New problems. I cant catch a break. 350 Mercruiser again

mnypitboat

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
1,091
OK well I went and bought a rebuilt bottom end for my sick Mercruiser 350. Got it delivered today. Seems great right?? Not so much. The guy swears its a roller block. Now wont give me my f----ing money back. Yep you guessed it, its not a roller block. It is a flat tappet block.

So how do I bolt my heads on this engine?? What do I need to do? Mine are Vortec heads. It looks like all I would really need to change is the pushrods, if even that much. I mean, hell, I have a whole 88 350 sitting here beside it.


Oh and if anyone is looking for a good Vortec engine in Central Florida, I got all the scams in my garage, so it is probably safe to pick one up now. What can you do but laugh at this point??? I didnt even throw any tools when I found out. Next time I wont even entertain the idea of replacement unless there is a rod hanging out. It will be rebuilt, no matter what the cost.
 

zbnutcase

Commander
Joined
Sep 19, 2009
Messages
2,055
Re: New problems. I cant catch a break. 350 Mercruiser again

Yup pre-roller pushrods all thats needed. And buyer beware!
 

mnypitboat

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
1,091
Re: New problems. I cant catch a break. 350 Mercruiser again

Spoke to a buddy that builds engines and he said all that is needed is for the valley of the block to be machined to hold the metal hold down plate. This one is allready machined. So it looks like I am ok. I will just use my old cam and lifters and pushrods and I should be fine.

Can I get a confirmation on that?? The rockers seem to fit fine, cam fits fine, hold down plate bolts into place and all looks good. Looks identical to my old one.
 

mnypitboat

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
1,091
Re: New problems. I cant catch a break. 350 Mercruiser again

Oh and the timing cover is stamped that it must be replaced if removed??? Does that sound right? Is that really the case?
 

FreeBeeTony

Captain
Joined
May 15, 2002
Messages
3,991
Re: New problems. I cant catch a break. 350 Mercruiser again

So it was a "roller block" afterall?
 

mnypitboat

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
1,091
Re: New problems. I cant catch a break. 350 Mercruiser again

So it was a "roller block" afterall?

It would appear that someone just put set of regular lifters in it. I was under the understanding that something had to be machined to make them interchangeable. And the guy that I bought it from said it had a new cam and roller lifters in it. They are definately not.. But it appears that my old cam and lifters will work. I dont have them out yet, so hopefully they are ok.
 
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