On Sun, 19 Aug 2007 20:43:25 -0700, Bob wrote:

I'm looking at a nice little fishing boat/cruiser with a Detroit 353,
only about 1000 hours on it, runs great. I know this is one of the
more reliable diesels ever made, but I have heard some not-so-good
things about the ones that came with aluminum blocks. The boat was
built in 1987, so the engine is at least that old. The owner doesn't
know much about it.

Is there a way to tell which version it is?

Thanks,

Bob

Dunno about Detroit Diesel in particular, but in general I know that an
aluminum block engine will last forever if it's designed right
(i.e. if it's not a Vega engine) and it's maintained right. "Maintained
right" for an Al block engine requires a lot more attention to the
coolant than Fe block engines, which is why so many die early deaths in
automotive applications.

If, as mentioned in another post, they're running salt water through it's
veins you can probably take it as "not designed right".

--
Tim Wescott
Control systems and communications consulting
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Need to learn how to apply control theory in your embedded system?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" by Tim Wescott
Elsevier/Newnes, http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html