Ski Boat with a 302

[Gary Lewis]

I don't think this is a Ford-specific Holley, but don't know for sure.

[ArdWrknTrk]

12V choke and no external bowl vents with "Holley for Motorcraft" says it isn't a 4180, but I was asking about Larry's carb with the symmetrical horn on the secondary side.

[Gary Lewis]

Yep, thought so.

Larry may respond this evening.

[85lebaront2]

Looking at the carb, he only has pictures of the choke side. One thing jumped out at me, the lever with the ball on it. I will bet that carburetor came off a Super Duty truck engine (401, 477 or 534) those have a centrifugal governor that is mechanically linked to the throttle shaft.

All the Marine Holleys I have seen had either a linked pair of vents or vents that "looped" so the open end pointed down. Here is a link to 4 barrels: https://www.holley.com/products/fuel_systems/carburetors/marine_carburetors/

Ignition systems were generally sealed somewhat, many were Prestolite.

On a side note, I have an idea for a good high output ignition system that hopefully can be triggered with a DS-I or DS-II distributor (it would still need the large cap and rotor but use a E-core coil and no ballast resistor. If you or someone else has a DOA DS-II box (can even be aftermarket). The issue will be if a DS-II pickup will trigger the module, I know a Chrysler pickup will as that is what is used on MGs and Jaguars.

[Gary Lewis]

Bill - I'll see if I have a bad DS-II box.  I think I have the one that was on BB when I got him and it doesn't consistently retard the spark when starting.  If I kept it I'll send it to you - along with all the other stuff I have for you.

[ratdude747]

It's almost certainly not a marine carb. An old automotive carb that was slapped on there. No flame arrestor or anything. No offense to the passed, but a hillbilly install. But, the IN boating manual only called out the flame arrestor as the propulsion part legally mandated (and even then, only on federal waters like the Ohio river). To be legal I need to have flares, a fire extinguisher, and an air horn (portable) too. And a replacement all-around light if I get caught before dark (the stern socket is there, standard 2-prong)

I took pics of the carb last night but due to a hellish work schedule and the like I haven't had a good chance to post them.

One part of the casting by the horn is marked "8132 68221". The other side of the carb is marked "7136 68221". No other tags. Edit- wrong numbers... I'll have to give it another look.

Sounds like I need to replace the carb then... unless I want to blow it up. Free for a reason.

Edit- I may pull the carb off before I leave for the show tomorrow and bring it with. If nothing else, as tradebait.

I've also done the first bit of rewiring, in this case to allow for a Pertronics Ignitor II upgrade (a lot of the pics are that). I also will be looking to put in new plugs, wires, cap, and rotor. But, sierra marine has the rotor backlogged and I don't know if there's anything automotive that'll crossreference. The wires can't be automotive (marine wires are longer due to the bulky exhuast manifolds) and I can probably run auto plugs since I'm not running in salt water (I read external coatings are the only thing special about marine plugs).

[ArdWrknTrk]

Please look at Gary's pic of the air horn above.
9834-3 is the list number (this is Holley's application code)
The date code is 291st day of year 5 (could be 75, 85, 95, 05....)

I am interested in why that horn sticks up in the back.

[ratdude747]

In the boat at 1am...





Carb is off. