More is better) Thanks again!

I totally agree....THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTION FOR CID....PERIOD!

 

[jkust]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

So that Regal is 3200lbs dry plus fuel all your gear and batteries plus a full crew you will be pushing the limits. My 18 footer is right at 3000lbs dry plus 33 gallons, batteries, and a full load I get 46 gps and it does it all with relative ease (51.2mph with just two passengers and low gas). The problem comes when I put an extra two adults onboard (youve already got the equivalent to one adult with the higher dry weight). A lower pitched prop would help but I don't believe a measly 15 extra hp would do much at all for me. My experiene with that engine on my boat that should have had the 270hp option is over time you will want for more power. The Vortec 4.3 has a suprising amount of torque for the small hp number but compare that to even the 5.0 and you will see and feel the relatively anemic 5.0 by v8 standards has a much flatter curve while the 4.3 peaks to get to the 260tq (of course we rarely speak of torque in the marine world). This is my longwinded explanation of that boat is underpowered and needs at least a 5.0 carb. That 4.3 is used in boats that weigh up to 1000lbs less and to me has no business on your subject boat. In addition there are threads on here showing folks making the switch with unimpressive results for the $.

 

[achris]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

So that Regal is 3200lbs dry plus fuel all your gear and batteries plus a full crew you will be pushing the limits. My 18 footer is right at 3000lbs dry plus 33 gallons, batteries, and a full load I get 46 gps and it does it all with relative ease (51.2mph with just two passengers and low gas). The problem comes when I put an extra two adults onboard (youve already got the equivalent to one adult with the higher dry weight). A lower pitched prop would help but I don't believe a measly 15 extra hp would do much at all for me. My experiene with that engine on my boat that should have had the 270hp option is over time you will want for more power. The Vortec 4.3 has a suprising amount of torque for the small hp number but compare that to even the 5.0 and you will see and feel the relatively anemic 5.0 by v8 standards has a much flatter curve while the 4.3 peaks to get to the 260tq (of course we rarely speak of torque in the marine world). This is my longwinded explanation of that boat is underpowered and needs at least a 5.0 carb. That 4.3 is used in boats that weigh up to 1000lbs less and to me has no business on your subject boat. In addition there are threads on here showing folks making the switch with unimpressive results for the $.

With all due respect, I must completely disagree. My boat currently has a 4.3MPI, after having had a 4.3LX (4bbl) for 12 years. The boat is definitely not underpowered with either engine. It has great acceleration, good top speed and very good fuel economy (with both engines). As I said before, the old engine is in a friend's 23 footer (and not a light boat either) and outperforms the original 5.0l engine.

OK, specs on the boats. My 20' is heavy for it's size and a very deep Vee 3,300lbs, plus 2 batteries, 40 gallons of fuel and I carry a lot of gear (including 250 metres anchor rope, 5 metres of short link SS chain), dive gear (including 8 tanks when we head out for an overnight trip) and a fridge.

John's boat (the 23') is about 400 lbs heavier than mine.

Take the boat for a test run and decide. If it's not over-propped I think you'll be impressed.

Chris.....

 

[SgtRollo61]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

People I'm getting it from have a SS prop on it, don't know the pitch...It has what Reagle calls a FastTrack hull.. from what I have seen on the internet...( you know they can't put anything on the internet that aint true) LOL The boat should do somewhere in the low 40s at WOT... Come next Monday I'm going to find out for myself..We are taking it out on the Ohio river for a test drive..Reagle made from what I've seen, a lot of power options for this boat, Standard power being the 190hp 4.3. I really want this for cruiseing and exploring the river. The Cheetah I have is plenty if I want to go fast, My main concern is it will take forever to get on plane with the 4.3, how ever I would love the fuel saving if I don't have to run it to death just to stay on plane..Anyone ever have one of these Reagles with that Fasttrack hull?

