351 vs 350; FI vs Carbed

Long story short: Getting a new engine due to stupidity on my part. Insurance is covering it (though I a$$ume they will cover cheapest option only).

Fella doing the work is working 4 quotes for me, 351 carbed (what was in it), 351 fuelie, and a 350 of each variety.

Thoughts on which to go with? Sticking with stock 1:1 tranny (to be rebuilt). Want more top speed (42mph would be nice...previous top was 31mph @ 4100RPMs). Prop work is in order I know, but I'm at step one right now which is pick an engine. Mechanic says he is a Chevy man and would still recommend sticking with 351 because they make more torque. I don't know...

Advice or opinions?

    PCM motor mounts can be adapted to use the same holes in the hull. I went from a 302 PCM to a new carbed 350 PCM in the 76 M17 and bolted right up to the existing holes. Never had a 351, so couldnt give a honest opinion on which is better.

                                    Jeff...

Ryan, great looking ‘fish’. In my ‘fish’ with the stock PCM 351 and 1.23 trany I am getting 37mph @ 4200rpm and about 27mph @ 3000rpm depending on the load. Is your prop tuned? How are you loaded? I do understand that PCM 351 is now a GT40 with a lot more HP that yours (and mine). I believe that PCM is now working on a new lot of 351’s. I do not know where or how they got them but my buddy just ordered a new one and got delivered last week. With that being said, most new repowers are with GM blocks. If it was me, I would go for the most HP I could get, but I do like my 351. There was a thread last week debating GM vs. Ford. Good luck with your new power – and what color is on your boat, I really like it, hard to tell it from a new Edgewater. Jerry

Ryan, I see it now, when I looked at your picture the shade on you hull look like a light shade of green, almost the same color of one of the Edgewater’s at the Annapolis Boat Show. Cosmetically my boat needs help, the original color was gray which CC had big problems with fading and chalking. Prior owner did a very poor paint job, and painted the hull blue, kind of a royal blue color, gunnels and console were painted gray and did not match the rest of the boat, deck and interior is the original gray gelcoat…so I got a mix of “crap”. I was going to repaint this summer but somehow did not want to lay the ‘fish’ up, I was enjoying it so much. The blue is growing on me, but the gray gunnels and console have to go, I will redo them in white. Then we will decide on the hull color. Jerry

Nautique2001 wrote: Ryan, I've owned two, 351 carbureted Ford, PCM engines. They're great engines in my opinion. I think you'd be happy with either engine, but I'd stick with what the boat came with. Any parts that are still good on your current 351 can be re-used. TRBenj can give you some tips to beef the 351's HP up, if that's your thing. Ken

Ryan,

Im a fan of the 351w. But if I were starting from scratch, Id strongly consider a 350 because its easier and cheaper to build up. If youre interested in seriously modifying it, a carb'd 350 may be the way to go. If youre leaving the motor stock (or near stock), the 351w would better suit the Fish- and if you can get your ins co to pay for it get the GT40 EFI for the better driveablility.