Can i use a chevy 350 car motor to replace my mercruser 260?

[biohazard420]

I have a 1980 21' sea ray with a mercruser 260 i am wondering if it is different from a car motor an if so whats the diff? Can i use a chevy 350 car motor to replace my mercruser 260? thanks in advance ty

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Can i use a chevy 350 car motor to replace my mercruser 260?

Welcome to iboats.. A car motor will work, but there are some things that will need to be changed. Brass core plugs, and a marine cam are two things that will need to be changed. The rest of your stuff, ie. alternator, carb, fuel pump, distributor, will work off your old engine if they are 'marine rated' and should be direct bolt on replacements...JK

 

[mkfs9]

Re: Can i use a chevy 350 car motor to replace my mercruser 260?

Electrical parts like starter motors are screened.this is to reduce the risk of EXPLOSIONS from petrol/gas fumes that can build up in the engine bay.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Can i use a chevy 350 car motor to replace my mercruser 260?

If you use a 350 truck motor the cam would be close enough for marine use. Just swap out all of the Marine stuff to the newer engine. If you boat in fresh water the feeze plugs and headgaskets should be ok. Otherwise you would need to swap those out. <br /><br />I suggest you read THIS.

 

[biohazard420]

Re: Can i use a chevy 350 car motor to replace my mercruser 260?

Thanks everyone I went an got a new chevy 350 truck motor today an i removed the cam an lifters an used the one out of the mercrusier also i removed the heads an tommorow i will put the mercrusire heads on that motor then lake time!!!! yay thanks again

 

[rbezdon]

Re: Can i use a chevy 350 car motor to replace my mercruser 260?

get a marine gasket set, especially the heads. One of the main differences is in the gaskets. I think the only ones 100% mandatory are for the heads though. The oil pan and valve covers are rubber one piece. Fantastic to work with, especially the one piece rubber oil pan but a bit pricey. Also, make sure you bolt on all your old marine fuel and electrical parts. Those are the ones which really relate to safety.

 

[JWboing]

Re: Can i use a chevy 350 car motor to replace my mercruser 260?

I may be in this market as well. So when you say truck engine, just out of any truck like a half ton pick up? And i guess if you have a reverse motor in your boat now, scrap the whole idea of using a truck engine? I hope to take mine to the Gulf someday, so i will have to do some extra thing for the salt water. Thanks

 

[rbezdon]

Re: Can i use a chevy 350 car motor to replace my mercruser 260?

JW, basically you are looking for the type of engine that has the higher temp, higher quality parts in it. I had this type of engine in my G20 ChevyVan. Better rings, valve components, particularly rockers and push rods, better head and gaskets, possibly 4 bolt mains (but not 100% necessary, OMC used 2 bolt engines also). The valve train in particular on car engines is not the best. I put a car engine in a van once (junk yard did not tell me they got the replacement frm a car not a truck) and it lasted 3 months in the summer heat then the puch rods went through the rockers. Don't "cjeap out" on the marine engine thing. You'll find your self doing it over and it costs more to do it twice.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Can i use a chevy 350 car motor to replace my mercruser 260?

JW, <br /><br />Not wanting to flame vatter41, but he is a little off. The cam is the difference in a truck motor and is very close to the cam in a marine motor. The rest of the block is the same. I suggest you read the link I posted. <br /><br />If you need a counter rev engine, you are right about forgetting the truck block. You will have to rebuild yours or re-power with a properly designed engine. Although, in salt water, your money may be better invested in a new block unless your engine is fresh water cooled.<br /><br />I hope Biohazard's project goes OK. I don't think I'd put a used 20+ year old cam and lifters in a new engine block. I would have stuck with the new truck cam.

 

[rbezdon]

Re: Can i use a chevy 350 car motor to replace my mercruser 260?

KG, no flames here but I think if you look into it carefully, you'll find different puch rods and rockers as well as the cam, which I agree with you on by the way. Frankly, though, if I had the engine apart I would consider putting in any number of better cams Comp Cams offers for marine applications. I am sure a 20 year old cam and lifters are not the best choice. I have also been told the wear is such that moving the lifters and cam, particularly if the exact lifter to lobe configuration is changed, they will stop rotating and wear severly. I changed the cam in my SB Chevy 350 and the guys I got the cam from STRONGLY (would not honor waranty) if I didnt replace the lifters at the same time even though the lifters in the engine had only about 30 hours running on them.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Can i use a chevy 350 car motor to replace my mercruser 260?

Cam Specs with Part numbers:<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=012378#000001