Cracked block.. Need options

[Dieseldoc09]

New here. I have a mercruiser 165 straight 6 in my 19ft. regal. It got water in the oil the last time I ran it so I drained it and put new oil in it but did not run it. So it started to tear into it hoping it was just a manifold but no such luck. There's a 12 inch crack about 2 inches down from the head deck. So my question is what are my options here. Find a donner engine or maybe just a block? If just a block will a stock GM block work if I could find a vehicle at a salvage yard and what GM engine do I need to look for? Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance for the insight.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Cracked block.. Need options

The 230 and 250 are in the same family,just make sure it has the ear for the front mount. The 292(300) will work but you`ll need wet exaust hose for the riser connection. With the right cam ,you can squeeze 300 hp

 

[Dieseldoc09]

Re: Cracked block.. Need options

Thanks. And all 3 of those can be found in GM vehicles around that time frame?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Cracked block.. Need options

60`s
My 60 Impala convert had the 292, replaced it with a 327/375hp but that`s another story

 

[Dieseldoc09]

Re: Cracked block.. Need options

Thanks for the info. I think I may go the 292 route sounds like more fun.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Cracked block.. Need options

Essentially you are looking for a straight six from a Chevy truck or van from 67-83.
Some passenger cars came with these engines, the engines are old and getting harder to find. I posted a wanted ad on craigslist and te very next day was offered a complete from carb to oil pan decent running 250 engine from a 74 Nova for $100, when I saw that front mount I was sold.

In your shoes I'm buying the first good running front mount equipped engine I see, that MerCruiser spec. front mount ear style block cuts your engine selection by half probably.

Most agree with the truck block you can just utilize the torquey truck cam that is in it, with a car block you should install a marine/truck cam.
I used my MerCruiser cam thankfully the journal were ok despite being lubricated with oil for an unknown amount of time. (I bought cracked block 165 boat)

Good luck.

 

[Dieseldoc09]

Re: Cracked block.. Need options

Ok thanks. I found a complete running engine that came out of a coworkers nova. I need to look a little closer to see if it has the front mounts though. Also we don't know what size it is. Where is there markings to identify it? I found have one number off the right side of the block 3921968 but I'm not sure what it means or if it means anything at all.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Cracked block.. Need options

Thats a GM casting number, [SIZE=+1]3921968[/SIZE] [SIZE=+1]Chevrolet/Olds[/SIZE] [SIZE=+1]64-76[/SIZE] [SIZE=+1]230-250 = 7[/SIZE]
Look at this site the number is listed down the page,
http://home.znet.com/c1937/Cast.htm

From what i found out it was matched to a 3 speed tranny..

 

[Dieseldoc09]

Re: Cracked block.. Need options

Thanks for the info I'll have to take a look at it tomorrow and see if it has the front mounts then.