[spareparts]

some of the older transom plates had a different spread between the rear motor mounts for the 4/6 and the v8s, you will have to replace the inner plate to accomadate the v6/8( can't remember when they changed it to all the same 1982?). the simplest thing is to go with the same engine(250 L6). Theyare good engines, just getting hard to find, if you want to do something different, a 292 truck motor will slide right in there, its the same dimesions except height, its about 3 " higher, Mercruiser used to offer them with a 4BBl( thats why your intake has a flange for a 4BBl, and an adapter to a 2 BBL), rated at 200 hp, they were marketed for comercial use infront of the TR drive. I've seen several people convert their 250's to 292's( just been a while, its coming back slowly), they make a little more torque and HP. Change out your carb to a Q-Jet, buy a new exhaust bellows to make up the height difference(assuming the engine box will clear) and your on the way, with something completely different