I have a 1983 Grady White Seafarer 22" IO. The engine is the old Merc
Cruiser 488. 4 cylinder 188 hp. FWC. This motor is just about done and I am
considering repowering with a Mercruiser 4.3 L V6 carburated 190 hp. Does
anyone have any experience with this job? Any problems or major pit falls I
need to watch out for? Thanks.

Can't blame you for wanting a little extra power, but consider this:

Your boat's retail value may be worth about six grand maybe less.

Your going to need a COMPLETE mercruiser engine (not just the block)
expect to pay about $4000 - $6000 for a Quicksilver remanufactured unit
with the fuel pump wiring, carb, flywheel, starter, bell housing, etc.

Your going to need to regear your outdrive. Plan on another $800 - $3000
on anything from just a gear change to a completely rebuilt unit.

Did we forget installation labor?

So now your in to this boat for well over $5000.00. Try to shave a few
bucks off and get a used, rebuit, reman, engine from a no name company,
and/or have "Willy the beer drinking wrench twirling wonder" next store
install it, and you'll be dreaming of the days with your 'ol 488 in no
time.

I had a buddy who had to get a new engine (his crapped out over countless
hours) so he decided to go from an OMC 4 to a V6. He bought a "rebuilt"
one for about $3000, then had a marina, that I wouldn't trust to fix an
oarlock much less install an engine, for another two grand. Spend about
six grand, but I think he MAY have gone from a standard OMC to an OMC
cobra or some other brand. In less than one season, that engine was
blowing oil. Bad seals. Bad Compression. Spent another $3500 to get
that engine torn out and rebuilt.

So over a two year period ,that boats seen less water than an Ethiopian.
All for $6000 over what the boat was worth! For the money he spent could
have bought a carefully used bigger boat with more power outright!

If this *IS* your perfect boat except for the power issue, than it may be
worth it to you. Otherwise, it is usually cheaper to sell what you have
and spend the money on an already upgraded vessel.

Either way, Good Luck!

Bob Dimond





In article , "Brillo"
wrote:

I have a 1983 Grady White Seafarer 22" IO. The engine is the old Merc
Cruiser 488. 4 cylinder 188 hp. FWC. This motor is just about done and I am
considering repowering with a Mercruiser 4.3 L V6 carburated 190 hp. Does
anyone have any experience with this job? Any problems or major pit falls I
need to watch out for? Thanks.

Bob,

Why will he need to re-gear the outdrive going from 188 to 190 hp? Even if
the difference was a little more drastic, I'd think a prop change would
handle it - no?

-W

"Bob D." wrote in message
news:sailbad_d_sinner-

Your going to need to regear your outdrive. Plan on another $800 - $3000
on anything from just a gear change to a completely rebuilt unit.

Clams,

Check out the hp/torque curves for the two engines. My failing memory seems to
be seeing a lot of revs to make 188 hp with that old engine. I also seem to
remember the older engine hp ratings were flywheel numbers vs todays at the
prop numbers??? Or not!!! Maybe a prop change would handle it.

Even so, the project makes little economic sense unless it's all the budget
will handle or there is a strong emotional attachment to the boat.

Butch

Clams wrote: Why will he need to re-gear the outdrive going from 188 to 190
hp? Even if
the difference was a little more drastic, I'd think a prop change would
handle it - no?

Oh, I wasn't arguing with your assessment that it would be kind of expensive
for an older boat. I was just arguing about re-gearing.

IMHO a prop change would handle it. I know I can go from 80 to 150 HP on a
Merc OB with the same lower unit (2/1) and just prop changes - done it.

-W

"JDavis1277" wrote in message
...
Clams,

Check out the hp/torque curves for the two engines. My failing memory
seems to
be seeing a lot of revs to make 188 hp with that old engine. I also seem
to
remember the older engine hp ratings were flywheel numbers vs todays at
the
prop numbers??? Or not!!! Maybe a prop change would handle it.

Even so, the project makes little economic sense unless it's all the
budget
will handle or there is a strong emotional attachment to the boat.

Butch

Clams wrote: Why will he need to re-gear the outdrive going from 188 to
190
hp? Even if
the difference was a little more drastic, I'd think a prop change would
handle it - no?

If you're willing to spend the money on the engine it shoul dnot be too bad.
If you're doing it yourself you might consider getting a v6 out of a wreck
and converting it for marine use. That would help wiith the costs a little.


