Engine Repower?

Chris,
I'd rebuild the existing and keep a classic original. Going to a big block may not give you the gains you may think. The power to weight is the problem. I'd look at some power mods to the 350.

Welcome to CCfan. How about some pictures of the SJ?

Did a tear down today, its the head gasket for sure. In terms of the block being cracked, I'll have that checked out.

I think its best to keep it original, just add some mods to possibly bump the hp up.

Ill get them here this weekend.

Nice boat! Never seen underwater gear like that on a CC.

ultrarunner wrote: Riley wrote: Nice boat! Never seen underwater gear like that on a CC. That should keep the big rocks from fouling your prop. Pretty cool.

I could use that! lots of debris in our waters! its a performance killer though!

Plus I just can't launch at any ramp at a state park due to the boat requiring at least 6.5ft just to launch.

8122pbrainard wrote: 78SJ wrote: Plus I just can't launch at any ramp at a state park due to the boat requiring at least 6.5ft just to launch. ?? The spec sheet lists the draft (not under power) at 34".

Pete, you mean you dont think that prop guard is original?

how would you plug the holes? using 5200 or trying to do some fb as well?

I would bet that boat was designed for the Florida keys

Yeah down there in them keys you got to read the red and green… and the little white sticks that up against a background of mangroves I can’t see for nothing, and then there is the clock that needs to be watched cause where you were on the way out is likely not to be where you can go on the way back. Almost enough to make a man start to consider outboard propulsion.. almost.
But even with the skateboard grind rail they got under there you won’t get that bad boy into too many interior spots down there, it is just plain old too deep with that V. So pull it off and fill in the holes.. after that I think that this boat would be a great candidate for a stroke out to 383 ci.
For a budget rebuild with most CC’s with a 350 the vortec upgrade would be the best way to see some low dollar improvement. But here I would say that leaving everything else stock and moving to a 383 rotating assembly would keep you very close to budget (doing the assembly yourself) and give you good low end and mid range improvements where this tug will spend most of its time as opposed to the vortec upgrade that is more of a mid to high rpm range increase that would require a smaller prop and higher gas consumption to really take advantage of on a big ol beast like this here.   
Pretty cool boat

I also would bet that is a Shamrock

Going to Attempt to remove the prop guard this weekend, should be interesting, main reason like you guys said...Performance and I'd really like to be able to park this on my drive way, and with it on, it'll chew the guard and the Concrete.

Also,

I believe the engine is not original. With the Boat being a 78, Several sites when I search for the model number tells me its a 1977, however then other sites tell me its a 1981.

Maybe you guys can clear this up for me. Model No. 99033E711 A, Serial No. W582515

I also see different model numbers 990337A,F,R

boats.net, iboats.com. I figured out my mistake..I was looking at stern drives not inboard. Big difference. It shows its a 1977 350 v4 rh