302 for 305 swap

[bcarp13]

I am looking into swapping a complete 302 into my sea ray for the 305 that is seized. However rather than swapping just the engine, i am swapping everything. I am not talking about hooking up the ford engine to the drive unit that is currently in the boat. I can grab a complete system including engine, outdrive, and transom unit from another boat. I would be doing a COMPLETE swap from the engine all the way to the outdrive. Pretty much swapping the hull i guess!

My question is this, is this reasonable because i have heard that the 302 ford system uses a different bolt pattern on the transom and a ford sterndrive unit will not match up to the existing gm one.

Is this true or just a line of bs? Are there any difficulties that i would run into? Remember i will not be using any existing parts, basically taking everything off one boat and putting it into the sea ray.

I appreciate any advice.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 302 for 305 swap

Howdy,


Well you need to reveal a little more info. Are we talking OMC, Mercruiser or Volvo etc......and what year?

 

[Bondo]

Re: 302 for 305 swap

Ayuh,... In the boating world, Ford, like OMC are Dead Horses.... Bad Idea....

 

[JustJason]

Re: 302 for 305 swap

if you need future parts... getting 302 blocks and internals are still no big deal, readily available. But if you need the parts that make a 302 a marine application, those are few and far between, and get more expensive by the month.

Your best bet, dollar for dollar, is to replace your 305 with another, or upgrade it to a 350.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 302 for 305 swap

If you are getting the engine/bell housing and inner transom bracket, everything else will match up. While I do like the Ford platform as much as any other, it may save you a bunch of time to swap in a 350 long block and reuse the old stuff.

 

[bcarp13]

Re: 302 for 305 swap

ok thanks for the info, however i forgot one thing. The current outdrive is garbage too so thats why i was going to replace everything. for the price im getting the whole ford package for it is WAY cheaper than buying an engine and another outdrive.

i appreciate this info by the way.

 

[bcarp13]

Re: 302 for 305 swap

and also it is a mercruiser setup 888 i believe. The existing setup is mercruiser as well, 1979.

 

[bcarp13]

Re: 302 for 305 swap

since you guys are saying get a 350 to replace it with, let me ask you this.

will a 350 bolt up easily as a replacement for a 305, or would there be more work involved? If a 350 will work as a drop in replacement than i would love to go that route.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 302 for 305 swap

Everything should cross over from the 305 to the 350. Same block/bolt patterns. The outdrive isn't that important as long as it's an Alpha I or pre-alpha (898/888/233), they're all the same drive ratio. Again, you could do the 302/888 combo, but it would involve stripping everything off of the transom inside and out. With the 305-350 swap, it's just the engine and outdrive, no messing with the transom plate, gimbal ring, etc.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: 302 for 305 swap

For that vintage, current 305, the 327, 350 and 400 small block chevy all have same block dimensions. Differences in the bore and stroke but looking at the block exactly the same. There were 2 different bolt paterns for the starter straight and offset. Not sure which had what. The 400 has extra steam holes in the heads and are externally balanced all others are internally balanced. All your bolt on accessories will work from one to the other. Easiest swap imho.
Eric