www.iFourWinns.com

I just bought a 1987 liberator 261 with twin 5.7l mercs I love the boat but the previous owner blew a head gasket on the starboard engine removed the head and carb and left it there now i have to replace this engine because of rust. I am looking at 350 chevy engines with center bolts which will work I can find used ones out there for around 500 but my questions is the starboard engine turning in reverse or is it the port engine that turns in reverse???

Depending on the damage it might only need to be rebuilt not replaced entirely. A bit of surface rust will clean right up with light machining. But if it got a lot of water all the way down into the oil pan (and the crank bearings) then it might be too far gone.

I don't know that engine setup, but what drives or transmissions does it have? Do those have an indicator on them regarding direction?

_________________
-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

It has alpha one drives on it I have no idea where to look for direction if you would point it out where to look I would appreciate it. Trying to get this boat in the water asap. One of the heads is off and pistons where full of water and there is rust there I priced machining it would cost more than getting a used 350 5.7l from 86 and up chevy. Which i can get for around 400 bucks.

Both engines turn the same way - can't recall ever seeing a Chev running backwards... would require a lot of changes including camshaft to get it to do that.

You have left hand and right hand props I believe. The only other way would be to take care of it in the legs.

_________________


Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

And bear in mind there are usually a number of differences between a marine and an auto version of an engine.

_________________
-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

First, look on your outdrives and the tags should have a different part number. One for left hand, one for right hand.
Don't discard that engine. Rust on some blocks like high nickle actually make them better, it's called curing a block.
The automotive engine and the marine engine. The only internal difference is the cam. Everything else is completely the same.
The cams they use, are mostly the truck pulling style cams with high duration and normal lift, unlike a drag racer that has a high lift profile and a normal duration. The all out engines, are high on both, but in ratio perspective.

I have only built a couple of hundred engines in my life. All Chevy's except for the last two are now Ford's. You can run engines backwards, no problem. Lots of different parts. Start needs to turn backwards for number one. Distributor, cams and oil pump are the others that require change. It is easier to reverse rotate the diesel motors.

What ever you do, don't buy a used engine and just put it in. When you throw a rod through your oil pan and out the bottom of the boat, it will not be pretty.

_________________
1992 Baja 38 Special Twin 502 Mags

03 Stingray 3.0
88 261 Liberator 460 King Cobras
95 Bayliner 1850 3.0
77 Fiber Form 20ft 350/385hp
70 Wescraft 1800 SS 455 Jet

Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the Way!

Oh, another thing, we would need pics. It's a thing on this board that makes it great. And everyone loves the 261 Libs.

_________________
1992 Baja 38 Special Twin 502 Mags

03 Stingray 3.0
88 261 Liberator 460 King Cobras
95 Bayliner 1850 3.0
77 Fiber Form 20ft 350/385hp
70 Wescraft 1800 SS 455 Jet

Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the Way!

we will do soon as I can. Its an awesome boat. I love the lines I been buffing at the hull for days with 3m heavy duty compund its coming out pretty good.

If you want to replace the motor instead of getting it rebuilt, make sure you match it really close to the other one. If you have one that is .30 over and one standard, you will get a power difference. You will have your throttles jack different just to go staight. You can freshen a 350 chevy really cheap, as in less than 200 bucks, if you know where to get the right parts at the right price. What state are you in? If you are close enough, I could do a training session and show you how to have it assembled in around 8 to 9 hours.

_________________
1992 Baja 38 Special Twin 502 Mags

03 Stingray 3.0
88 261 Liberator 460 King Cobras
95 Bayliner 1850 3.0
77 Fiber Form 20ft 350/385hp
70 Wescraft 1800 SS 455 Jet

Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the Way!

Grey,

I have an '86 261 and I also had problems with my starboard engine but I had it rebuilt. Like some of the other members have indicated, don't just go find another Chevy engine. There are major differences in marine vs. auto. My engines both turn right hand. I have 4 blade SS 19" pitch props and they run pretty good.

_________________
Birchfir
'86 261 Liberator
'05 Land Rover LR3
'06 300 SRT8
'67 Ford TBird
Madison, WI

i am sorry i havent replied i been moving and working on the boat some. I am in Georgia I am still looking for an engine. I will post pictures soon

http://s1009.photobucket.com/albums/af2 ... g&newest=1



http://s1009.photobucket.com/albums/af2 ... newest%3D1

The previous owner didnt care too much for this boat I started to wet sand and polish the hull and it is looking much much nicer. I just love this boat I cant wait to get it up and running

Did you figure out if one was reversed? Look at the firing order on the distributor. If they are the same, they go the same way. Easiest way to tell for me..

_________________
1985 160 Marquise I/O