Engine Replacement Ford 302

[jhvsmiller]

I have a 72 Searay 22' Cuddy with a Mercruiser 888 ford 302 / 188 hspr. It has been a great boat but I was not careful enough last winter and the Block is cracked. Engine has about 1200 hrs but used no oil.

I have aquired a used replacement engine from a trusted source; the replacement is a 1979
302 Ford truck engine, good compression, does not burn oil, very clean oil, 70k original miles.(the low mileage truck rusted through).

I can see from the threads on this forum that their are two different firing orders and camshafts: one is used on the 302 truck engine, the other is part of the 302/188 marine setup.

My question is should I pull the camshaft from the cracked block and use the marine cam and firing order? If so will I also need to use the marine heads (351w heads)?

I would like to get away with using the truck set up but I understand the marine firing order generally is easier on the rod and main bearings. Is this really the case and if so is it significantly less stress?

I am not a hot rodder--I usually run at about 2800 rpm 3200 is really max for me--I generally am more concerned about fuel consumption than speed.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Engine Replacement Ford 302

The firing order is not only determined by the cam, the crank also has to be right. So I would not change the cam.

You will need to change everything else that bolts to the block. Starter, alternator, circulation pump (water pump on the truck engine) Carb, distributer (make sure you get the wires in the right firing order). If used in salt water I would pull the heads and change the gaskets to SS marine ones.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Engine Replacement Ford 302

I have a 72 Searay 22' Cuddy with a Mercruiser 888 ford 302 / 188 hspr. It has been a great boat but I was not careful enough last winter and the Block is cracked. Engine has about 1200 hrs but used no oil.

I have aquired a used replacement engine from a trusted source; the replacement is a 1979
302 Ford truck engine, good compression, does not burn oil, very clean oil, 70k original miles.(the low mileage truck rusted through).

I can see from the threads on this forum that their are two different firing orders and camshafts: one is used on the 302 truck engine, the other is part of the 302/188 marine setup.

My question is should I pull the camshaft from the cracked block and use the marine cam and firing order? If so will I also need to use the marine heads (351w heads)?

I would like to get away with using the truck set up but I understand the marine firing order generally is easier on the rod and main bearings. Is this really the case and if so is it significantly less stress?

I am not a hot rodder--I usually run at about 2800 rpm 3200 is really max for me--I generally am more concerned about fuel consumption than speed.

Since you never leave Lake washington, I would bolt it in & go.....
Of course you need to switch the alternator, starter, etc. from the old engine....
I would see how it runs "as is" before doing the head gaskets....
Since you only run in the sweet water, the head gaskets can wait until next year.....
You can borrow my alignment tool again when the time comes....

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Engine Replacement Ford 302

If the truck is a '79, you won't have issues with the firing order. They didn't change the firing order till the H.O.302's came out. The truck engine will have the same firing order. Just remove all of the stuff on the marine block and swap it over.

 

[jhvsmiller]

Re: Engine Replacement Ford 302

Thanks to Haut Medoc and the all others for the quick reply, great information and offer of assistance. Of course you are right, I never leave Lake Washington with that boat. Pursuant to Medoc's advice I did buy an alignment tool so I am set on that part of the project. I am sure something else will come up so I will update when I am a little further along.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Engine Replacement Ford 302

If the truck is a '79, you won't have issues with the firing order. They didn't change the firing order till the H.O.302's came out. The truck engine will have the same firing order. Just remove all of the stuff on the marine block and swap it over.

WRONG! The marine 302 used the 351W firing order going back to the early seventies, in fact the 302 "marine" cam was simply the early 351W cam installed by Ford at the factory along with early 351W heads.

 

[88countach]

Re: Engine Replacement Ford 302

the crankshaft plays no part in firing order, i have swapped 302 cams into 351W's & vice versa, the camshaft determines firing order

 

[jhvsmiller]

Re: Engine Replacement Ford 302

Thank you again for the infomation. The posts from zbnutcase and 88countach really help me understand. I was stumped on the crankshaft issue because my belief is the same as 88countach. That being said I think I am going with the Haut Medoc approach and see what happens -I can change heads next winter if need be.

 

[jhvsmiller]

Re: Engine Replacement Ford 302

I am leaving town on vacation for a week and won't get back to this project till I return--I will update then.