1996 Merc 4.3 and I'm helping friend with no start issue. Anyone see broken starter bolt and broken block tab? Starter look original, I'm thinking going to need to long block?

thanks

if you have the missing ear that broke off,you can weld it back on.

Before you bother with trying to fix the block you need to find out why it did it. On marine engines there is a good chance it is because water got into one of the cylinders and hydrolocked it and then when he tried to start it is locked up and thats why the starter broke. I would pull all of the plugs out and see if there is water in any of the cylinders. That will also give you a better idea as to what you are looking at replacing. Be prepared to need manifolds and risers too.

I see it as an opportunity to upgrade to a V-8!

I will have to check later today to see if it turns over. It's a freshwater boat, but that means little.

UPDATE? turns over OK, removed plugs and no water in/on plugs. So... anything else that would cause this other than starter bolt broke or starter came loose or . Will be checking at boat shop mechanic that I trust to map out plan.

thanks

Is it fuel injected or carburetor ? I know on the fuel injected truck version of that engine a failing crankshaft position sensor will make the timing way too advanced and it will kick back when trying to start and then break the starter. Did it have the brace on the front of the starter to the block ? I suppose anything that would cause the ignition timing to go way advanced would do the same thing. Ask him if it sounded like it was "kicking back" when he tried to start it.

1996, so should me pg (gear reduction) style mini starter, right ? Not older brace type direct drive starters.

I just looked up an AC Delco starter for a 1996 Chevy truck 4.3 and it looks like a traditional starter. Cant say for sure on a marine engine. It says it fits 1990-1996 so maybe they didnt change until 1997 ?

Not really familiar with the 4.3 but did experience starter issues on a mark-IV 454 after mechanical advance springs in the MSD dist broke and advance stuck at full adv. Bent the starter bolts in my case.
Not sure what ign sys the 4.3 uses but if it has mechanical adv, I'd take a look at that.