ford big block

I've only seen one 460 in a CC and it was an OMC in a BFN. If you were talking about the 351/400 "M-modified" in terms of the BB question, there was never a market or thus an OEM marine engine company out there selling them for CC to buy from. But there's nothing stopping anyone from dropping a 460 in one however and those are out there. I'm still in the 2-year process of having a 428 Ford BB a$$embled for a 68 CC SN, which is a whole other ballgame from the 460 family. With a BB you generally need to move up to the heavier-duty 72 series BW Velvet Drive trans, as opposed to the 71 series. The 429 is a sister to the 460 and has always been a favorite of mine with deep racing roots, and before I die.........       

460s were found in a lot of jet boats over the years, and probably their most prominent home. A handful of Donzi's sported them during the span that OMC owned the company. A good chunk of the OMC King Cobra outdrives were attached to 460s in a number of hulls in the late 80s to early 90s, and again esp those other boat companies owned by OMC such as FourWinns.

You always would see the oddballs in the jet boats from memory i remember the 455cui in the jets, In the days when I didnt know any better I did a repower and ended up with 2 427 side oilers, I think i ended up getting $500.00 for the pair, they came with the transmissions and thats what i was interested in.

Lots of 455 Olds were indeed also in jets like you said Eric. I'm sorry to hear about the 427 deal. You could have almost retired off them these days based off what people are asking anyone. Just a little background info on the 427s FWIW, if you do find a good running 300HP 427 which comprised probably 90% of marine 427s, you'll be spending an awful lot of money on it to get the good power that most sellers think is automatically there. All the value resides only in the block and crank as they used garden variety FE 352-390 heads, low comp pistons, and low 4000 rpm cam, which all resulted in a reliable long-life torque engine as intended for powering big cruiser, but won't outrun a GT-40. They ended up in plently of smaller Chris Craft and Century runabouts and even as an option in some bigger CC's. Now if you can find the 330-400 HP marine engines then you're really onto a keeper and they were offered in most of these runabouts as well, just hardly ever seen. The common in it's day 426-290HP Chrysler marine wedge wasn't much different, but they sold it in up to rare 415HP+/- non-Hemi versions. Sorry for the tangent.      

there still are a few around, alot of the Chris Craft roamers use them, ran accross quite a few, like you said 8.5: 1 compression maybe... I rebuilt one for a guy 2 summers ago, just from what i remember adjustable valves, 300 hp, heavy as hell and had to go through a 24" salon door to get her in, good running engine i must say.It was definitly a work horse

I remember about ten years ago my family used to vacation at Higgins Lake in Michigan. There were two guys that met up there every year they both had jet boats. One was blue with a built 428 CJ motor the other brown with a built 502 chevy BB. They raced every year, and every summer the guy with the brown would lose and he would ad something new to it for next year. Finally they quit racing because for some reason that 502 just couldn't beat that 428 CJ. The 428 was all motor no bottle and no charger, neither turbo or super. But it was great fun watching them race. Water would usually be like gla$$ and they go tear it up.

no such luck for him, but speaking of bad. Something broke on the chevy every year trying to catch that ford. Which was a shame because they were both fantastic boats. The guys that owned them were very friendly. Hate to see anyone break their boat.