 

[achris]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

When you go for the test run, check to see what revs it makes at full throttle. (It should be making 4400-4800, and you should be on the higher end of that.) My engine would run to 5100 if I let it, but I prefer it like that as it's so much more 'driveable'. Gets on the plane very easy, and stays there without any trouble, all the way down to about 11 knots. If the revs aren't high enough at full throttle (prop too big) then it will be a dog, difficult to plane ect... It's all about the prop....

Chris......

 

[achris]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

.....Anyone ever have one of these Reagles with that Fasttrack hull?

Just had a look at the Regal website to learn about this FastTrac... RUN AWAY!!!! This is just a re-hash of the 70's fad of 'stepped' hulls. It doesn't work... Stepped hulls were all the rage in the 70s, for about 2 years, until people realised they cause more problems than they solve. Putting that much air under the hull will cause massive ventilation in turns, just for starters. Looking at the video I noticed that when the boat was in a turn, the drive was trimmed full DOWN, and the transom angle looked more than normal, I suspect to increase the DOWN trim range. And I bet I know why....

Take the boat for a test ride, but pay close attention to the engine installation and the transom angle.. Check that the installation height is right for a starter. (Cav plate on the drive MUST NOT be lower than the bottom of the hull....) Check that the engine is fairly close to level on the inside and not pointing at the sky)

Chris.......

 

[SgtRollo61]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

Thanks for the heads up!.. I just checked my other boats and the plate is even with the bottom of the hull.. Will take a close look at this next Monday! :faint2:

 

[jkust]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

With all due respect, I must completely disagree. My boat currently has a 4.3MPI, after having had a 4.3LX (4bbl) for 12 years. The boat is definitely not underpowered with either engine. It has great acceleration, good top speed and very good fuel economy (with both engines). As I said before, the old engine is in a friend's 23 footer (and not a light boat either) and outperforms the original 5.0l engine.

OK, specs on the boats. My 20' is heavy for it's size and a very deep Vee 3,300lbs, plus 2 batteries, 40 gallons of fuel and I carry a lot of gear (including 250 metres anchor rope, 5 metres of short link SS chain), dive gear (including 8 tanks when we head out for an overnight trip) and a fridge.

John's boat (the 23') is about 400 lbs heavier than mine.

Take the boat for a test run and decide. If it's not over-propped I think you'll be impressed.

Chris.....

Well I don't disagree with you because the MPI 4.3 is superior to the carbed 4.3 in almost every way. A normal weighted bowrider of the same size but is say 800lbs less walks right past me. There are a hundred of them on the lake at any given moment. Jumping in my same boat but the one with the 270hp option quickly changes my mind on how I thought my boat was adequatley powered. You don't know what you don't know until I experienced it.

 

[glastronomic]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

A Lake boat is a different "Beast" to an Indian Ocean recreational fishing boat that deals with windchop plus 2-3mtr swell, there are very few times you can do 40knts never mind 50knts.
A cruise speed of 20-25knts is ideal and due to the distances to travel fuel economy and weight of donk is a big factor
Hence a 4.MPI in a 21 ft cabin cruiser/pocket game fishing boat is our choice over here in the wild west

 

[SgtRollo61]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

Thanks for the input guys! Come Monday I'll let ya know how it does.. If it don't jump out of the water how I like.. I have 3 different props to try on it!!.. The reason for this topic was because I was afraid it would take forever to plane out with a 2V on it.. My other V6 has a 4V and it jumps out of the water and its only a 3.8 V6 however.. it is also a smaller boat (17.6 Cheetah) I'm not looking for speed, just comfortable cruising

 

[SgtRollo61]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

Hey Guys!! Just an update!! We took the Regal out and I have to say..... I was very impressed! :flame: The boat jumped out of the water!! Got ot up to 43mph not even at full throttle! Plenty of steam left!! the 190LX is a very impressive little V6.. Looks like I was worrying about nothing!! Thanks for everyones input!!

 

[achris]

Re: Any one ever put a 4V on a 190 hp

Thanks for the update... Enjoy your new purchase...

Chris....