I don't recommend this swap for anybody who plans to keep their boat for a long time. This experiment worked for me, but I cannot guarantee the same success to everyone. That being said, I would probably do it again...
I totally get where you are coming from. I bought a non running dirtbike from a co-worker and had more fun learning how to fix it than I have had riding it. I didn't even fully understand how a carb worked or how it came apart, but the fun is in the tinkering.
I loved the comment about not being able to explain why you do something. It resonates to me when you said its about being able to do it and you shouldn’t. Most of my projects end up happening because of this mentality. I’ve built several odd projects (hydrostatic go kart, homemade reverse trike, twin engine drift trike, Cummins powered Chevy, banshee ATV with a 6.5hp predator, etc.....) Your flavor of humor and the ideas behind your projects are entertaining and deserve more views and subs. Don’t give up and keep making us great videos to enjoy!
A fellow Stranger... I appreciate the kind words. I feel that if I keep doing what I am doing, I will get the subscribers and views that I deserve. If I don't then it wasn't meant to be. But I'll keep doing Strange stuff, and I hope you guys enjoy it. Thanks very much for watching my friend!
Dude. That was most enjoyable! People really have to start understanding not everyone does the things he or she does with utmost care, beneficial results, longevity etc etc - some people just enjoy doing strange things for the joy it brings them... People that do strange things to enjoy themselves are the ones that are winning life, if you'd ask me.
I've gone through five boats in my lifetime. It all started with a junker and selling and buying to a better junker boat. I'm an old phart now so sold my last boat last year. The new 90hp outboard motor was three times the original cost of the boat itself! Having a baby in 1978 didn't stop me from being a gearhead. We fit a baby seat in the backseat of a brand new Firebird!
The best two days of you life. The day you bought your first boat and the day you sold you last boat! And the definition of a boat is “a hole in the water in which one pours lots of money” My first was a 1959 Red Fish. With A 75 horsepower direct drive Mercury. (For reverse you actually turn the distributor 180 out and start the engine backwards)
Cool . I had a stroke about six weeks ago and I've decided to go ahead of what I been dreaming of . Getting a old fishing boat and go from South Wales UK to isles of Scilly . I've done parts of this trip in other boats but not me doing it on my own . Think your channel is an inspiration .Keep it up
I want to let you know that because of your video I swapped out my carb engine in my 1987 Bayliner for a 89 mustang EFI, I had to use the shift start micro switches to tell the ecu that I had shifted from park to drive as it won’t give you full power in park , I also had to move my ignition control module to the exhaust manifold as the distributor was too hot with no air flow. I also machined an adapter for the O2 sensor. Has been a great boat ever since, oh and a in frame fuel pump from 80’s rangers works best for this conversion.
Who is calling this stupid? This is smart, experience doing something, and doing something right. Keep channeling this type of work and you always have work.
I bought an old OMC because it was cheap. I did a bit more research and went for an 88 5.0 with the Chev 305. I can get a kit to swap a Merc on to it but the outdrive was rebuilt last year and the shift cables replaced this past winter. I am hoping to get 5 years or more out of the outdrive and then i'll swap it to a Merc Alpha if it fails. 305's are very easy to convert from a truck engine to a marine and on a 19' Capri I don't think I care if I change the cam or valves from a truck to a marine, it's close enough for such an overpowered boat. Plus a 5.7 will swap in just as easy. It tops out at over 50MPH and does damn near 40 at 3500 RPM. I usually cruise at 3000 RPM or less. Maybe I'll get stupid and start assembling parts to put a 5.3 LS and a merc Bravo 3 on it. If I find a cheap outdrive I might. Probably not, a 5.7 and an Alpha 1 is much cheaper and more than enough power.
I greatly admire innovators; the fact is, most people are too lazy, fearful or unlearned to break new trails. Keep pushing the boundaries of new 'possibles' John 3:16
Subscribed. Got a $600 boat/trailer this past Summer. It will need an engine soon but we have already enjoyed it. It will either get LS swapped or we are getting an offshore boat. I understand Strange Garage.
Literally purchased the last GM long block marine motor available. Cost me 14k for the full replacement. Went into an 04 wakesetter that I load down with 2,000 pounds of ballast and drags with a big wave. Braking it in tomorrow. No Ballast for 10 hours if I want the warranty.
That’s fine as long as you put marinized components on the engine. It’s not a scam, marine starters and alternators are ignition protected and will keep you from blowing yourself up.
