The Mariah Owners Club - Wanted: WANTED ! 4.3 Vortec marine engine

Here's a little extra info on the 4.3 history as borrowed from Crowley Marine's website so that you dont end up with an older one that needed.

Identification Tips for MerCruiser 4.3L Longblocks

1986 - 1992, 14149R5
Non-balance shaft, mechanical fuel pump, roller camshaft, one piece rear seal.
A. Easily identified by metal 10 bolt short front cover similar to 5.7L.
B. Some nQn-balance shaft engines were produced without a manual fuel pump. This engine will fit either application with a fuel pump cover if manual fuel pump is not needed. C. All 12 intake manifold bolts are at 90 degree angle to cylinder head machined surface.

1993-1995 806347R5
Balance shaft, no mechanical fuel pump, roller camshaft one piece rear seal.
A. Easily identified by tall metal 10 bolt front cover different from 5.7L.
B. All 12 intake manifold bolts are at 90 degree angle to cylinder head machined surface.

1996- 1998 807736R5
Balance shaft, no mechanical fuel pump, roller camshaft, one piece rear seal, "Vortech" cylinder heads with rocker ball & stud valve train.
Note:
A. Vortech heads are easily identified by only 2 bolts per corner of intake manifold for a total of 8.
B. The older crankshafts rear flange are 0.123" longer and have a small pilot bushing hole in back.
C. Plastic 6 bolt front cover.

1999- 2002 864256A1
Balance shaft, no mechanical fuel pump, roller camshaft, one piece rear seal, "Vortech" cylinder heads with roller rocker arm valve train.
A. Vortech heads are easily identified by only 2 bolts per corner of intake manifold for a total of 8.
B. The cylinder head actually went to the "roller rocker arm" in 2000. Mercury Remanufacturing has elected to change coverage to coincide with the 1998/1999 crankshaft change as the customer would have to change flywheels to coincide with the crankshaft used. The 1999 customers will actually get a product improvement with the roller rocker arms and will not have to make any changes to their current parts.
C. The crankshaft has a 0.123" shorter rear flange and larger pilot bushing than previous versions.
D. Plastic 6 bolt front cover.