Starting to look for a 4.3L, what do I need?

[Watermann]

Limiting yourself to only vortec head motors is going to create an uphill challenge for you in the low price and usable category... all for 20 more HP. I found my donor with an A1 205 HP LX w/4bbl so finding a 4 bbl motor can be done

You should add the PS pump and cooler to your scavenger hunt list too as well as all pulleys, maybe even the fuel pump as well as hard lines. I hauled my rotten boat home to strip and pick it clean of every last SS nut and bolt along with belly tank.

 

[nola mike]

Yeah, probably should pull the whole bobtail. I REALLY don't have room for a hull, even for a few days. Definitely going vortec, roller rockers, 4 bbl. That's 50 hp. I already have 170, so anything less is a downgrade. I think I'm sold on buying an auto vortec longblock, having the block gone through and freshened if needed. I can get them all day for $500. It's all the other components. Anything about the motor that requires PS? Wasn't planning on adding it.

 

[Watermann]

The PS cooler is where the raw water enters the motor initially from the water pump in the lower and you'd want it for sure, so get all the piping for it to include the ram. .

Yeah I guess putting it that way 170 to 220 is a 50 HP gain but from my perspective at 205 HP non vortec, 15 HP is not worth going to the vortec heads. I would like to have an aluminum performance intake and exhaust, that would drop over 100 lbs off the motor weight making just as much difference as the 15 HP.

 

[nola mike]

So even if I didn't want PS, I need it? No way to plumb without it?

 

[porscheguy]

The 205hp rating on the old 4 barrel 4.3 was an optimistic rating. Especially considering the 2 barrel versions were rated at 165-170.

Ive got an alpha gen1 in 1.65 for sale. I’ll send you a pm.

 

[Watermann]

So even if I didn't want PS, I need it? No way to plumb without it?

If the donor has it why would you not want PS? Besides having powered steering with NO feed back form the drive at all and you can steer with one finger like a car which helps at the dock or loading, it also adds another V belt on the water pump for redundancy if you loose the alt belt.

 

[Watermann]

The 205hp rating on the old 4 barrel 4.3 was an optimistic rating. Especially considering the 2 barrel versions were rated at 165-170.

Ive got an alpha gen1 in 1.65 for sale. I’ll send you a pm.

Yeah sure, I've never heard of HP being raised by adding more fuel by way of CFM to a motor

 

[nola mike]

If the donor has it why would you not want PS? Besides having powered steering with NO feed back form the drive at all and you can steer with one finger like a car which helps at the dock or loading, it also adds another V belt on the water pump for redundancy if you loose the alt belt.

Another failure point, more plumbing, another freeze point, absolutely not needed on my hull. Easier ways to carry a spare belt.

 

[Watermann]

Another failure point, more plumbing, another freeze point, absolutely not needed on my hull. Easier ways to carry a spare belt.

Alright then nothing left for me to say except... I wish you good luck...

 

[nola mike]

Alright then nothing left for me to say except... I wish you good luck...

Wasn't meant to be a snide comment...I just don't see a need for it, and still don't know if it's necessary for engine plumbing purposes or not.