I burnt the piston rings in my 1996 351w E250 van from overheating and I've been looking for another motor. I talked with a guy that says he has a 1977 351W Marine motor with low hours in great shape for$600.00. he said it's regular rotation.

1. Will this work in my van. The van that I use for work installing windows and towing a 5x10 enclosed trailer.

2. Is this a good idea or should I look for an automotive motor?
Thanks for any advice.

 

With all the marine stuff stripped of you will find the same old 351w longblock underneath with the exception of the heads.. should be GT40s or a similar casting, and the cam. The heads won't affect your swap but the cam will so it would likely have to change, and that will be a flat tappet cam where the original motor in your truck had a roller cam so the distributor drive gear also has to change.

 

Thanks for the response. Do you think that if I left the cam in the marine motor I wouldn't have and top end speed or no power or that it just wouldn't be able to handle daily driving?

 

The computer likely would not be able to handle the cam specs of the marine motor. It would be a good motor for a hotrod though. Especially if it's a complete longblock.

 

If the marine engine was raw water cooled and used in salt water, do not even think about it. I would look at that engine long and hard before I installed it. Not sure I would install it without pulling the heads.

 

Excellent advice everyone. Thank you. I will do some more investigating and reply back with any info I find out. As of yet I have not physically checked it out. Thanks again.