repowering an am.skier

my 273 is a rusted mess any small block mopar
work or not? how can u tell if its reverse rotation ? its a 71 american skier

Ray, your engine is most likely a reverse rotation engine. If you can take a pic of your prop and post it people on this forum can tell you if it is reverse (right hand) rotation. A local prop shop can also tell you. You engine may be "standard" rotation but I doubt it.

If your engine is a reverse rotation engine any small block Mopar will probably not work. Also, marine engines use special designed distributors, starters, carburators, and of course exhaust manifolds. Electrical wiring should be all tinned copper.

Unless the engine has been submerged in salt water or the block is cracked, it is probably not as bad as it looks. You can throw away all of the bolts and replace them with inexpensive stainless steel by buying complete stainless bolt kits online from Summit Racing. Brackets can be sandblasted, repaired, and painted. The heads and block can probably be dipped, cleaned, and reworked at a local shop. That old of a boat would probably be due for all new electrical systems no matter what the condition of all of the hardware. Have the starter rebuilt, NOT EXCHANGED, but rebuilt at a local shop. There are differences between marine starters and automobile starters. And, you will need a reverse rotation starter anyway. Alternators can be found in salvage yards also.

Replace the carb with a fresh 450CFM Holley 4v and the manifold with a Edlebrock Performer and you're in business.

Check to see if all of the seals are available (special shaft seals are required for a reverse rotation engine).

It sounds like a lot of work but I really think it is your cheapest and most practical route.

Change to any other make of engine and you will be into moving motor mounts in the stringers and having to properly locate the new engine. I think the whole balance of the boat could be changed. Others here will know a lot more than me about such things.

Good point David. I am a little envious of Ray. I built a 273 in a '66 Plymouth Baracuda and I became rather fond of that engine. It's a well built engine that can crank out close to 300HP with just a few bolt-ons. It only weighs 50 pounds more than the old Chrysler slant six. A lot of performance (auto) parts are available for it. I don't know about marine parts availability though. That could be a little tough. I hope Ray decides to keep it. Ray???? Keep it!

Jim_In_Houston wrote: I built a 273 in a '66 Plymouth Baracuda and I became rather fond of that engine.

First car was a '64 Barracuda with a 273
and the push button transmission. Purchased when I was 15 for $125, dents in every panel, 3 or 4 different colors, and running on 4 of 8 cyclinders. By the time I took my drivers
test on the 16th birdthday, that things was
showroom. Put almost 100K on it before I sold
it five years later. Man I wish I still had
that car.

BKH