Our Mercruiser 4.3 runs (kind of) after sitting for 18 years? Boat Rescue: Part 3

Racer X Garage Episode 53: This is part 3 of our abandoned 1996 Wellcraft Eclipse 1950s project. After getting the seized Mercruiser 4.3 engine to break free in Part 2, it was not time to get it in shape and see if it will run. This was not an easy task, and we still have some work to do, but see what it all took to be able to get this motor back up and running!
If you have not seen our previous 2 videos on the Boat Rescue, check them out below!
Boat Rescue
Part 1: • NEW Project! Rescuing ...
Part 2: • Freeing a Seized Engin...
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[@dduff4013]

Hey I just got a similar boat with the same engine. It was put away running but is rusted and seized.

[@RacerXGarage]

oh cool! Sorry to hear it is seized, but good luck on getting it running.

[@mariobelanger6054]

Hey guys,great job. Try Seafoam marine. It should unstuck and clean the engin chambres. And on top of that ,better performance. Good luck

[@RacerXGarage]

I didnt know seafoam made a product for marine stuff, good to know. The marvel seemed to do the trick pretty well. Thanks for the tip!

[@kw57rx8dr.9]

Do you have water running on this? If not you're going to burn up your outdrive water pump without it even a short period of time as it's only a rubber impeller.

[@RacerXGarage]

We were more worried about making sure it was worth going any further. Definitely noted for the future though, thanks!

[@kw57rx8dr.9]

@@RacerXGarage I get that but then you make yourself more problems and cost more money going forward just for not hooking up water flow. After that amount of time most definitely need a new pump anyway, but maybe not just now.

[@dieseldime]

You should really be inspecting and or changing that out drive impeller every couple three years anyway, they are trying to make sure the engine is even good, once it's a know good engine they should probably replace the outdrive seals and impeller anyway so if they burn up that little piece of rubber now it's not a huge deal.

[@kw57rx8dr.9]

@@dieseldime It is if it causes more internal damage through more overheating, like warping or cracking a head or ruining a head gasket for example, it takes very little heat to do that and it heats up very quickly.

[@Greg-s2p]

I know this is late. One thing I have noticed here on KZbin all these people who claim to “restore” don’t actually do it correctly. I don’t know if you ended up doing it or not but with that engine being locked up for that long the right thing to would have been to take it apart and rebuild it. Because you don’t know the extent of the rust damage in those cylinders. Rust in oil pan to. I will say the same thing as I tell everyone else. If your going to do something like this especially if your going to sell it then do it right or don’t do it all.

[@RacerXGarage]

You and I definitely come from two different camps. I much prefer the mantra from David Freiburger “Don’t get it right, just get it running”. Sometimes it’s not worth the effort of a full rebuild depending on the project. Sometimes it’s worth trying to get something running before deciding to continue with effort or financially committing to a project. This boat was either going to run or get sent off to the bone yard. It’s not getting sold to someone else. It was a last ditch effort to try to save something from our childhood and to make a family member happy by doing so. This was never a “Restoration” project. This was a, lets see if we can get it running and back on the water one more time kinda of project. There is a lot of context you’re missing here, and I believe a lot of assumption because of it. However, everyone is entitled to belong in the camp of their choosing. I’ll hang out in mine and see several vehicles come back to life, and perhaps you’ll have a several year long minty project or two. Either way, as long as we’re enjoying the hobby does it really matter? Just because it isn’t the way you would do something does not mean its not the “right” thing. There are several paths and options here. You do yours, I’ll do mine, and lets just both enjoy working on these things and keep the hobby alive!

[@Greg-s2p]

@RacerXGarage I think we both misunderstood something here. All i was implying was i have seen to many people do "just enough " then turn around and sell it for 5x more than whats it worth. If your intentions were not to sell it then i agree. Dont spend alot of money on something your not going to sell in the first place.

[@alexanderramosn1428]

Could you show where you put that blue wire to jump the starter?

[@RacerXGarage]

Unfortunately this project is gone so I can't help out with that. Sorry : (

[@djalfred59]

Hello friend, I would like to know if the mercruiser 4.3 engine is the same as the 4.3 vortec from gm?

[@RacerXGarage]

They are evey, very close. But older boat 4.3's are non vortec so you kinda need to do the research on the difference to identify them. One good way is to see is that vortec intake manifold bolts are vertical, while non-vortec are at an angle.

[@jerrycastillo2007]

Just got done swapping a cracked 4.3 block out a project boat I just bought. Was no easy task. Got it timed today. Starts right up and runs great but breaks up when giving it throttle. Great vid!

[@RacerXGarage]

Nice work! Hope you get your break up issue figured out! We hope to get this to the shop soon to pull it out

[@rprokopow]

Jesus yall are flooding the crap out of it. A little splash of gas is enough and when itd start youd flood it some more

[@RacerXGarage]

Well, it worked out. I see it as a lot of that fuel leaves when you first turn the motor waiting for it to convert to vapor

[@jerryrichter4904]

cool video you'll be boatin in no time

[@AboveRioTzZ]

i used a 88 4.3 out of a s10 for my 88 rinker 186 lol works like a charm, i did use the marine cam an vortec heads as well.

[@RacerXGarage]

That was our plan as well, except we needed the Vortec style

[@johndavis4347]

a great job guys looking at exciting same issues. Wondering if I can pull it off. You guy are better then me 👍

[@RacerXGarage]

Its always worth a try! Give it a go!

[@svartcracker8266]

I just got one looks brand new but she's a Lil old, don't remember the year. what are the 4.3s worth??? central florida

[@RacerXGarage]

the market is all over the place on these things. hard to tell

[@kundrew1990]

I find this very addictive. Great vid.

[@RacerXGarage]

It was to us as well, but a total emotional roller-coaster. Thanks for checking out the videos!

[@douglasvannuys]

Hey, I just ran across this series. Are there any videos past Ep #3? Was Enjoying the journey.

[@RacerXGarage]

kzbin.info/aero/PLY7-ehFblH04EO7GnVH72l97UW1e86Sjh This is the whole playlist, I think there are 3 more videos, but sadly, we have given up on this project. More info will be coming in a video next week.

[@helalikarim5682]

any recommendations where to get parts from ? I am in Florida. Need carburetor jet 2 for the 2 engine 470

[@RacerXGarage]

We had luck calling marine centers that have parts houses. Other than that, maybe searching online, I don't remember exactly where my buddy ordered the carb kit from. Sorry I'm not much help

[@owenjackson5380]

When you jumped it with the wire , what 2 things did you connect/touch to make it turn over ?

[@RacerXGarage]

I don't remember off hand, sorry about that.

[@philimac1278]

I learn so much from you guys who post how too's...Tks a Bunch...Great Content...Let us know how you chased your electrical issues...

[@RacerXGarage]

Will do, thanks for checking it out

[@CMC-ei4lu]

Have fun on the lake boys. Great job.

[@henrygallardo17]

Where did you get the tool you set on pully

[@rickyhalcomb1690]

u r 1 cool dude god bless

[@RacerXGarage]

Haha, I think I'm more of a dork, but I appreciate the kind words! Thanks for watching

[@beaver528]

Dodgey brothers!!!

[@RacerXGarage]

Is this a good or bad thing lol?