I know this is a vague question, but is it common to put a marine engine in a car? I know marine engines are made to run at higher rpm's, and have certain gaskets and freeze plugs among a few other things. So would this work?

 

as long as its not reverse rotation it could be made to fit, you'd prob need a new oil pan and def a front drive settup, some kind of headers or manifolds for the exhaust, possibly a new intake, and lots of odds and ends. you'd prob be better off with a car motor.

 

I've got pretty much all i'd need really. Exhaust, intake, carb, all the pulleys, gasket set i'm sure I'd need. Boat was only in freshwater.

 

could work but like stated before check the cooling system. im sure it has had salt water and plenty of it run through there.

 

dude, unless you're the only owner of that motor, you should know it's had to have been in salt water, thats the oldest one in the book for selling a boat, kinda like "no, the T tops don't leakthey all dobut not these"

 

As already mentioned. Make sure it's not reverse rotation. It's common for a marine engine to run clockwise while all automotive engines run counterclockwise.

 

maybe you know,

is the rotation determined in just the cam or are there other differences?

 

Higher sustained RPMs, perhaps, and often at full throttle.

Reverse rotation means different cam, distributor, and water pump. I don't know one way or the other whether the leading edges of the crank counterweights are different.

 

I don't know I'd say that, I run my boats 350 @ about a 3000 rpm cruise

and would it need a different Dizzy in an EFI application, or just a mechanical or vac advance app.

 

But under higher sustained load at that RPM than a passenger car cruising at that RPM.

 

Ok this is some misinformation about marine engines.
1. if it is run in salt water it must be setup with a radiator or the salt will very rapidly erode the water passages and the head gaskets.
2. the fresh water engines will show the rust and scale because its an open system.

 

not misinformation.

it would be equipped with a heat exchanger and not a radiator, must be equipped with a heat exchanger? No, should be? Yes, a cooling system using a heat exchanger is a closed cooling system, open systems can be used in fresh or salt water but should always be flushed when removed from the water regardless of "fresh" or salt water usage, any iron block engine will show some corrosion in the water jackets regardless of marine or automotive.

 

Please note that I use the word radiator for general laymans terms as not all who are reading this are boat savvy.
And for those down in florida who wish to use an open system in salt water go ahead even the manufacturers recomend against this practice as the salt water is very corrosive( might as well cool the motor using sulphuric acid)

 

not trying to pick you're posts apart, but by what you're saying, the 4.3 in my 23' Sabre should have rusted to pieces by now, it hasn't, in fact, it still runs great. the boat saw regular use up until recently, it's really not as big of a deal as you're making it out to be, as long as the motor is throughly flushed after being in the water. outboards are raw water cooled, and they last a pretty good long time as long as they get flushed.

I'm not saying that raw water cooling is better, it's not, but it won't kill an engine unless you don't flush the engine out. I flush mine every time I use my boat fresh or salt water.

 

unless you don't flush the engine out.

Actually I think we're trying to argue the same point at different ends. You obviously take care of your equipment and I commend you for that. I was just tryin to let others know what to watch for with the marine engines as most of the engines I see coming back from the coast are not flushed out. these people bring me a boat that has sat for a couple of months after they have used themand wonder why it wont run.

 

The cam has nothing to do with the counter rotation in a g.m. marine engine. Both standard and counter rotators turn the same way as far as the cam and distributor goes.. The difference is in a gear that is added to the timing chain and gear assembly reverse the rotation of the crankshaft... IF it is an old engine.
Since '78 almost all engines are identical and the transfer to counter is either in the transmission in an inboard or in the outdrive for an inboard/outboard. The differences are in gaskets (s/s for head, intakes and exhaust, risers etc,)
Also there is the possibility of larger water ports as well as anti-corrosion layers bonded to the water ports to help control salt water issues. I am using a 350 in my '80 Camaro right now that I just completely re-built from a boat and then rebuilt for marine use and then changed my mind. I even am using the marine cam because of the low end torque I wanted. The engine is extremely fast off the line and doesn't start to lose the power-band until 5400 r.p.m.
A lot of guys that know little of marine engines are trying to help but do not have the info available for a good answer. I find this to be true on almost every site I have visited on this issue. There are hundreds of them as you know if you have been searching for an answer. Good intentions are not always good answers. I only know this because I was marine mechanic and business owner for 30 years. It is normal for a car guys to not know about boats so please don't misunderstand me. No insults intended.
You do need to make sure that you have no salt residuals or you will have issues with your anti-freeze. There are some new products on the market that will clean every spec of salt regardless of how long it was in salt water. Just take the time to use one of them. Also make sure the ports are not corroded. You would notice it most at the water pump holes and the heads.

 

cam has everything to do with counter rotation, spinning the same cam backwards doesn't make an engine reverse rotation. please don't get on a forum to make one post and then leave, esp when you act like your some kind of expert and you're probably not.

 

The whole point was that the cam spins the same way in either a standard OR A COUNTER rotater. The difference is the crank friend. It has nothing to do with a cam. The gear set between the cam and crank are what turns the crank backwards while the cam and upper roller assy turn identical no matter what the G.M. engine. Mopars are different. Keep in mind I did say G.M. engines.

 

I am only an expert as far as 30 years in the business and several thousand rebuilds can make me. You missed the point. the CAM DOES NOT SPIN BACKWARDS?>

 

And you decided this because you drive your boat?
My business since the 1980's
M&M Outboard sales and service inc., Norfolk Virginia, Billings Montana and Rapid City South Dakota. Sold out in 91 To Black Hills Marine and sport. Specialized in rebuilds of Outboards, I/o's , inboards and sport equip such as Artic Cat, SkiDoo and Scorpion Snow mobiles.
Strictly outboard Sales and Service LLC Smith Lake Alabama, Birmingham Alabama and Titusville Florida. .. Sold two shops and retired closing the Florida shop in 2009 at 48 years old being set for the rest of my life due to my shops success. Now I Teach scripture, build r/c airplanes and am going to travel extensively with my new lovely wife. Just came across this place the other day so only one post was necessary.Started building engines before I was a teen. Total rebuilds somewhere over 5000.Failures less than 1/2 of 1%

Other than that I know nothing.

 

And you decided this because you drive your boat?
My business since the "80's
Service Manager for Bayliner Marine inc. Then:
M&M Outboard sales and service inc., Norfolk Virginia, Billings Montana and Rapid City South Dakota. Sold out in 91 To Black Hills Marine and sport. Specialized in rebuilds of Outboards, I/o's , inboards and sport equip such as Artic Cat, SkiDoo and Scorpion Snow mobiles.
Strictly outboard Sales and Service LLC Cullman Alabama, Birmingham Alabama and Titusville Florida. .. Sold two shops and retired closing the Florida shop in 2009 at 48 years old being set for life due to the success of my shops. Now I teach the Gospel, Build R/c Aircraft, and am planning to do major travel with my new wife and spread the Gospel as we go. Started building engines before I was a teen. Total for rebuilds after 30 years of service... somewhere beyond 5000.

Other than that I know nothing.

 

We can all calm down now.

I think we can all agree that the OP needs to know all of the particulars about the marine engine he's considering using.

 

LOL I agree and that was all I was doing in the first place :-)