I hope someone here can help me out. The dipstick tube blew out of the block driving down the road causing quite a mess. Its a 350 and when I tried putting a new tube in, I found that the tube was too big and wouldnt fit?! I didnt build this car and was told it has a marine block. I got to looking around and behind the starter is a Mercury Marine tag (serial#6196067)riveted to the block. I dont know jack about boats, so do marine blocks have a different sized dipstick, and if so, where can I get one? Can anyone here fill me in on the pros and cons of marine vs. regular blocks. The guy said he used a marine block because it can take higher rpms for longer periods of time and seems to know his stuff, but ive never heard of someone using a marine small block in a car. Thanks
marine block question
Buckwilde
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I hope someone here can help me out. The dipstick tube blew out of the block driving down the road causing quite a mess. Its a 350 and when I tried putting a new tube in, I found that the tube was too big and wouldnt fit?! I didnt build this car and was told it has a marine block. I got to looking around and behind the starter is a Mercury Marine tag (serial#6196067)riveted to the block. I dont know jack about boats, so do marine blocks have a different sized dipstick, and if so, where can I get one? Can anyone here fill me in on the pros and cons of marine vs. regular blocks. The guy said he used a marine block because it can take higher rpms for longer periods of time and seems to know his stuff, but ive never heard of someone using a marine small block in a car. Thanks
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If it is a Mercury Marine engine than you can order your parts at any Boat shop that deals with Mercruy Marine engines..There built a little stronger than a stock auto engine, plus a slight bit of power from a cam change. Parts are expensive.
Buck,
The marine blocks are not any different than the car and truck blocks. The automotive dipstick should work fine unless there is another problem. Is this a drivers side or passenger side dipstick ? The tube should be a pretty tight fit ... thats what keeps it in place.
The marine blocks are not any different than the car and truck blocks. The automotive dipstick should work fine unless there is another problem. Is this a drivers side or passenger side dipstick ? The tube should be a pretty tight fit ... thats what keeps it in place.
The dipstick is on the passenger side and it looks just like any other 350 block, but the hole is WAY too small. I found out the reason the old one blew out was because it was a ford dipstick (smaller)and they had to cut that down the middle and crimp it together to make it fit. I know its supposed to be a tight fit, but a regular dipstick tube wont even try to go in.
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2,045 Posts
we sell OEM's the same blocks that we use but with different cast numbers (most of the time). we sometimes sell them as a "raw" casting so there may be some slight variations in the machining process. OEM's then do a "marinization" (sp) on these blocks.
look for the "broken" tube (sounds plausible really). if the tube is not broken off inside the block, you will need to contact a boat dealer.
many people want to put a car motor in a boat, but i would rather put a boat motor in a car.... car engines are not meant to be used in full throttle applications all day long, yet boat motors do just that every day...... better bottom end also.
look for the "broken" tube (sounds plausible really). if the tube is not broken off inside the block, you will need to contact a boat dealer.
many people want to put a car motor in a boat, but i would rather put a boat motor in a car.... car engines are not meant to be used in full throttle applications all day long, yet boat motors do just that every day...... better bottom end also.
checking for part of the broken tube in there was the first thing I did. Thanks for all the help though. I didnt know it was a marine block untill I had the problem with the dipstick. Thats when I was told it had a marine block. To tell ya the truth, I thought the guy was trying to feed me a line of BS until I found the tag on the block. Other than the dipstick hole, it looks exactly like any other SB I have worked on.
Buck,
The newer blocks with the passenger side dipstick use a smaller diameter tube. I checked three of each type block today at the shop and they are all the same. Newer block = smaller tube. You need to find a dipstick tube from a 1979 and newer vehicle.
The newer blocks with the passenger side dipstick use a smaller diameter tube. I checked three of each type block today at the shop and they are all the same. Newer block = smaller tube. You need to find a dipstick tube from a 1979 and newer vehicle.
Some marine blocks are four bolt mains. Gear to gear on the timing no chain. Rotation can be different if it was a twin screw boat port side. Carb is sealed different, starter, alternator are spark suppressed. Lots of little things make them unique.
You may just have a marine block without anything else.
You may just have a marine block without anything else.
G
Guest
·Direct drive marine engines are old school. The reverse rotation engine, a giant pain in the ass, was phased out many moons ago when it was discovered you could do the same function, counter rotate the prop, with a trans.
Sport boats use out drives and both motors rotate the same direction.
The Mrercruiser marine engine a a GM truck motor with brass freeze plugs. The starter is sealed with white silly putty, the fuel pump has a fitting drilled into the top of the pump and piped back to the flame arrestor. If the pump pukes the diaphragm it will pump raw gas into the top and make the dog run bad, no fuel in the bildge.
Power sterring pump is stock GM unit, the ignition is a black box deal by Mercury.
The 454/365 is a square port head, might be 4 bolt. The 454/330 is a mini oval 2 bolt.
The 454/420 is sqare port, 4 bolt, better exhaust.
The combos are many. There is a tall deck 575 motor, 543 inches, crane solid lifter cam. This may be the dumbest combo ever, try adjusting the valves or twin rats in a sport boat when you can't get your hand between the two motors.
Sport boats use out drives and both motors rotate the same direction.
The Mrercruiser marine engine a a GM truck motor with brass freeze plugs. The starter is sealed with white silly putty, the fuel pump has a fitting drilled into the top of the pump and piped back to the flame arrestor. If the pump pukes the diaphragm it will pump raw gas into the top and make the dog run bad, no fuel in the bildge.
Power sterring pump is stock GM unit, the ignition is a black box deal by Mercury.
The 454/365 is a square port head, might be 4 bolt. The 454/330 is a mini oval 2 bolt.
The 454/420 is sqare port, 4 bolt, better exhaust.
The combos are many. There is a tall deck 575 motor, 543 inches, crane solid lifter cam. This may be the dumbest combo ever, try adjusting the valves or twin rats in a sport boat when you can't get your hand between the two motors.
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