"I bought a 1961 CC ski boat w
"I bought a 1961 CC ski boat which I am diligently restoring to as original as possible. My headache comes in because the boat was converted to jet drive somewhere in the 60's with several mods to the structure and engine. The engine was supposed to be "original". I know very little about engines but plan on restoring this one as best I can. I am learning alot from books and sites like this one. From checking casting numbers it seems the block of my engine is from 1968 and is a 302/327/350. The heads are from early 60s (listed as 327) and intake manifold is likely original as are several other parts. The biggest problem is that the engine is flywheel aft but the 1961 ski boats had flywheel forward. I want to try to get the engine as original as possible (even numbers matching). Is it possible to take a flywheel aft engine and turn it around? Put another way, what part of the engine (block, heads, intake manifold etc) makes the engine flywheel forward or aft (and dont say flywheel!)? Should I even both with this block or should I try and find a flywheel forward 283 block and put my parts on it? Here is a photo of my engine.
Any help would be appreciated and I apologize in advance for my ignorance,
Lori"
"I bought a 1961 CC ski boat which I am diligently restoring to as original as possible. My headache comes in because the boat was converted to jet drive somewhere in the 60's with several mods to the structure and engine. The engine was supposed to be "original". I know very little about engines but plan on restoring this one as best I can. I am learning alot from books and sites like this one. From checking casting numbers it seems the block of my engine is from 1968 and is a 302/327/350. The heads are from early 60s (listed as 327) and intake manifold is likely original as are several other parts. The biggest problem is that the engine is flywheel aft but the 1961 ski boats had flywheel forward. I want to try to get the engine as original as possible (even numbers matching). Is it possible to take a flywheel aft engine and turn it around? Put another way, what part of the engine (block, heads, intake manifold etc) makes the engine flywheel forward or aft (and dont say flywheel!)? Should I even both with this block or should I try and find a flywheel forward 283 block and put my parts on it? Here is a photo of my engine.
Any help would be appreciated and I apologize in advance for my ignorance,
Lori"