How yall do'in

[Bonita Dan]

Thanks for the input guys. I've rebuilt the 3.7 twice already and aint gonna do it again. The dang camshaft cost $407 the first time and almost $300 the second round so I'm not looking forward to round 3 since it overheated last month and burned up another lifter. Great motor and cant really complain but the tow boat guys are starting to know me from my boat name and that aint good! Does anyone have any pics of what the new motor mounts look like when installed? I got a buddy down here that will do whats needed for a 12pk. of Natty Lt and cost of material as long as were on the same page as far as install goes. Yall like that Take a Fish Boating thing now dont ya. Yall stay warm up there,it aint much better in Florida right now,45 tonight.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Sounds like you have an early 3.7L without the updates if you have overheating. I know how it is once you've made your mind up, but I don't think you'll be as happy with a 4.3L as you were with your 3.7L. I'm sure you also know that an outdrive swap will be in order as well as new mounts and bellhousing. If your set on swapping, I would find a complete assembly in a junk boat somewhere for a bone boat.

[Bonita Dan]

Its an '85 model 3.7 and the new 4.3 is "supposed" to be direct replacement for it with the alpha drive unit. As far as I've been told,takin that with the ole grain of salt theory,is the only changes would be for the chevrolet style motor mounts and an adapter harness(don't know if thats made)for the 14 pin to 12 pin or vice versa main engine harness. Mainly looking into what has to be done with the motor mounts. Thanks for any input thought,its much appreciated. Oh yea Fermanator,isn't Zephryhills where they make that bottled water?

[THEFERMANATOR]

How does your current 3.7L mount in? Some have a single mount and some have a dual mount. The 4.3L will mount in like a V8 does if you use a new style 4.3L. The older 4.3L's used the same bellhousing and couplers as the V8's whereas I have seen that the newer ones use a bellhousing and adapter that moves the engine forward some. SPARE will be able to confirm all the differences as he is the I/O guy. I just do them as a hobby mostly. Also watch EBAY as new style harnesses can be had fairly cheap from time to time. You can use the early harness on a late engine, there is a pin change in them around 87 or 88 regarding the alarm circuit, but you can get around that. All of the 4.3L's I have seen use either a 1.65 or 1.81, and IIRC the 3.7L uses a 1.81 ratio(some had a 2:1). I see 3.7L's on CRAIGSLIST down here in TAMPA for under $1K about once a week still running.

[Bonita Dan]

Good info sir,thank you. Mine has the single halfmoon mount in front. The new unit uses chevy style mounts on the sides. Have to look at craigslist and see what goin on. Where about are ya down in Tampa? Used to run down that way before the S.O. gave me the boot.

[THEFERMANATOR]

About 25 miles north of TAMPA on 301. Used to be a small town ,but TAMPA has caught up to us here in the city of water.

If you have the single front mount, then you will most likely have to build your stringers up to accept mounts. I don't have any STERNDRIVE mounts laying around, I do have a set of straight inboards left I think. And I may still have an ALPHA bellhousing and coupler out there for a V8. The newer V6's use the coupler with the long stub sticking out, and a matching offset bellhousing. There was a guy selling 4.3L's at 220HP on EBAY for under $4K for brand new ones with warranty. He bought some up for the BRAVO drives and sold the engines.

[spareparts]

if the drive and transom plate are "85, a standard 4.3 alpha type should drop right in. You will need the v6/8 bellhousing on your replacement engine, any of the late style perimeter bolt couplers will work. The one with the extended snout is for the later style Gen 2 drives that has one extra o-ring on the input shaft. You are going to have to install new wood/glass for the motor mounts to sit on. I don't have the installation guide handy for the new motor mount locations. Easyest thing to do is measure from the centerline of the bell housing motor mount holes fwd to the center line of the side mounts. Then transfer this measurement to thye stringers using the transom plate motor mount holes as your reference. If I run accross a complete V6 laying around, I'll take a measurement off of it. BTW, uunless you find a deal on a motor, you are going to have way more in the v6 than you would have in the 3.7. Also, I have worked on those 3.7 for over 20 years, thats the first time I ever heard of a lifter burning out.