A Little More Boat Work

[Glastronjohn18]

Got a slow start this morning 'cause I had to clean the snow out of the driveway before going to breakfast.
Mother Nature's April Fools Joke.






After multiple cups of hot coffee I returned to  the Glastron lair to begin today's work. Started by cutting some wood that the hinge for the engine cover attaches to but looks like I may not need it.

Details to follow.

Then on to a temporary install of the engine so I can place the engine mounts and measure/fit the thru hull exhaust. Bolted bell housing to transom plate then set engine in place.





After lowering the engine  I could not get the mounts on the transom plate to line up with the mounts on the flywheel housing. The transom plate mounts were about 10" apart  and the  engine mounts were about 13" apart. After some head scratching and many unkind words I realized I used an extra transom plate I had that came off of a 4 cyl. Switching the 8 cyl plate for the 4 solved the problem.

Speaking of problems, another one crops up. After bolting the engine in place I see that the original engine cover lacks about 1" in height to clear the center risers. This was not a total surprise but up until now I wasn't sure if the cover would fit.

Looks like I'll need a late model cover (mid '80s) as they are taller.

It also looks like I'll need to add about an inch of height to the front motor mounts.

That's as far as I got today. Headed back in the house and the snow is still falling.....sigh.

[Plugcheck]

The center mount risers you have look taller than what my GLM's are.  My engine mounts are very similar in construction to yours, but I added a 3/4 spacer because I didn't want my mounts screwed all the way out.  Really found out later when I went to align the gimbal and coupler.  I'm curious to know if some shorter risers are available for your manifolds.  Otherwise, the GLM I bought were only around $500 for the pair complete.  Looks like progress, hope to see it in August.

[75starflight]

John, is that a 302 ci ford aka 188 Mercruiser?

[CVX Fever]

John, is that a 302 ci ford aka 188 Mercruiser?

Think he is running a 351. Ya, John those manifold risers look really tall compared to what's on my 350 Chevie! Need to look for an older CVX/CVZ 18 parts boat with a stringer drive. It will have the higher profile hood like they used on the mid-eighties CVX18s.

What's wrong, put your sleds away already for the season?

[Glastronjohn18]

The center mount risers you have look taller than what my GLM's are.

The manifolds and risers are from a mid 90's Volvo Penta. Got both manifolds,risers,thermostat housing and hoses for $300 from a boat that had 120hrs on it. The plan is to make a spacer for the mounts after I align the coupler/gimbal bearing which will give a more accurate measurement as you found out.

John, is that a 302 ci ford aka 188 Mercruiser?

Hey Brandon, that's a Ford aka 351 Mercruiser. 

What's wrong, put your sleds away already for the season?

Yeah, put them away. You know... in that big black trailer.   

[Plugcheck]

  My risers are roughly the same height as my air cleaner/spark arrestor.  Sounds like your on the right path, align the drive line, then figure out the height of the hood.  If it turns out your carb is just as high as the manifolds, then it appears your only recourse is a different or modified hood.  At$300 for yours, you could always sell them for that and buy different, but again, not sure if that is your only height issue. 

[Jason]

Hey Brandon, that's a Ford aka 351 Mercruiser.

Better get more specific than that John.... Looks like a 351W Mercruiser!!

[Plugcheck]

I thought all were Windsors, never seen a marine Cleveland.  Just finished a Cleveland stroker last year for a mustang, made 684 HP at 5500 on the dyno. Maybe some modified out there, but the merc 233 is the only one I have personally wrenched on.  Or maybe that was 223?  Nothing wrong with Ford power, just don't see them as often.

[Jason]

I was joking with the Mercruiser 351W. Kind of an inside joke for us Ford guys! I figured Mercruiser never used a 351 Cleveland or Modified. I didn't even know they used the 351 Windsor. Thought it was a John-Cutsom. After researching it I found out they did:

1973-1974 was a 255 (351W)
1975-1977 was a 233 (351W)

I think both were 2V carbs

[V153]

Yup my '77 Formula had the 233/351 Windsor. Been awhile but I think mine was 4 barrel.

[Glastronjohn18]

Better get more specific than that John.... Looks like a 351W Mercruiser!!

