20 Seafari i/o Engine?

[Ryank]

Has anyone ever done or heard of useing a 4.3 v6 as opposed to a 4 cyl in a 20 i/o? I was thinking it might be nice to have 225 horsies vs 140 without too much more weight? The 4.3 seem to be pretty abundant as people swap them out for v8's often and price is pretty good.

[McGillicuddy]

Hey Ryank I think Rhody98 has a 4.3 in his
http://www.classicseacraft.com/forum...rev=#Post60034
As you'll see the shorter/wider block will probably transfer weight to the stern. I think there are a couple of other pics or threads embedded within the post...

[Fr. Frank]

The Seafari was available in '74 & '75 with the OMC 225hp Buick 225ci V6 motor, and the Mercruiser 225 hp GM 305 ci V8, and the Mercruiser 188hp Ford 302ci V8.

In 1977, the Seafari was offered with the 350ci V8 from both OMC and Mercruiser, as well as the Ford 351 and 302 blocks from Mercruiser. I don't know the numbers actually produced.

In late 1983 I sold a used '77 Seafari with an original Mercruiser 260hp sterndrive to a customer who immediately took it across the street to Frank Brown at Brown's Marine, who changed the cam and carb, removed the bow rail, and put below the waterline thru-hull exhaust on it. Frank said the motor was producing about 315 hp when he was done.

And finally, for the record, the very first SeaCraft 19' bowrider I ever saw was in 1983; it was a 1969 and had a rare original Mercruiser 250/250 sterndrive with thru-hull exhaust. That was the Chevy 250ci inline 6 cylinder, with a 4bbl carb, high-lift cam, and producing 250hp. It was VERY fast, and I'm guessing able to hit the mid to upper 50s for speed. Totally different sound, though.

[rhody98]

My 4.3 has 2 carbs and is 190 hp, I believe the 4.3 with multiport injection is 220 hp.

[Ryank]

Thanks for all the input, Time will tell, I did manage to get the 140 running really good. I may sit on it and wait until a different time or use the 140 until she quits.