how do i match up a mercruiser block# to a chevrolet prodution year and block type?

all i want to do is order a cheap rebuild kit for a mercruiser 1996 5.7 #OF783705, and i cant seem to match it up to a chevy prodution year for a rebuild kit from jegs or summit, and mercruiser parts are out of the question, when i can get a gen I kit including pistons, bearings, gaskets, oil pump, etc for less then $400

8/16/2006 12:19:46 AM

Seriously, if you have a dial caliper and you know what side of the block the dipstick is on, and the valve cover, intake, and rear seal design, then everything else doesn't matter shit.

I can take a look at my Sierra catalogs next time I'm at Carquest. I might even be able to get you a Sierra rebuild kit at a really competitive price if you'd rather go that route.

A friend of mine actually took an automotive block 4.3 (reman ATK engine) and slammed it in his boat with the 165 Merc stern drive (4.3). Everything bolted up, and it runs great.

8/16/2006 12:31:07 AM

are there any differences in the water jackets / anything else in a marine sbc for a sterndrive? I'm looking at an older bayliner, but don't have much experience with boats, but lots w/ sbc's.

8/16/2006 7:19:20 AM

Summit

8/16/2006 7:37:08 AM

^ will they know?

8/16/2006 8:43:06 AM

Yeah or poke around on "hotboat.com"

8/16/2006 9:40:10 AM

summit had no idea, and they said that the federal mogul kits are not reccomended for marine applications, which is bullshit

8/16/2006 10:00:15 AM

That is bullshit is there noway to match it with some sort of jasper or somthing down that line!?!? But then it would seem like summit would be able too tho????

8/16/2006 10:04:19 AM

ok, so i did find out it is a 87-97 chevrolet 350 block, but why the hell does federal mogul have the breakdowns in specific years after 92, for non- LS1 blocks?

8/16/2006 10:21:57 AM

Depends on light or heavy duty applications. Most of those differences are compression ratio and valve size.

The LT1, for example, uses flattops with small valve reliefs as opposed to a dished piston.

'96 and after small blocks (NOT LS1) use a different head design for high swirl/quench.

Yours is gonna be a garden variety 350 crate style (no high swirl, no huge valves, etc).

8/16/2006 1:20:59 PM

only difference is the piston design, ie flat top, dome, ,cast, forged or hyperuetic, i should be able to tell the quickly qfter i tear it down, the gaskets, bearings etc are all the same, probaly gonna go with a stock compression, 262 intake duration cam, and slap some new bearings and pistons in

and this is 69 by the way, i am to lazy to log out and log in

8/16/2006 8:49:01 PM