Did I grab a diamond in the rough or just a pile of cast iron?

[Andrew55-G]

Picked up a Bayliner Vector 2000 with what's claimed to be a 5.0L Ford 302. Story goes it blew a rod bearing after a rebuild then got swapped for another motor. Left with this core and a bunch of mixed parts, marine carb intake manifold oil cooler bracketry. Not sure what's original anymore. Plan is to give it a shot of oil in each hole run a compression test and see if it's worth keeping around as a spare.

 

[TheNextDoctor99]

That's an interesting project you've got going on. have you tried to find any serial numbers or casting codes on the block itself? that might help identify the exact year or type of 302 you have which could tell you a lot about what parts should be original or compatible. Good luck!

 

[world star]

I think you should do a compression test before sinking any serious time or cash into it and if all is good then yeah, you can keep it s a spare or for parts

 

[ThrottleHappy]

That sounds like a good idea. Putting oil in the cylinders and running a compression test is a smart move to check if that core can be saved. With all those different parts, you might need to do some digging to sort things out, but having a spare engine could really come in handy later. Have you looked for any cracks or major damage before getting started?

 

[Andrew55-G]

That's some good food for thought from everyone, thank you. You're right that I need to do a full inspection for damage and try to identify the block before anything else. It is great to have a clear plan of attack now.

 

[ThrottleHappy]

Starting with a solid inspection will give you a lot of insight, that spare could really be a hidden treasure. Keep us updated.

 

[Andrew55-G]

Time for the promised update. The results are in! I was holding my breath, but all cylinders are showing between 135 and 145 PSI after a little oil. It appears this block has good bones after all and is worth hanging onto.

 

[wakewatchersclub25]

That's a wise choice. The strong and steady readings from all cylinders show that the ring seal and valve seating are in good shape. The compression range indicates that any damage to the bottom end was probably limited to the bearing journals, without compromising the integrity of the bore

 

[Andrew55-G]

I've been busy enjoying the boat on the water and haven't made much progress on the spare motor project lately. The damage likely being isolated to the bottom end is very reassuring news. The next step is to mount the engine on a stand so I can remove the oil pan and properly inspect the crankshaft. Are there any subtle signs of heat damage or stress on the crank journals I should look for beyond obvious scoring? My goal is to disassemble the bottom end sometime this fall, as my boating season comes to a close.