327 for 3.7??

[Dadicus]

Is it possible to swap a GM 327 for one of the old 3.7 liter 470 Mercruisers? Will that engine couple with the 470 outdrive? How difficult is that kind of thing?

 

[tommays]

Re: 327 for 3.7??

The swap has been done BUT you really want to get a littel more modern like a 4.3 or 5.0 and you really need a compleat motor and Y-pipe as the bits and pieces prices will kill the budget


AND it may not fit well under the motor cover and will also require fabing new motor beds in the hull

 

[brunolund]

Re: 327 for 3.7??

why???
for what purpose??

 

[Dadicus]

Re: 327 for 3.7??

Thanks Tommays,
The motor is complete, but was out of a car, so it would need the exhaust parts, a marine alternator, a marine oil pan and likely 50 other things I have not considered. I had not even considered the new mounts. Ugg.

I was thinking about a swap since the motor is free and 3.7 currently in the boat is about to cost me a little bit of money.

 

[brunolund]

Re: 327 for 3.7??

sorry thought you were going the other way, and thats why i asked why!!

 

[180shabah]

Re: 327 for 3.7??

4.3 would be a good choice, it is a perfect match for your drive(ie no gear ratio changing) and will be about 100lbs lighter than a V8. Power ranges from the same as, to about 50hp more than your current 3.7.

However, as mentioned above, any change in engine will require new engine bed. It is not expensive or difficult, but it must be done correctly.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 327 for 3.7??

Ayuh,......

The 4.3l would be the most Logical Swap, requiring the Least amount of New parts.....
But,.....
I wouldn't even consider it unless you have a Fully Completely Marine equipped Motor to build from.....
The piecemeal building of a Marine dressed motor is prohibitively Expen$ive.....

 

[180shabah]

Re: 327 for 3.7??

I wouldn't even consider it unless you have a Fully Completely Marine equipped Motor to build from.....

Agreed, Shopping around for an ON road accident victim can be a fairly cheap way to score a complete setup.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: 327 for 3.7??

My dad swapped a 3.7 for a 5.7 in a guy's boat a year ago. It wasn't that hard, he said. But he did have to fabricate new front motor mounts. And needed the Y-Pipe. He used a complete Mercruiser 5.7 for the swap. Since he had to piecemeal the boat, piecing together an engine just would make the project take forever.
If you lived in Florida, he'd do the job for you. But he's gonna go by Utah in July, maybe he'd stop by and help you? ha ha

 

[Dadicus]

Re: 327 for 3.7??

Thanks to all who replied. I've been out of town for a week and it was nice to come back to some good advice.

I think I'll sit on this one for a year. It sounds like more time and effort (not to mention money!) than I can afford right now. I think I can nurse the 3.7 along another year. When I do swap I'll look for a 4.3.

And TilliamWe, I use to date a young lady from Peoria (we lived in Galesburg). And, oddly enough, my dad lives in Florida too, and would likely help me with the swap if he were here. But that would mean that I would have to listen to him lecture me on how I shouldn't have bought a boat in the first place (he has owned 4 or 5). I think that would be worth it to work with him again, though.