engine swap to chevy or not

[Quadruplecccc]

I need sound advise fast ! I have this 351 windsor that just keeps kicking my ars. 76', 233hp now I've got water in oil. Found a replacement motor that is complete and said to be rebuilt. Price is reasonable but no garantee that it will run any better thn what I have. 2nd option I have is a guy I know has a rebuilt 92' 454 chevy that he may sell me. Will sell me boat motor and trailer at price yet to be worked out. This one has the water cooler inside boat instead of the fresh water circulation that I have now.
QUESTION: Are the transom assemblies universal or must everything be swapped out to newer style? Also what problems would I be likely to encounter if I persue the 454. It's going into a 24' crestliner. Thanks for any help!!!!

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: engine swap to chevy or not

The transom assemblies are not universal; i assume both setups are mercruiser; the old ford powered merc outdrives were a different series than the alpha/bravo that started in the late 80s.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: engine swap to chevy or not

76', 233hp now I've got water in oil. Found a replacement motor that is complete and said to be rebuilt.

Howdy,

VERY hard to say unless you tell us what you have more than "76' 233hp and 351." Windsor is not a Marine manufacturer I think....


Regards,


Rick

 

[Quadruplecccc]

Re: engine swap to chevy or not

Bubba, I'm hearing you. The 454 wold come with all the components from the other boat. This will solve the problem of having to find it all to put on. Everything was working before it was parked. May have to find longer cables as it is coming out of a smaller boat. As far as the wiring , more info needed!

 

[Quadruplecccc]

Re: engine swap to chevy or not

H.T. this is a mercruiser 233hp powered by a ford windsor 351, 76' model yr. has a #1 outdrive. Fixed, replaced or rebuilt just bout everything so far. Though I am not equiped to rebuild this engine, I m looking for options that won't break the bank. With water in the oil , I can only speculate that block is cracked and to have rebuilt is going to be out of my budget this year. The other 233 hp I found is said to be ready to go and spins freely when crank is turned. Good thing about this one is that it matches everything in my boat so all I gotta do is drop it in and go. ( hopefully!)

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: engine swap to chevy or not

Well,

I would want the 454....But summer is here! You need to get that thing running so you can go to the lake!!

A big engine swap is for Winter!


Cheers,


Rick

 

[NoKlu]

Re: engine swap to chevy or not

Could a bad head gasket cause the milky oil condition as well? If you have all ready done lots of work to the set up you have changing right now to a completely new set up,that you don't know the true condition of, could cost you a lot more in the end.

 

[Quadruplecccc]

Re: engine swap to chevy or not

no one seems very concerned about the water that got into the motor. i've had people tell me that ford engines do not handle this at all and will come apart even if you drain oil and fix heads or gaskets or both. now they have me worried to even consider using it without a complete rebuild. what opinions do you all have on this?

 

[WizeOne]

Re: engine swap to chevy or not

..... i've had people tell me that ford engines do not handle this at all and will come apart even if you drain oil and fix heads or gaskets or both. ......

I'd say you should consult someone who knows what they are talking about. That 351w is as good a motor as is built. Pull the heads, have them checked on a flat table, install new gaskets and go.

My question would be why did they blow head gasket(s). It would have had to have been overheated.

 

[danond]

Re: engine swap to chevy or not

I would recommend that you figure out how the water got in the oil.

Have you tested the block for cracks/leaks both in cylinder compression and cooling system pressure tests? Did you not winterize it properly, is this why you're assuming the block is cracked?

The reason I ask is you seem ready to throw the engine out, yet don't seem to have found the problem. That appears backwards. What aren't you telling us?