Hell no I put a truck engine in my boat seven years ago and I save myself a whole bunch of money and it runs great. I took a boat they had a boat engine in it. They’re only do 26 miles an hour now she does 36 miles an hour in with the event of dry exhaust. You don’t have to worry about your camshaft that’s just something they like to scare you with spark arrestor’s wrap, everything in stainless steel wire mesh screen and you got spark, arrestor‘s, my buddy where did General Motors I can’t say for sure if this is true, but he said a MerCruiser engine would come right down the line with a regular truck engine no different , they spent a lot of money to bullshit the public love you build
@@StrangeGarage hey! every channel I have seen early on like yours has ended up blowing up later so just look at me as good luck 😁😉😉😂😂 in all seriousness at the end of the day you make great content!
Did a Bilgeliner yrs aga, 4.3 alpha 1 , shortblock, used the heads & cam lifters from the cracked block, 500 bucks got me a 40 over block with a warranty, I even used Fel pro head gaskets, aboused that motor 2 summers , no issues
The main thing you need in a marine engine is inconel or stainless exhaust valves if you want to run it wide open all day , cam wouldnt hurt either ... Depending on how big the boat is you may need a v8 with a 4 bolt main ...it should be noted some engines are easier to convert then others...yoh could always run it under 3500 rpm too should be fine
This kind of project such as putting car engine in boats is probably new thing for rich countries, but for poor countries it is something like a very common thing. What I want to say is, yes, it works
I did the same thing using a Nisan RB30 fuel injected straight six on a 470 Mercruiser I found that the fuel injection fuel map is not compatible with boat operation so had to install an aftermarket unit. That was ten years ago and I am still running it
Put a 1972 chevy 350 truck engine in a boat powered by a yamaha outdrive, it was a one off to get the boat going. I did the swap in 2013, still runs today so idk what these "experts" are talking about.
I think that's brilliant I was debating a impala police intercept motor into a house boat set up in just stuck on how to do the out board to replace the cv axel set up unless I use a dual throttled propeller four corner opinions open too
Hi, Taylor! Awesome series of videos. I actually bought a 1989 Bayliner myself and I swapped the engine with a 2.3l EFI as well LOL, I ran across your videos when seeing if someone had done something similar. I wanted to send you some pics and a videos but I can't find a way to communicate with you thru here. At least I can drop you a comment. My channel on this account is music related, I'll be starting another one soon. Hope we can be in touch at some point. Thanks for the cool videos!
Man you deserve more subscribers. I just picked up a 1988 bayliner capri for free! Just had to drive 400 miles to get it lol I am also in my early 20s I am 22
Gears they don't make any more? Do you know This Old Tony on youtube? He LOVES doing stuff that will most likely never be found anywhere else. Besides, you guys will probably really hit it off.
Schweet and you're not dumb, you're smart and I want to be like you when I grow up😂! Roughly how much total $ did you put into just making the engine compatible aside from the $400+?
Yes! You can do that. The marine industry really wants you to believe that there is some sort of magic in a "marine" engine. This is just not so. Aside from a few specific parts most of them are the same basic engines from popular automotive manufacturers. You should really use the marine carb or efi and electronics, and you must use the marine exhaust systems for safety. Otherwise in most cases the matching automobile engine will do fine, and yes this is personal experience talking.
You may be talking from personal experience but it is definitely not personal knowledge! It is absolutely hilarious how the average person with absolutely no automotive or marine training keeps saying how a Marine and automotive engines are the same! Your average car engine spends most of its life between 1500 and 2500 RPMs, Your average marine engine spends most of its life between 3000 and 5000 RPMs! It takes more torque to get a boat moving than it does a car, Do you think maybe that the internal components in a marine engine just might be built for a harder life! You were correct when you said marine engines are not built from magic, But the components were built to withstand a much harder life! I can go on and on pointing out the differences but you already made up your mind despite not having a clue, I guess you just can’t fix stupid!
@@NeverEnoughPyro40 Hummm, I'm not sure how in works where you come from, but here in the real world personal experience is personal knowledge. I've been in the game for over thirty years. You are free to believe whatever you like. But the REALITY is that you can compare part numbers and you will find with rare exceptions they match. You don't have to like it, but reality doesn't care about your feelings. You are correct about one thing though, you can't fix stupid! However sometimes you have a fighting chance with ignorance! Cheers.
@@terrysweitzer6772 Go ahead and take your automotive engine and put it in a boat and then go have the USCG do a courtesy inspection, Let me know how it works out! I’m not saying that some parts are not interchangeable! I’m saying you cannot take a 4.3L out of an S-10 blazer and expect the same performance and lifespan as a Marine built 4.3L! Almost all sterndrive are built using Timken bearings and races, Absolutely you can purchase those at a automotive store! The problem is people do not know when to stop, I have seen automotive fuel pumps, carburetors, alternators, starters, circulating pumps, distributors and thermostats all used for marine application! Anyone of those could end up causing an explosion and even death, Not to mention being fined by the USCG if boarded! If you don’t believe me why don’t you try picking up a USCG regulation booklet pertaining to recreational boating!
