BOAT cam in a truck? Opinions please.

[Longhorn 70]

I have been looking to replace the tired 425 Olds in my 3/4 ton. One of the rods is making a noise and telling the others that he is longer than them. I like the Olds power, economy and reliability not to mention the truck is already set up for Olds.

I have found a replacement Olds engine for a reasonable price. It was built for a jet boat though. I don't really know much about the boat cams except they are used in apps that turn 4500 r.p.m. for extended periods of time and make good vacuum down low. Would/could this be good in a truck app???

Should I just go back to the small block Chevy and be done with it??

Thanks in advance for all opinions.

[wibilly]

it's just right if you frequently run your truck at 4500 rpms if you don't then it isn't what you want

[budman k20]

Boat cams run very little overlap (intake and exhaust valves open at the same time) due to them having water cooled exhaust. Would be close to a stock non performance cam and probably make good torque which I think is good for a DD truck.

[brad_man_72]

66 stevens 2013 first fire - YouTube

Lobe seperation 112* comp xm278h the most extreme cam I could find for water cooled manifolds.
One thing to remember A LOT of jet boats don't have water cooled exhaust manifolds and all bets are off on what kind of cam might have been used.
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[cdowns]

if the olds engine is cheap enough they do still sell camshafts for old olds engines

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Longhorn 70

I like the Olds power, economy and reliability not to mention the truck is already set up for Olds.

Answered your own question? Have it rebuilt. If you buy a 350 crate engine, then all the accessories, intake, carb, dizzy, and everything else you would need, you'll have $3000 to$ 3500 in the swap.

[Mustard72]

There's no replacement for displacement.

[oldspowered67C10]

Gotta be careful when getting cams for Olds engines, some of the early 400s and 425s had a 45 degree lifter angle while most later ones(455s) had 39 degree. If Im not mistaken, most(all?) 425s had forged cranks though.

[turp mcspray]

Boats and trucks require the same thing...low end torque!

[Roninwolf]

I am a Inboard Boat Mechanic and most boat engines start as factory longblock truck engines or car performance engines then are finished out with wet exhaust, marine waterpumps (which are diff than cars and trucks because they need antifreeze to lubricate) and flame arrested starters, alts, ignitions and marine fuelpumps and carbs or fuel inj. Some intakes have brass water jackets for aluminum because electrolosis will eat up aluminum. But have seen ppl put all kinds of cams and car parts in them so you never know.The new 6.0's have 409 hp with closed water cooling systems so the engine has antifreeze in them with a freashwater cooled heat exchanger and wet exhaust.

[brad_man_72]

My only hope is that a nice jetboat isn't going to die to keep a truck on the road. Most old hotboats sell for less than what it would cost to build the drivetrain. So many old boats have been scrapped after stealing their engine.
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[kaynnon]

put it in and use it like it is, on weekends strap a set of ski's to the tires and take it out and fish from the bed. win win

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by cdowns

if the olds engine is cheap enough they do still sell camshafts for old olds engines

Yup... and a cam swap would be EZPZ to do before installing it in the truck.

Gary