New 4.3L Vortec Marine Base Engine (1997-2015)

New 4.3L Vortec Marine Base Engine (replaces years 1997-2015)

Part number may have a lead time. Please call or message to confirm.

Brand new 4.3L marine base engine for use with Mercruiser, Volvo Penta, Indmar, Marine Power and other industrial applications.  Replaces 4.3L engine used between the years 1997-2015. This unit has an aluminum timing cover and accepts only an 8 bolt intake manifold and only an electric fuel pump.

This engine will replace casting numbers 090, 090M, 234. If you are replacing a 1997-2007 MPI version you will need the timing cover conversion kit (select from drop down on checkout). If you are replacing a 1997-07 carbureted engine, or a 2008- newer carbureted or MPI engine select the appropriate drop down option.

Note: all NEW factory new base engines come with stainless steel freeze plugs. Brass is no longer used on marine/industrial applications. This started in 2015 when there was an issue with brass leaking.

This is a perfect stock replacement for those engines that have suffered from a cracked block due to improper winterization or another type of engine failure.

This "Base Engine" Package includes:

• new engine block, heads and all internal components
• valve covers
• black aluminum timing cover
• oil pan
• harmonic balancer

Specifications:

• 1 Piece Rear Main Seal
• Standard rotation
• Intake Manifold: 8 bolt
• Cylinders: 90 Degree V6 Cylinder
• Composition Ratio: 9.4:1
• Bore: Standard
• Firing Order: 1-6-5-4-3-2
• Oil Pan Capacity: 4.5 quarts
• Oil Type: SAE 15W40 Pennzoil Marine
• Horsepower: 223 hp @ 4800 RPM (4bbl carbureted)
• Torque: 267 lb-ft @ 2800 RPM

About Our Marine Base Engines

New Marine Engines 4 Less Units

Beginning in 2015, GM has begun to discontinue many of their marine engines. This includes the 3.0L and 4.3L in 2015, the 5.0L in 2016, and the 7.4L and 8.2L in 2022. To date (March 2023), GM only produces the Vortec 5.7L marine engine. Because of this, we began producing our own new units in 2021. These new units use DART’s performance engine blocks and are machined, assembled and tested in our facility. They are built to GM factory specifications and there will be no issues to use these units in place of GM MPI or TBI units.

Similarly, in 2023 Mercruiser’s “Quicksilver” branded engines will begin to use new DART blocks as well, as GM has discontinued and stopped providing new engines to Mercruiser.

The benefit of using our in house produced units using DART engine blocks include:

• Priority main oiling system feeds main bearings first. See Figure 1.
• Siamese cylinder bores with extra thick walls resist cracking and improve ring seal for more power (minimum .275” thick with 4.185” bore).
• Open lifter valley improves oil return to pan.
• Blind head bolt holes don’t go through to water jacket.
• Billet steel 4-bolt main bearing caps on all 5 mains.

Figure 1: Priority main oiling primes the main bearings first and then to the lifters and top end instead of top down oil priming in OEM blocks allowing for peak performance at high temperatures.