Difference between v8 and i6 prealpha bellhousings

[thestigmach1]

I'm in the process of doing an engine swap from a 160hp i6 to a 400 sbc v8. Yes i know thats not a marine engine, yes i know i have to use marine parts, and ues i know they overheat issues but ive already taken care of all that. I have to be different and use a 400. I had to use the i6 flywheel in order to get the bell housing to go on, it's smaller than the flywheel on the v8. I later realized that the engine I'm using is externally balanced. Of course that means that I either have to get that flywheel balanced for the engine or use the original 168 tooth flywheel. Would a bellhousing from a v8 motor have a larger opening without the little bolt tabs, I guess that's what they are, so I can fit the original flywheel in it and avoid the whole balancing issue.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... The In-line motors of that vintage moved the motor an inch closer to the drive than the V-motor flywheel covers,....

I can't give ya a part number, but Yes, there are V-motor flywheel covers that'll do what yer tryin' to do,.....
Ya just gotta make sure the rear motor mount spacin' is Right,....
The MC-1s are much wider than the Alpha 1, 'n later,....

I'm doin' the same, but with an Alpha 1,....
I have the 400, 'n it runs good, so it's goin' in,....

 

[thestigmach1]

I ran into the problem with the engine being pushed back further when I tried to put a 1.5 v9 outdrive on to handle the power. I was just going to change the spline shaft between the 1.62 and 1.5 to fix the issue but if I have to go with a different bell housing then I won't have to. I guess I'll have to put more holes in for the motor mounts to move them. Will filling the holes with silicone be sufficient protection from water damage to the wood below?