!!PLEASE HELP!! Strange Question about a Vortec in a boat.

[Mllunt]

I froze my boat block last year and I am wondering if I can use an old short block that I have. My boat is a 2002 Mastercraft X-Star with a Indmar 5.7L V8 that is 330 HP. The motor that I have is a complete 350ci V8 motor out of a 1970 Chevelle that was gone through and I am not using. It has 12:1 compression pistons, forged crank and rods. I am just wondering if there is anyone who can reprogram my computer or if anything will even need to be done? PLEASE HELP IN ANY WAY YOU CAN, PLEASE!!!! I am stumped.....:unsure:[B]

[Taz]

Does the original engine in the boat use a carb or the Gen I Vortec style intake complete with "spider" style injectors ? Is the controller a Black Box Vortec (production style) or a marine controller ?

If the engine and controller are similar to a production Gen I Vortec - then take a look at EFI Connection's website. You would need their conversion kit - either 4x CKP (which would retain your existing distributor) or their 24x CKP kit - which updates to LS1 style coils.

Not winterizing can get expensive ...


Regards,
Taz

[slows10]

If it is a fuel injected engine it is a multi point injector setup.(efi marine intake) Many people convert these onto their 4.3 v6 and 5.7 L31 vortec engines to eliminate the spider assembly. You may also be able to control it with a 0411 pcm,provided you repin it from the black box ecm or marine controller. This may take some research to see what is possible.

[slows10]

You may also just swap the vortec marine complete top end onto your older 350. If you did not damage the heads in anyway.

[Mllunt]

That is what I want to do.. But I am not sure it will work, Will It?

[slows10]

Well you havent answered any of the questions asked. What ecm is on it? What intake is on it? Also you have to add the reluctor. So yes it may work depending on what you have.

[Mllunt]

Yes it is fuel injected and I did not explain my question very well. I want to put the heads and intake on the other block, but don't know if that will work with the computer. There is no distributer either, there is a set of coil packs but not like an LS motor.

[slows10]

What ecm is on it? The factory marine ecm? Do you already own efilive?

[slows10]

If the 1970 350 short block was bone stock as in stock compression and cam etc, then ya it would work. Provided you put the proper reluctor wheel on the crankshaft and cmp sensor. See eficonnection for this. But if the shortblock has compression and a hi performance cam then the stock ecm probably would not run it very well.

[Mllunt]

If the 1970 350 short block was bone stock as in stock compression and cam etc, then ya it would work. Provided you put the proper reluctor wheel on the crankshaft and cmp sensor. See eficonnection for this. But if the shortblock has compression and a hi performance cam then the stock ecm probably would not run it very well.


Factory ECM, I assume from Indmar. The intake does say NorthStar on top of it... I am sorry to not answer all of your questions, I am a beginner at all of this stuff. I was just thinking about how EFI would change so much on my D-Max it is amazing and wondered if it could change things on gas motors.

[Mllunt]

Does the original engine in the boat use a carb or the Gen I Vortec style intake complete with "spider" style injectors ? Is the controller a Black Box Vortec (production style) or a marine controller ?

If the engine and controller are similar to a production Gen I Vortec - then take a look at EFI Connection's website. You would need their conversion kit - either 4x CKP (which would retain your existing distributor) or their 24x CKP kit - which updates to LS1 style coils.

Not winterizing can get expensive ...


Regards,
Taz

I believe that it is a Gen I Vortec, but I am not sure what "spider" injectors are. There is not a distributer there is one long coil pack at the front of the motor. And yes it is very expensive!!! Thank You for the help.

[Taz]

Perhaps a more precise and expedient route would be to post a photo of the intake & ignition coil area, and the PCM (computer). If it is a marine PCM odds are EFILive will not be able to read / tune it.

In post #3 Slows10 mentioned perhaps using an "0411" PCM to control the engine. This would allow you to tune it with EFILive - but would constitute a PCM conversion project.


Regards,
Taz

[ScarabEpic22]

Bet its a MEFI4 and you wont be able to use EFILive with it. You can tune the MEFI4 with some other tuning packages, but its pretty dang expensive IIRC. Much better off converting to an 0411 PCM and running a regular manual car tune.

So what exactly are you trying to do with these engines, swap the built 350 into your MasterCraft? My parents have a 99 Toyota Epic 22, its where my s/n comes from. Family friends in Idaho has a 97 MC Prostar 205 with the LT1. Where are you located?

[Mllunt]

Bet its a MEFI4 and you wont be able to use EFILive with it. You can tune the MEFI4 with some other tuning packages, but its pretty dang expensive IIRC. Much better off converting to an 0411 PCM and running a regular manual car tune.

So what exactly are you trying to do with these engines, swap the built 350 into your MasterCraft? My parents have a 99 Toyota Epic 22, its where my s/n comes from. Family friends in Idaho has a 97 MC Prostar 205 with the LT1. Where are you located?


I live near Denver,CO. Do they want to sell the motor or what are you suggesting? I would love to just have a Block to replace the one that is in the boat now that I cracked by not winterizing early enough last year. Please let me know ASAP, Thank You for your help!

[ScarabEpic22]

I live near Denver,CO. Do they want to sell the motor or what are you suggesting? I would love to just have a Block to replace the one that is in the boat now that I cracked by not winterizing early enough last year. Please let me know ASAP, Thank You for your help!

I see, sorry no my friends arent trying to sell theirs I was trying to say that I have some experience with GM 5.7L engines in a MasterCraft, looking back it was not clear.

I take it you just want to get the boat up and running now, correct? Hate to say it, you might be better of trying to sell your built 350 and try to find a new or rebuilt 5.7 thats pretty stock so you can just drop it in and go. Do you have any experience with a performance shop locally to you, that might be a good place to ask. The mechanic I have in Portland, OR knows his stuff on Mercury outboards and I know he does a lot of inboard-outboard Mercruiser stuff too, maybe see if a buddy knows someone who does good work. I know the guy in Portland would love the work, but thats a pretty hefty drive to do, especially if you're ok with a stock engine.