Dirt Cheap Boat Motor Swap: $400 302 V8 into a Ford Truck

The Unfortunate Repeat Engine Swap

• 💡 The team revisits a 1986 Ford truck after the previously installed 302 engine proved to be faulty, with zero PSI in cylinder number two.
• 🎯 The original plan to use a 302 from a $400 boat is back on the table, despite the previous engine also being from a boat.
• 🛠️ The team begins by removing the old, non-functional 302 from the truck, a process they've become quite efficient at.

Salvaging the Marine 302

• 🚤 The focus shifts to extracting the 302 engine from a dilapidated "Rotten Destroyer" boat, noting its surprisingly low 1,154 hours of use.
• ⚙️ After removing the boat's lower end and hull components, the engine is freed and prepared for conversion to truck use.
• 📊 A compression test on the salvaged boat motor reveals varying cylinder pressures, with some as low as 100 PSI, but deemed better than the previous engine's zero.

Engine Preparation and Swapping

• ✨ The team meticulously swaps necessary components from the old truck engine to the new marine 302, including the serpentine setup and intake manifold.
• 🎨 The marine engine receives a fresh coat of paint after its water jackets are flushed and frost plugs are replaced.
• 🚗 A new 28-ounce flywheel and clutch assembly are installed, ensuring compatibility with the truck's manual transmission.

Installation and Initial Startup

• 🚀 The freshly prepared MerCruiser 302 engine, now featuring a four-barrel carburetor and headers, is carefully installed into the Ford truck.
• 🔊 The initial startup is loud, but the engine runs, showing good oil pressure and minimal blow-by, though further tuning is needed.
• 💨 The team begins fabricating a custom exhaust system using salvaged parts and Summit Racing components, aiming for improved sound and performance.

Troubleshooting and Refinements

• 🔧 The truck's exhaust system is completed with an H-pipe and custom tailpipes, significantly reducing the noise level.
• ⛽ A problematic carburetor is replaced with a Holley four-barrel, and the team addresses a fuel delivery issue, likely related to float levels.
• ⚙️ The clutch hydraulic line, which melted on the exhaust headers, is replaced with a steel-braided line and an aluminum slave cylinder for better heat resistance.
• 🚗 After addressing the clutch and tuning the carburetor, the truck is deemed drivable, with a 0-60 time of 9.68 seconds achieved despite a suboptimal rear gear ratio.
• 🔥 A burnout is successfully performed, though a subsequent stall and engine shut-off point to potential ignition or electrical issues that need further investigation.