Bobcat 743 engine swap help

[Longbeards]

I just bought a 743 from a woman who's husband left her. I was told this thing ran 2 months ago. Knowing the 1702 problems starting I worked on it in 20 degrees for 2 hours with no start. I left and she contacted me and said I could take it for $3,200. I did some quick searching for a motor thinking worst case and found a 2203 swap for just over 2k so I bought it. Got it to run with a torpedo heater and torch in the intake. It has a major exhaust coolant problem presumably cracked head. It had lots of water in exhaust. It had some blue smoke out the exhaust even after warming up so I figure I'll tear down or do a swap. So now I read the 2203 is maybe over powered so started looking for a 1902. Can't find one but found a v1903 bg-e brand spanking new for 3k at a boat shop. I have found forums for fitting the v2203 but none for the v1902 and certainly not for the v 1903 bg-e. Anyone know if the v1903 bg-e will fit and with what mods? My local and non local kubota and bobcat dealers have been beyond worthless. I even called the kubota motor people who build engines for all apications and they were willing to tell me nothing. So I bring my question to the place I should have started... thanks for any insights. If I can't find a 1902 I'll just get the 2203 and take it easy but this machine I don't intend to hold on to for long as I really need a bigger machine. Don't want to sell someone a problem.

 

[flyerdan]

Rather than doing a whole engine swap, why not just have the head mangnafluxed and get another head if that one is bad? That seems to be the easiest and cheapest solution, unless there are other issues not disclosed.

 

[Tazza]

Rather than doing a whole engine swap, why not just have the head mangnafluxed and get another head if that one is bad? That seems to be the easiest and cheapest solution, unless there are other issues not disclosed.

I second the cheap fix of a new head if things look good, you can always throw a 2203 in of needed, it's moslty just a bolt back in, they have a higher displacement, but the mounting holes are pretty much the same.
For that price, i think it's a decent deal to take a chance on.

 

[Longbeards]

I second the cheap fix of a new head if things look good, you can always throw a 2203 in of needed, it's moslty just a bolt back in, they have a higher displacement, but the mounting holes are pretty much the same.
For that price, i think it's a decent deal to take a chance on.

Thanks, having lots of problems trying to Reply on this forum. Anyway, I was thinking a swap primarily because the v1702 is notorious for blown head gaskets, cracked heads and very hard starts especially cold. A di might be a nice upgrade. This would be used as much for snow as dirt work. On top of its current problem with water in the engine due to gasket or heaf this machine is burning oil but to be fair it was also way way over full to the point of spilling out the dipstick hole even after draining water off the bottom.

 

[Tazza]

Thanks, having lots of problems trying to Reply on this forum. Anyway, I was thinking a swap primarily because the v1702 is notorious for blown head gaskets, cracked heads and very hard starts especially cold. A di might be a nice upgrade. This would be used as much for snow as dirt work. On top of its current problem with water in the engine due to gasket or heaf this machine is burning oil but to be fair it was also way way over full to the point of spilling out the dipstick hole even after draining water off the bottom.

Sadly, they all crack heads, nature of the beast i'm afraid.
If it's burning oil, it sounds like you have cylinder wear too, how hard is it to start? if still not hard, it may be burning doil due to being over full, the oil doesn't smell like fuel does it?
The DI engines are indeed nice, my S150 is DI, and starts easily, but does have an automatic glow timer for when it's cold outside to make starting really easy. It may indeed help you in cold weather to get it running.

 

[PEVO]

Sadly, they all crack heads, nature of the beast i'm afraid.
If it's burning oil, it sounds like you have cylinder wear too, how hard is it to start? if still not hard, it may be burning doil due to being over full, the oil doesn't smell like fuel does it?
The DI engines are indeed nice, my S150 is DI, and starts easily, but does have an automatic glow timer for when it's cold outside to make starting really easy. It may indeed help you in cold weather to get it running.

I have a 743 i use for piddling around with. Had the typical shot 1702 in it, traded up to a 2203. The place i bought it from scraps out OTR reefers and sold me one for $2k. They even took my 1702, stripped it and refitted the v2203 to mostly slip right into the 743. I had to reroute the intake. My 2203 starts with just a bump of the starter. I seldom push it real hard so overpowering the pump is no issue. Well worth the effort for the swap.