Anybody out there ever heard of this engine block Mercury 350? I've got an opportunity to poses this in the near future. I've heard it is rare to come by, but it is suppose to be stronger and handle more stress and heat than the regular chevy 350. I'm looking for more information on this, any would be appreciated, thanks

 

Nothing special about the blocks sold to Mercury Marine.

People make up all sorts of stuff about how good the block (car, engine, part, blah blah blah) they're selling is. This belongs in that category.

Perfectly good 350 block, as-cast, but nothing different in any significant way from any other 350 block.

I'd suggest basing your judgment on its condition, rather than PO BS; how worn are the cyls, are the bolt holes good, was it run in salt water and the water jackets are all rusty or run aground and it's full of sand, etc. etc. etc. And of course it's VERY hard to tell if it has any of the typical QC Problems that 70s blocks especially had, such as The Starter Bolt Hole Problem where the holes are too far from the crank, or The Lifter Bore Problem where they don't point at the cam and the block eats cams no matter what you do, or The Dowel Pin Problem where the bell housing dowel pins aren't centered on the crank which wipes out pump bushings, or The Shifted Sleeve Problem where the center of the cyls isn't pointed at the crank journal, and so on. If it's a 70s block, keep looking, try to find a late 80s or 90s one so you can make it a roller without having to take out a 2nd mortgage.

 

thanks, I'm looking for a block for a future stroker motor for my 84 Z, this information is very helpful thank you Jay