I have Two Ford 292 Engines in my boat. I have had water get into the top of the pistons of one of my engines. I replaced the heads and gaskets and put it all back together. After firing it up for only seconds the water was back in the engine on top of the pistons. Could this water be coming from the water pump, the intake Manifold, or the Block? I have checked the oil and the oil level has not changed so I dont think it is coming from the block.

 

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Did you run a compression test?

Is there a way you can plug the inlet and outlets of the cooling system and run a pressure check on the cooling system, to find a leak?

Is it one, two, several, or all cylinders? Which ones?

 

Are you running water cooled exhaust manifolds? And are you running the 2 carb marine intake with the side draft 1bbl Carters?

Give us enough info to work with.

 

Lucky, just to eliminate one possibility, when the heads were tightened back down, on the top row of head bolts, two for each head are longer than the others, and have to be placed in each end of the head, not into one of the inner positions. Misplaced they can result in gasket leak(s).

 

Thanks for all of your sudjestions. I have found some of the problems. 1. The exhaust manifolds where leaking back into the exhaust ports. 2. one of the piston sleeves has a hole in it. Does anyone no where I can get a new or good used 292 block? Hopefully some where close to California.

 

What part of Calfornia? Gerry

 

Dana Point

 

how old is our boat? and has it ever spent time in salt water? as most marine based engines are raw water cooled and the av. life of a salt water cooled motor is 7 to 10 years before the heads, block and intake and exhaust manifolds become pourus and start injesting the cooling water.
as you state it a 292 that is a very old motor for any marine use. it's time for a repower

 

You are right and I belive this is the last time this boat is ever going to see old ford 292-312 motors in it. Thanks for the info. I just learnd it the exspensive way.

 

i hate to say this to a ford lover, but almost all marine based motors now are on chevy based engines. they are very common so finding a pair should be easy. as the boat has 292's i will say find a pair of 305 "5.0 liter" motors as they are very common so finding good runner is easy.
do not try to over power for more speed as all you will do is waste fuel. speed on the water is based on hull design not power.. i myself know of many people who have gone over board with a repower and only gained a very small amout of speed. a marineized 305 will be more then enough motor to replace your 292's .
if you think of junk yard motors from cars don't. a marinized motor looks like a car or truck motor but are not. the parts list is long. in ca you should be able to find a good marine shop that does repower and get a pair of running pullouts for a good price, stay off ebay i know of many people who have been hurt or should i say riped off.
best of luck

 

I would not use a 305 for anything more than a boat anchor, most of your gm marine engines are 350s, and some newer boats have 4.3 v6s.
I have a 71 fomula with a 455 rocket olds, and my dad's bayliner has a ford 2.3L
If at all possible I would rebuild or replace and keep the boat original, or replace with some 351w marine engines They make great marine engine cause of the lowend power they make easily, and are found in many boats, so parts are easily obtained.