1973 Crestliner Crusader

[Jammer67]

My in-laws have given me this boat to tinker with. The boat ran last year until my father inlaw says the motor (302 Ford) had a melt down. He replaced the block with a good used 302 Ford (out of an old truck) but never got the new motor running or all of the parts assembled (exhaust manifold etc)Questions:-I am a mechanic (aircraft and auto) by trade so I should have the tools and mechanical knowledge to do most of the repairs (right?)-Can a 302 ford auto motor be used in a boat?? Maybe a greenhorn question but you never know.-does this boat need a waterpump on the moter? I have seen pictures of inboards with and without water pumpsAny advise would be appreciated.

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Boat Restoration and Building.

[mercruiserzebrowski]

hey great motors unreal performance and quality, yeas u can use a car engine block but switch out the cam for a marine. Marine camshafts are what make up a marine engine from a automotive engine (excluding exhaust manifold etc) but you get the point.. Good luck!!!!

[boatnut74]

to run a car engine in a marine engine you need to change the cam to get a better torque curve and also need to replace the head gaskets and install brass freeze plugs if it is fresh water cooled or they will corrode and cause more problems

[heyyou325]

I have been told, you also need different electronics, alternator, starter, distributor, coil, I'm sure I'm leaving some out. Most could come off the old engine. I just got a Seloc repair manual for my inboard, first I ever owned, so I wanted to learn about it. Always been an outboard man, but the new 4 cycles are too spendy for my blood.