marine carb vs auto carb

ciliento

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May 15, 2004
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I am converting a 1979 Ford 302 for marine use I have done the gaskets and the cam do I need to get a marine carberator or can I adapt the auto for marine use?
 

Boomyal

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Re: marine carb vs auto carb

Legally you must use a marine carburator. The only differences are safety and corrosion issues. Marine carbs have special throttle shaft bushings and vent the float bowls back down the venturis. All aimed at preventing gas fumes from developing. Marine carbs also have a more corrosion resistant finish.
 

f_inscreenname

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Re: marine carb vs auto carb

Marine carb, dist, alt and brass freeze plugs are missing from your list. If not you are asking for a explosion. <br /><br /><br />And your winner is #6 Mark Martin.
 

cobaltlover

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Re: marine carb vs auto carb

the marine carb doesnt have vaccume ports either.so you must consider your vac. advance on the distributor
 

Boomyal

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Re: marine carb vs auto carb

Originally posted by cobaltlover:<br /> the marine carb doesnt have vaccume ports either.so you must consider your vac. advance on the distributor
The ford marine motors used centrifugal advances not vacuum.
 

highaltitude

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Re: marine carb vs auto carb

lets no forget the starter and the water pump is has a stainless impeller(circulation pump on the front of the motor)-a main circuit breaker or fuse is not a bad idea either.
 

ciliento

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Re: marine carb vs auto carb

Okay, so I have to change the starter, alternator, water pump, freeze plugs, carberator and distributor. The carb and the distributor aae the only ones I didn't change yet wasn't sure on those and the costs. Any ideas on where to get a two barrel carb for a good price, marine that is.
 

ciliento

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Re: marine carb vs auto carb

I am also finding out that the fuel pump has has to be marine also, is th at true? Something about it going back to the carb for something and does have to be hard plumbed from the fuel pump to the carb. You guys have been throught this before. Let me know, trying to eliminate all problems before they start.
 

anesthes

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Re: marine carb vs auto carb

You can modify the carb. Get a rebuild kit for its marine counterpart (if one exists), and replace the tube on the top to aim back into the throat.<br /><br />Marine pump. Good idea.<br /><br />The vac lines can be blocked off.<br /><br />As far as the water pump, freeze plugs. This is needed if the boat is not closed cooling. If it is, your wasting your money. <br /><br />Alternator and starter are suposed to be marine.
 
D

DJ

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Re: marine carb vs auto carb

The fuel pump is also different for marine. It has a line, from the atmospheric side of the diaphragm, that goes to the carb in the event that that that the diaphragm leaks.
 

Boomyal

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Re: marine carb vs auto carb

Originally posted by anesthes:<br /> As far as the water pump, freeze plugs. This is needed if the boat is not closed cooling. If it is, your wasting your money.
Emphasize If you are not running closed cooling your MUST use Brass freeze plugs. Steel plugs will not last long at all in fresh or salt water. Most engine builder in the know will not even use them on an auto with ethylene glycol.
 

f_inscreenname

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Re: marine carb vs auto carb

Hard fuel line from pump to carb has been discussed on this board before. The consensus was rubber or metal fuel line is expectable. With a after market carb the inlet will be in a different place and most here run rubber instead of trying to make a new hard line. Another thing to consider is what cam you are running. As for the fuel pump having a outlet. I have had some that did and some that did not (all marine) as long as it is marine your all set. I don't know what you are putting it in but if you do a search here you will find rebuilds from mild to wild. Another thing to consider is if a 351W would be better. That discussion has been done also with the 351 beating the 302 hands down. If you haven't bought your parts yet you have to go to northernautoparts.com. A master rebuild kit for $199.00. That's cam, lifters, timing set, pistons, piston rings, rod/main/cam bearings, oil pump, freeze plugs and all gaskets. All name brand quality parts. You will have a hard time beating there prices. You just have to tell them to upgrade to brass freeze plugs, your cam specs and any over size pistons and bearings and you are done.
 

anesthes

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186
Re: marine carb vs auto carb

Actually, on every SBC I've built i've used brass plugs anyway, but yeah for open cooling you better.Also the water pump is different, and closed or open cooling you need to use a 160f thermostat. (Which most any race shop would stock since thats what all the drag cars run).
 

steve n carol

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May 8, 2004
Messages
459
Re: marine carb vs auto carb

not to forget, the marine engine is always under a load. Torque is GOOD. The lower end needs to be considered for durability. I assume that the application is I/O, setup to another application may be different. One of these old farts is a ford mechanic. Another thing, read somthing of ulizing 351W heads on the 302. Search these posts. lotsa stuff. let us know when you blow the out drive...seen em for sale on e-bay.
 

ciliento

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May 15, 2004
Messages
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Re: marine carb vs auto carb

This could turn out to be real interesting, the more I hear the more I have to replace. This is going in a 20 foot Shamrock from 1978 vintage, the boat is in good shape and we have added a pilot house to it, it will be run in salt water all the time and hopefully when done it will run, thought I would save some by converting a truck 302 to marine, but it looks like it is going to be more.I orignally got the boat because some guys decided to do it themselves and just threw all the parts out cause they were going to replace everything most of the maine accessories were thrown out the only thing left was the block
 

f_inscreenname

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Re: marine carb vs auto carb

OOOOOOHHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!<br />Just the block? Poop (had something else in mind but it would have been edited). Start looking for a wreaked boat,e-bay or a boat junk yard with a complete marine motor to rebuild. A set of new exhaust manifolds and elbows will set you back 5 or 6 hundred and add in all the extra marine stuff you will brake the bank. It will be a lot cheaper.
 

ciliento

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May 15, 2004
Messages
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Re: marine carb vs auto carb

Opps! Forgot the exhaust manifolds and elbows were in the boat, hopefully they will last, they didn't have many hours on them and the transmission was just rebuilt. Got a nice tee top for sale maybe I can recoup some of the engine funds.
 
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