Yeah, a 351W, 233Hp Mercruiser with Volvo Penta exhaust and soon to be Volvo Penta 4bbl manifold with Holley carb. Didn't mention that the carb and manifold came in the deal with the exhaust. Oh and finned aluminum  "Powered by Ford" valve covers. 

Doug ,Mike and Jason, the 233's were a 2bbl and the 255's were 4bbl. As a side note the 2bbl on the 233 is a Rochester carb. I swapped the 2 hole Rochester for the 4bbl Holley for the same reason the 351 goes in place of the 305.........................
 That Bow Tie motor doesn't look good in my Blue Oval garage.

If I had my druthers and a pocket full of spare cash I'd drop in this Ford marine engine by Indmar. Same engine found in the SVT Raptor available in 400, 440 and 575 HP. Yep, the Blue Oval again can be found on the water, mostly in wakeboard and watersport type boats.

[CVX Fever]

I was gonna say that a lot of marine inboard engine builders like Indmar used Fords long after MerCruiser had standardized on Chevy. So I would think marine parts for your engine would be easy to get. My dad had a 351W in his '75 Van and it was strong engine.

Wonder if the 351 Ford has a different footprint(height wise) than the 350 Chevie and that's why it won't fit under the low profile CVX18 engine cover.  Or maybe it's jut the risers. Hmmmm.

[Glastronjohn18]

Ford left the marine business in 1996. I think Indmar up to that point was Ford but went to GM till recently.

The height of the 351 seems about the same as the SBC, from the flywheel cover mounts to the top of the valve covers both are about 13 in. and the 351 is about 1in. wider due to the deck height. As for the clearance issue it seems to be in the risers/manifolds. Mike pointed out his risers were about the same height as the top of his carb. My manifold/riser combo is about 1 1/8 in. taller than the SBC unit. Don't have the 4bbl manifold on yet but placing the 4bbl carb on the 2bbl manifold results in the risers being 1 3/4 in. over the carb. 

I think  7 3/4 in. is about as low as I'll get with the risers so I'll have to look elsewhere for clearance.

[Plugcheck]

Pull the risers, put on the 4bbl, since your gonna anyway, and check clearance.  Not certain if you can score a decklid for cheap, maybe your luck is better than mine.  Last one I saw was for $250.00.  I would consider making the modifications to the existing hood, or find new risers.  Maybe graft a cowl induction scoop on?  Seen several that look great.  Having said that, you'll now be able to find a perfect decklid, great finish in your color for $20 at a garage sale. 

[Rosscoe]

John I hope that motor is not hanging solely by your roof trusses! I bet they're reinforced.

[Glastronjohn18]

John I hope that motor is not hanging solely by your roof trusses! I bet they're reinforced.

Yep. I use the trusses. There is an 8 ft 4x4 spanning the trusses but what you don't see are the 2 support posts that I removed for the picture.

  Having said that, you'll now be able to find a perfect decklid, great finish in your color for $20 at a garage sale. 

Mike, I don't normally do garage sales but now that you mention it I'm sure to find that deck lid the next block over. 


Tonight I attempted to align the motor. If you remember, in the previous pictures the motor mounts were about an inch or so higher than the mounting blocks.



Setting the motor just slightly lower than the stock blocks I could get the driveshaft splines almost all the way in the coupler.
Yet the alignment bar would only go in about an inch. Don't know why there is a difference.
At this point the risers just about fit under the stock hood. The front of the hood is about a 1/2 in. higher than normal.






But just look at how low the front of the motor is.





The next step is to compare the transom plate from the 305 with the one from the 351. Right now I'm using the 305 plate because it has power steering and the 351 plate does not. I may have to use the plate from the 351 to solve the alignment issue and fab a bracket for the power steering arm.......... And The Beat Goes On.

[Rosscoe]

What a PITA John. Are you having fun yet? Lol

Looks to me that your motor is leaning forward...low in the front.

Is your snow gone yet?
Not the same angle as your pic.

[Glastronjohn18]

What a PITA John. Are you having fun yet? Lol

Oh yeah! tons of fun.

The front is really low but at least every thing fits under the hood..........well almost.

Snow left today with the 40 degree temps.

[carlsoncvx18]

From what i remember it looks like the front
 of the motor sits low.

[Glastronjohn18]

From what i remember it looks like the front
 of the motor sits low.

It's low now but just hit the throttle and it will level out.