auto to marine conversion

[alilley]

I am want to find out what is involved in converting an auto 305 to a marine. Just for arguments sakes here lets leave out all the electrical components for now.... I have a complete 305 out of 1984 z28 ran when pulled (wrecked the car). Now i know a different cam and lifters, and drains in the side of the block, and marine head gaskets. What else should I do to convert this over? Thanks in advance for your help

 

[Technorunner]

Re: auto to marine conversion

If the engine is gonna be freshwater cooled you can go with the orignal headgeasket and coreplugs. Other wise change the head gasket and change the coreplugs to brass ones. Carb need to be changed to marine as well. Leaving the electrical components out There might be some more things.

 

[alilley]

Re: auto to marine conversion

If the engine is gonna be freshwater cooled you can go with the orignal headgeasket and coreplugs. Other wise change the head gasket and change the coreplugs to brass ones. Carb need to be changed to marine as well. Leaving the electrical components out There might be some more things.

Ya I know that I would need the marine fuel pump and carb. ....it will be connected to an alpha 1 , used only in freshwater. Cooling is by water being pulled in from the lake (I think that is refereed to ar raw water?)

 

[achris]

Re: auto to marine conversion

Ya I know that I would need the marine fuel pump and carb. ....it will be connected to an alpha 1 , used only in freshwater. Cooling is by water being pulled in from the lake (I think that is refereed to as raw water?)

Correct...

I would change out the core plugs to brass... If you leave the steel ones in they will still rust, fresh water is not a rust inhibitor.... Also the marine engine water pump has a cast brass impeller and stainless steel backing plate, and the automotive (which will have been living in a rust inhibitor solution) is just pressed tin... and will also rust away quite quickly...

Chris.......

 

[Technorunner]

Re: auto to marine conversion

Correct raw water cooled then you probably want to change the core plugs and gasket. You also need to change the thermostat housing to marine to get the water connection to the exhaustmanifolds. Since your in a lake im not sure if you really need to change the waterpump to marine with brass waterpumpwheel in it.

 

[alilley]

Re: auto to marine conversion

Would it be necessary to change out the head gaskets? The nmotor only has about75000 mileson it I was hoping to change out cam and lifters then put it back together. My thinking is head gaskets ar already sealed so why break that just to change them out. He one were to blow them that can be addressed wile it is in the boat.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: auto to marine conversion

You do not need to change the head gaskets. The chances are good they are stainless steel or composite already.

 

[alilley]

Re: auto to marine conversion

Thats good news ...... now on to the distriutor, with the cap, rotor, points. And condenser removed, other then the vac advance, and the weights, is there a different between auto or marine? Is other words he a guy were to use marine points condenser, car and rotor, and wires on a marine motor could he run into issues?

 

[Bondo]

Re: auto to marine conversion

Thats good news ...... now on to the distriutor, with the cap, rotor, points. And condenser removed, other then the vac advance, and the weights, is there a different between auto or marine? Is other words he a guy were to use marine points condenser, car and rotor, and wires on a marine motor could he run into issues?

Ayuh,... An Automotive distributer has NO place on a boat,.... Period....

 

[Fishermark]

Re: auto to marine conversion

Is other words he a guy were to use marine points condenser, car and rotor, and wires on a marine motor could he run into issues?

Actually it is the other way around. The distributor body itself is marine. It has no vacuum advance and the advance curve is set up differently. There is nothing special about the points, condensor, or wires themselves.

 

[alilley]

Re: auto to marine conversion

I worded that wrong. Again keeping all of the electronics out of the situation here. If a guy were to a distributor body( part that goes in the block, so from the oil stop drive/gear up to the point where the rotor goes to) that did not have vacuum advance, and was set up for the points style ignition from the auto world but used all marine electronics( cap, rotor, and either the points or an electronic converting kit) what is the possibility of issues there?

I know that marine electronics have spark asserting built into then. I have seen like the screen on the alternator and some of the other things, what do they use on the distributor? Is it in the cap, or the main body? The ones I have worked on before all I seem was the rubber grommet the wentbetween the cap and main body for the condenser wire. Which is why I am asking what the difference is.

 

[Bondo]

Re: auto to marine conversion

I worded that wrong. Again keeping all of the electronics out of the situation here. If a guy were to a distributor body( part that goes in the block, so from the oil stop drive/gear up to the point where the rotor goes to) that did not have vacuum advance, and was set up for the points style ignition from the auto world but used all marine electronics( cap, rotor, and either the points or an electronic converting kit) what is the possibility of issues there?

I know that marine electronics have spark asserting built into then. I have seen like the screen on the alternator and some of the other things, what do they use on the distributor? Is it in the cap, or the main body? The ones I have worked on before all I seem was the rubber grommet the wentbetween the cap and main body for the condenser wire. Which is why I am asking what the difference is.

Ayuh,... Generally speakin',... The vents in the aluminum housing of the distributer have screens to block sparks...

Yer 1st paragraph makes No sense, 'cause that Don't exist...

 

[alilley]

Re: auto to marine conversion

Ya refering to the vacuum advance part? If so my mistake there. .... I do not recall seein g screens on the distributors that I have worked on in the past, but they were all auto hei units.

 

[Bondo]

Re: auto to marine conversion

I do not recall seein g screens on the distributors that I have worked on in the past, but they were all auto hei units.

Bingo,.... They weren't Marine either....

 

[alilley]

Re: auto to marine conversion

I guess I must be confused.please clarify call means......I didn't think you would want vents or screens in one cuz that would allow fuel vapor to and or water to enter an area prone and known to have sparks? It just sounds backwards to me. One would think they would rather have a sealed unit for marine

 

[alilley]

Re: auto to marine conversion

Does anyone have any idea where I could find a used one at? I price new locally and they are in that 350-425 range..... just can't do that right now

 

[Fishermark]

Re: auto to marine conversion

Here's a brand new complete electronic ignition kit for only $180. Includes everything pictured here:

 

[achris]

Re: auto to marine conversion

Here's a brand new complete electronic ignition kit for only $180. Includes everything pictured here:

Hey Mark,

That link's not working...

 

[Fishermark]

Re: auto to marine conversion

Hey Mark,

That link's not working...

Umm... works for me when I click on it. Maybe something not working in the great "down under!"

It is amarket.com

 

[achris]

Re: auto to marine conversion

Umm... works for me when I click on it. Maybe something not working in the great "down under!"

It is amarket.com

Nope... amarket will not let me in...