@@NeverEnoughPyro40 I'm sorry, I think you're missing the point. First off this is a comment section of RU-vid, not a host site for debate. But allow me to square you away on this. I think I've covered the fact that some marine equipment is mandatory, that said, some people will always do off the wall stuff, I can't control that! I'm talking the basic engine, not fuel pumps, water pumps, muffler bearings, or wobble gears! It's also very interesting that you say you can't take a 4.3l gm engine out of a blazer and put it in a boat!!! Why you ask??? Because I've done exactly that thing in one of my own boats! Yes, cam and all! This engine has been zipping us all over the upper Chesapeake for eight years every weekend from March to November!!! The coast guard knows my boat well because we are giving sea tow a run for their money dragging broken boats home. I've heard many people say how relieved they were to see that little gray boat coming when they were in trouble! That said, yes some equipment is marine specific, MOST base inboard engines are not! That doesn't mean ALL!!! Always work with caution, and your milage may vary. Good day, and God bless!!! The end.
Agree. The basic engine is the same exact thing. The ring gaps and piston clearances are typically different-gaps and clearances are larger. The cam typically has a different grind from a stock truck engine because they operate at higher rpms for longer periods. All of the electrical while they look exactly the same should have a USCG approval for marine use. Circulation water pumps look exactly the same but usually have stainless steel or brass innards. The head gaskets are marine approved as well. Bottom line is the basic block and heads are the exact same with some differences in the clearances.
The Vietnamese had been doing this for years using car or truck engine for their boats , it's a lot more reliable and more efficient than marine engine .
Was there any problem coming out of the hole and was it smooth thought out the hole rpm rang? I have an vip with the 2.3 omc (Ford) engine and everything I find is everything is the same. Cam profile, pistons and rods just intake and exhaust manifolds. So I’m just curious how it ran looks like it did fine. Did you ever have any real weight in the boat say four adults and maybe towing a tube?
I have also heard that people have said marine engines are not the same as car engines, but I who build engines and studied engines at school, can tell them directly that they know nothing about engines and do not know what they are talking about, in other words talking with the lie in there mouth
great video ! i have a vip vision with the exact same set up. trying to figure out the cheapest way to get more power out of the 2.3 liter motor. they are capable of a lot! thanks
I've heard of people getting 200+ horsepower just by changing the head and cam. The engines are designed so well and they can run for a long time! I would probably keep the carb if I were you though, much simpler! Thanks for watching!
I'm curious to know if it will work with a motorcycle engine (Suzuki Katana 650, 73 HP, 42 lb/ft) Off course, for a way smaller boat. Great video. Alex from Montréal
It's obviously possible but you will want a mechanic to ream the valve guides a little over. Seawater keeps engines running colder than radiators but the exhaust valves still heat up and often sieze in the valve guide, ruining the engine. A lot goes into a swap like this but it's 100% possible.
Question, do you think that I could use my own transmission from a car? It's a 1uz with an automatic transmission so it'd be good for the automatic switching. I would have to make my own straight shaft with an independent rudder or a shaft with a universal joint and attach the hydraulic steering rack for an outboard to it. Surface drives are way expensive and so are stern drives. My issue with both systems are that surface drives are very heavy in relation to their input power and stern drives have their own gearing system that drop the output rpm way too low. I'm seeking speed so rpms are what I need to have as frequent contact as possible. Also a 1uz has like near 500hp stock which is like a $50000+ outboard
Hey mate, I have a question. How did you setup the shifter of engine? could you tell me more in details since I'm also planning to remodel the controls of our boat. Oh and I'm from the Philippines and most of the boats here use diesel truck engines or smaller ones, however we just maintain the transmission, thus would require another person to shift speeds and one at the helm.
This boat has gears in the outdrive, controlled by cable. I did not modify this setup. You could run a cable to your helm to accomplish this and it would not be too difficult
@@StrangeGarage Is it possible to make a diesel transmission into a cable shift controlled like those of cars’? Oh not to mention we still have to press the clutch before we can shift.
Your attention is best spent in the heads of the engine. The valve guides and springs are much different and worth careful consideration. If you can save the heads from the cracked engine that would be ideal (assuming they aren't bad).
Bro I live in south Florida and I’ve seen peeps “trying” to fix em up and I’m like dude that shit was on Craig’s free title in hand for a reason lol 😂 do yourself a favor and just dune buggie that thing lol 😝
@@StrangeGarage so I need to know about wiring the new 1979 pinto 3 wire distributor and wiring the stock 3 wire alternator. As in what does what EFI to carburetor