"Brillo" wrote in message
...
I have a 1983 Grady White Seafarer 22" IO. The engine is the old Merc
Cruiser 488. 4 cylinder 188 hp. FWC. This motor is just about done and I
am
considering repowering with a Mercruiser 4.3 L V6 carburated 190 hp. Does
anyone have any experience with this job? Any problems or major pit falls
I
need to watch out for? Thanks.

Hi Bill,

If I were you, I would "shotgun" the whole system. New long block and
pull gimbel and drive for a rebuild.

You could likely install a 350 v-8 for less money, but a little more
fitting would be involved.

Question!

What type IO do you have, and will it stand up to a bigger engine?

Capt. Frank

Brillo wrote:

I have a 1983 Grady White Seafarer 22" IO. The engine is the old Merc
Cruiser 488. 4 cylinder 188 hp. FWC. This motor is just about done and I am
considering repowering with a Mercruiser 4.3 L V6 carburated 190 hp. Does
anyone have any experience with this job? Any problems or major pit falls I
need to watch out for? Thanks.

Hi Bill,

If I were you, I would "shotgun" the whole system. New long block and
pull gimbel and drive for a rebuild.

You could likely install a 350 v-8 for less money, but a little more
fitting would be involved.

Question!

What type IO do you have, and will it stand up to a bigger engine?

Capt. Frank

Brillo wrote:

I have a 1983 Grady White Seafarer 22" IO. The engine is the old Merc
Cruiser 488. 4 cylinder 188 hp. FWC. This motor is just about done and I am
considering repowering with a Mercruiser 4.3 L V6 carburated 190 hp. Does
anyone have any experience with this job? Any problems or major pit falls I
need to watch out for? Thanks.










When all you people talk about the high cost of repowering this Grady White and
whether or not it's worth it, you ought to take a look at the price of a new
Grady. If the hulls in good condition, my guess is it will be worth it.

I'd much rather buy a good "old" hull and repower it than pay what the dealer
wants for a new boat these days.

Barry

You can often get a "deal" doing a repower on an older hull. There is
nothing wrong with an older FG hull. Be cautious with your purchase. The
"accessories" things like wires, breakers, deck fittings, pumps,
sanitation and new hydraulic steering can eat you alive.

Enjoy your project,

Capt. Frank

F330 GT wrote:

Hi Bill,

If I were you, I would "shotgun" the whole system. New long block and
pull gimbel and drive for a rebuild.

You could likely install a 350 v-8 for less money, but a little more
fitting would be involved.

Question!

What type IO do you have, and will it stand up to a bigger engine?

Capt. Frank

Brillo wrote:


I have a 1983 Grady White Seafarer 22" IO. The engine is the old Merc
Cruiser 488. 4 cylinder 188 hp. FWC. This motor is just about done and I am
considering repowering with a Mercruiser 4.3 L V6 carburated 190 hp. Does
anyone have any experience with this job? Any problems or major pit falls I
need to watch out for? Thanks.










When all you people talk about the high cost of repowering this Grady White and
whether or not it's worth it, you ought to take a look at the price of a new
Grady. If the hulls in good condition, my guess is it will be worth it.

I'd much rather buy a good "old" hull and repower it than pay what the dealer
wants for a new boat these days.

Barry

There's nothing wrong with an old fg hull. BUT I'd check the floor and
transom pretty closely before starting.

"Capt. Frank Hopkins" wrote in message
nk.net...
You can often get a "deal" doing a repower on an older hull. There is
nothing wrong with an older FG hull. Be cautious with your purchase. The
"accessories" things like wires, breakers, deck fittings, pumps,
sanitation and new hydraulic steering can eat you alive.

Enjoy your project,

Capt. Frank

F330 GT wrote:

Hi Bill,

If I were you, I would "shotgun" the whole system. New long block and
pull gimbel and drive for a rebuild.

You could likely install a 350 v-8 for less money, but a little more
fitting would be involved.

Question!

What type IO do you have, and will it stand up to a bigger engine?

Capt. Frank

Brillo wrote:


I have a 1983 Grady White Seafarer 22" IO. The engine is the old Merc
Cruiser 488. 4 cylinder 188 hp. FWC. This motor is just about done and
I am
considering repowering with a Mercruiser 4.3 L V6 carburated 190 hp.
Does
anyone have any experience with this job? Any problems or major pit
falls I
need to watch out for? Thanks.










When all you people talk about the high cost of repowering this Grady
White and
whether or not it's worth it, you ought to take a look at the price of a
new
Grady. If the hulls in good condition, my guess is it will be worth it.

I'd much rather buy a good "old" hull and repower it than pay what the
dealer
wants for a new boat these days.

Barry