The biggest problem with auto engine conversion to marine use is the
transmission. Marine transmissions absorb the thrust from the propeller and
have large thrust bearings designed for that kind of load. Other types of
transmissions quickly wear out due to that thrust which they were never designed
for. There are solutions but they all tend to be pricey.

JJ

On Fri, 5 Mar 2004 23:12:43 -0500, Terry King wrote:

Hi Brian,

I've done conversions on automobile V-8's and run them for years..

I have a 350 GM in the same boat I built in 1978 (25th anniversary last
Summer on Lake Champlain).

The 'conventional' conversion adds exhaust manifolds, water
pump/plumbing, flame arrester, drive train solution, and motor mounts.

Since it's been so long since I've done one, and I'm interested in 1 or 2
small diesels for a slower bigger boat, I wonder what people here have
done.

In article ,
says...
I've done an engine aero conversion, and there is more to it than
meets the eye, so I am leery.
But thinking on your suggestion, we are talking cooling and we are
talking forward/reverse. Think you could handle those?
If you can, VW would be very, very promising.
Or howz about a Mercedes?

James Johnson
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