351w 233

I just bought a 1976 fiber form Fly bridge .Where on the motor would i find numbers etc to verify that it is a 351 mercruiser which is what the previous owner told me.I looked and couldn't find any

Re: 351w 233

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,.... If the distributor is in the front of the motor, it's a Ford....

The 351 intake manifold is Wider than a 302 intake, but I don't know the widths....

'n it's gotta be either a 302, or 351, as those are the only Fords ever used by Merc...

Re: 351w 233

OK thanks.I got it running ,then i changed the rotor.Since then I have no fire ....I want to be sure I put the proper rotor for the motor....(Like a dummy...I went and threw the old rotor out.)I thought maybe there might be marks etc on the motor to tell if it is a 351 or 302..

Re: 351w 233

See if this will help. Click Here

Re: 351w 233

I searched hi and low....no marks or numbers other then a tag near the distributor that says autolite d-441?
Cleaned the points,distributor and tested the coil.I am now getting a faint spark from the plugs...I am getting a nice spark from the coil.
Any ideas or should I put new parts (distibutor,points,condensor etc?

Re: 351w 233

Calais said:

... or should I put new parts (distibutor,points,condensor etc?

Click to expand...

Yep! Not a new distributor, but yes on the points, condenser, cap, plugs, and maybe wires

Re: 351w 233

ok thanks....now like i said,i'm not sure if its a 302 or 351...will points etc make a difference if i buy for a 302 and its really a 351?
I will post pics if that can help figure out what it is....

Re: 351w 233

Ayuh,.... That's a Dangerous lookin' power plant right there,...



Neither the Carb/ fuel set-up, nor the Ignition looks at All Safe....

Looks like Hot Rod parts on a boat motor....

Re: 351w 233

Agreed. Lots of non-marine parts on there, which is a good recipe for creating an explosion from fumes building up in the bilge. If I were you, I would first do a compression check to verify that the engine is worth messing with. Second, I'd just buy a new Edelbrock 1409 carb, Pertronix coil and distributor conversion kit (or full billet distributor). I'd definitely get rid of whatever white switch they have wired in there. I'm not sure about that alternator either. I can't tell what that is mounted to the port-side exhaust manifold, but it could possibly be an electric fuel pump, which would be silly since it's right above the mechanical fuel pump. It looks like a piece of PVC on the trim sender behind the engine, too, so I'm not sure what that is about.

If it's a 351w, here's what it's supposed to look like, aside from this one having center-riser manifolds:

Re: 351w 233

The white switch is just a Chrysler Ballast resistor. They probably ran a new circuit and did that for the points. Not the correct placement for it tho..

As for 302-351W differences, the 351W is 10" across the intake at the front, 302 is 8" across the intake at the front. There is also a cast rib on the block to the right of the distributor on a 351W, not on a 302. Couple other tells, but those should be the easiest. 302 firing order is different than 351W but some aftermarket cams run the 351W firing order so it's not always a good tell.

Verify you have a marine distributor, 302-351W should not make a difference for the points

Re: 351w 233

thanks for all your input....I will dig further, and let you know how it ends up..

thanks again

Re: 351w 233

just want to thank all of you for your input.
I called a fella that knows more about boats then me to have a look at it,and he offered to buy it so I am now looking for another project.