Two Cheap 427 So On Ebay

[FOCS]

Something just doesn't quite look right here


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1851061135

[Bill Wells]

doesnt one engine in a dual engine boat run in reverse, crank goes opposite direction of the other as in counter rotating? at 300 hp this must be a seriously detuned motor for boat usage vs car. assuming water cooled, is it an older design that is not an enclosed system, ie, runs water from the outside thru the engine vs a closed system with a radiator and antifreeze ? if so, then if salt water the block internals could be seriously encrusted with marine growth etc. i am not into power boats, just sail boats,,,,but makes me wonder how this engine could really be used in a car unless it undergoes a serious rebuild. only common denominator might be the 427 displacement of a motor not intended for car use unless a work horse truck perhaps. any engine experts or power boaters out there to enlighten me ? bill.

[SFfiredog]

The infamous Merc Marine 300 427s. These types of motors seem to pop up at least once a month on e-bay. Some know-it-all car guy has usually told these unknowing boat owners that they have a gold mine sitting in the back of their boats. So, with visions of dollar signs dancing in their heads, they place these "Shelby Cobra Engines" on e-bay. Here is the reality:
The only really useful part of the entire engine is the block, and even that is hamstrung.
It is a side oiler casting, but was never drilled for the side oiler oil passages. They are center oilers like the 390/428.
The rest of the internal components are basically 390; cast iron crank, small rods, cast pistons, early 390 heads, etc.
One good thing is they do have heat exchangers so the cooling system is not damaged by salt water.
They are worth whatever someone is willing to pay. Real world value is about $3000 to $3500 for the pair, if they are standard bore. If they have been over bored, their value drops dramatically.
HTH,
--Mike

[Turk]

Still a few days before the auction ends. They may be cheap right now due to many sand baggers. I guess they break $2000.00 before it is over.

TURK

[cobra427hp]

These motors are of great value; used as BOAT ANCHORS! The weight will keep that Chris Craft from floating very far!

[ohekk]

oh... oh...don't mean to start something but...

Wasn't it Smokey Yunick that ran a "counter rotation" engine on a circletrack to take advantage of the reverse torque?

Maybe the road racers could use this to quiet the SB is better crowd?

[grumpy]

These engines are about in line with the old Pump FE's used as industrial assy's. They are usually "shift" core blocks, that is to say, they didn't meet the specs to take a good bore because of core shift and bore centerline differences. In a few instances you will find one of them with plugged oil passages and core alignment is dead on, but it's kinda like the lottery. As said the rest of the parts on them are not very good, especially when compared to the early 70-76 390FE, they will be a better COBRA BB.
Chris Craft restoration peoples need to look at this one cause all the original parts are there and in decent condition from the pics.
grumpy

[casaleenie]

Did the engines run in reverse or were the transmissions geared to run counter?

[pbrown]

I had a reverse rotation Corvair engine in a 914 many years ago. It just needed a special reverse grind cam and distributer. I suspect that this engine is the same if it really is reverse rotation. Besides, if you wanted to use it in a car you would want a different cam and distrubuter due to the different power properties of marine vs. auto engines.