Marine blocks

[StreetSleeper]

Are the marine blocks potentially thicker castings?

 

[NC Engine Builder]

They are normally rusty castings they I throw in the scrap bin. Especially if in ocean water.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Not that I've ever heard.

 

[NC Engine Builder]

And no, the Chrysler marine engines were normal passenger car engines retro-fitted for marine use, with special water pumps, manifolding ect, but there was no "special" castings done at the foundry.

 

[TT5.9mag]

And some had reverse rotation camshafts.

 

[NC Engine Builder]

And some had reverse rotation camshafts.

Ahhh yes! And crankshafts, that one will get ya! Built a 390 ford once, customer supplied the crank, took a while to figure out why we couldn't get the rear seal to stop leaking.

 

[cudamark]

Are the marine blocks potentially thicker castings?

Than automotive versions? No. Blocks for any application can have perfect or imperfect castings however. If a marine engine used sea water for cooling, they can get very thin in spots where corrosion has set in.......sometime to the point where the cooling passage corrodes completely through. If the marine engine used heat exchangers and had a sealed cooling system with the proper coolant mix, it in itself is no better or worse than an equivalent automotive block. Always have a block sonic tested if it going to be bored oversize regardless of the source of the block. Now, if that block sat in a bilge full of salt water, it may have some nasty external corrosion!

 

[Brooks James]

I saw a marine SBM 318 with an AFB

 

[furrystump]

There was a marine cast iron single plane intake out there. The issue with marine blocks is if they are raw water cooled and were in salt water. CRUSTY!

 

[Brooks James]

I've got a 400 blk in time period of the cold wx blocks
From June 71-Dec 71, or so I've read

I'm trying to verify
By any pics
Of the block webbing which is noticeably different than 400 std

I ve done lots of research and found pictures now I can't remember

Any info ????

 

[NC Engine Builder]

I've got a 400 blk in time period of the cold wx blocks
From June 71-Dec 71, or so I've read

I'm trying to verify
By any pics
Of the block webbing which is noticeably different than 400 std

I ve done lots of research and found pictures now I can't remember

Any info ????

What exactly does that have to do with this thread? You should probably start your own post and not muddy up this one.

 

[RustyRatRod]

If anything, the marine blocks would be thinner and more fragile due to all the metal loss through corrosion.

 

[Brooks James]

Found stuff here

 

[4eighteener]

I have a marine 86' 360 block and a 72' 340 block. I don't know if there is a difference between the automotive 360 and the 340, but my marine 360 is thicker in several key areas; the mounts are thicker, the area around the core plugs are thicker, the pan rail is thicker, the main saddles are thicker, the front of the block is thicker.
I have photos many photos I took earlier in the year to compare them side by side, some you can visually see the difference, some I have used a caliper.
I cannot attach all of them, so if there is any particular area you would like to see, I can post a few at a time.
Again, I don't know if the difference is marine block vs automotive block, or 360 vs 340