Oil change...................MILK! 350 mercruiser

[Rkf63k10]

Well, thanks for taking us on that 6 week journey to nowhereville!

No problem!

 

[Rkf63k10]

Well I pretty bummed about the whole thing, but what can you do. Hell I bought the boat thinking that it was in good shape. The guy I bought it from had it up and running. I looked all over it as best I could and didn't really see anything wrong with it motor wise that is. Yes the hull could use some work, but I was expecting that. I still love it though! It's just a cool, old school boat!
I'm just impatient and want it running now, but I'm having a lack of funds right now just like a lot of people right now. I'm really thinking of going the Ls route if it cost about the same as going to another short block. We'll just have to see!

 

[Rkf63k10]

There are a few companies that make manifolds now. I can't think of them off the top of my head but I know cooperider found some that were reasonably priced. Around $700-800 a set. I went carb on my LS swap because it was cheaper and simpler. But people have done EFI. If I ever boost my motor, it'll probably get Holley EFI. But the carb ignition I used was from Daytona Sensors, it's called LS Smart Spark. It's so simple it's ridiculous. You hook up power and ground to it, then plug in each bank of coil packs, a cam sensor and a crank sensor. That's it. It's a million times more user friendly than the MSD ignition and it was cheaper. Yes a Merc bell housing bolts right to the LS motor. There is one bolt (upper right) that doesn't go. But the other 5 line right up. And your coupler will bolt right onto a manual flywheel out of a Camaro/Firebird with the locator pins knocked out. I also got some billet motor mount adapters off Amazon for $30 that will let you use the stock Merc motor mounts. Since you have an Alpha One drive, you won't have the headache I had of trying to mount a sea water pump.

It might cost you a little more overall to swap an LS into the boat, but you will also be a lot of horsepower ahead of a built small block. And you will be building on a better platform if you want to make more power in the future. Heck, mine makes just shy of 600hp and I'm still running a stock casting cylinder head!! I have a feeling if I dyno again after she's broken in, I'll be at that 600 hp mark.

Yeah Corey I saw your build thread! Awesome! I'm like you I want to be different and have a modern motor at the same time. I've got a friend in the automotive business that is pricing me some low milage Ls's now. I wouldn't even mined a 5.3. I can get 400 hp out of one of those with the right cam.

 

[corey331]

Just be careful with your cam selection. For some reason these motors really like to revert water with any cam at all, which will impact your exhaust selection. I had to make mine completely dry it was reverting so bad. If you go EFI, you can get away with a wider lobe separation and still make good power. Honestly, you could find a LQ9, leave it stock, carb it and make 400hp.

 

[Rkf63k10]

Just be careful with your cam selection. For some reason these motors really like to revert water with any cam at all, which will impact your exhaust selection. I had to make mine completely dry it was reverting so bad. If you go EFI, you can get away with a wider lobe separation and still make good power. Honestly, you could find a LQ9, leave it stock, carb it and make 400hp.

Well though I would love to go LS it's just not in the budget. My plan is the fine a block and have it bored to the right size of the pistons in the old block and just transfer everything to the next block. I researched ls stuff and the exhaust manifolds alone are $1000 +. Really don't have the funds right now to do all of that and I don't have much longer here in TX to get it on the lake and I would like to get it out this year!

 

[Rkf63k10]

Another option!

I have a 400 small block in storage that I forgot about. It needs to be gone through and rebuilt. I've been doing a lot of research and have read the a 400 is a great engine choice for marine applications. I will have to have steam holes drilled into the new Vortec heads that I have also. I will probably go with a new cam also, comp extreme marine setup. I had a fuel injected 400 in a '63 4x4 chevy truck and it was a torque monster! Lots of thinking to do!

 

[Rkf63k10]

Motor is out!

I went ahead and pulled the motor out this weekend. Looking at the block and well, I'm pretty sure why the previous owner sold it and i got suckered! I should've checked into it a little more before I bought it! The block has been patched on both sides with JB weld or something. He started it up for me before I bought it and all looked good. I even looked at the oil to check it and it looked fine, no cream color, nothing! Again live and learn. But I knew this was going to be a project boat anyway. I just didn't want to shell out for a motor right now and I wanted to enjoy it before I tore into it this winter. Looks like I'm starting early! I'm still thinking Ls, if I can find one cheap enough!

 

[Hack]

Sorry to hear about the block. Previous owners come with different levels of honesty/integrity. If he knowingly sold you a boat with a bad motor, he's on the bottom of the scale. But it is what it is now.

I think the 400 small block would be a good way to go. The LS is a great engine, but you are going to get into a world of MAW's (Might As Wells), if you undertake the swap.

Good luck, post up some pics of the project when you can.

 

[corey331]

The LS is a great engine, but you are going to get into a world of MAW's (Might As Wells), if you undertake the swap.

Ain't that the truth!!!

Might as well, make it a 408...
Might as well get a custom cam....
Might as well go with headers....
Might as well buy $400 valve covers....

Of course, not everyone is like me or has friends like mine that call you slang terms of the female genitalia if you don't do something.

 

[Hack]

Ain't that the truth!!!

Don't want to hijack the OP's thread so here ya go:
http://checkmate-boats.com/forums/showthread.php?p=662094#post662094

 

[Rkf63k10]

MAW's

Well I'm going through the MAW's right now even with a Gen 1 Small block. Might as well go with aluminum exhaust manifolds. Might as well go with roller block so I can use a good roller cam. MAW this, MAW that! I have a new set of vortec heads and edelbrock vortec intake is the reason for me leaning toward just going back to a Gen 1. I'll probably get a new carb since the one I have is a automotive one. Should I go with an electric fuel pump or stick with the mechanical one?

 

[Hack]

I like the mechanicals, but the electrics are nice if you let the boat set for extended periods of time between usage.

 

[Rkf63k10]

Motor is apart

Got the motor torn down this weekend. Big-o crack in cylinder 6 and on each side of the block! Rotating assembly looks good so I'm thinking of finding a donor block and switching all that over with new pistons. Probably a new roller cam, double roller timing set and maybe roller rockers. Summit has a good deal on reman blocks so I could go that route. Don't know. I just keep looking around for the best deal.

 

[corey331]

In my experience you will always find the best deal right after you have already bought something...

 

[Rkf63k10]

OK, so here's what I've decided to do. A Ls swap is just not in the budget so I'm going with a new 350 block from chevy performance. The rotating assembly is in great shape and I will just swap that over to the new block. I have new Vortec cylinder heads and an Edelbrock RPM Vortec intake that will go on also. I'll re-ring, put in new bearings and put it all back together. As for cam, well haven't made up my mind on that. Going roller is going to cost a lot more so I might have to go back to flat tappets. If any of ya'll have any good suggestions on cams let me know!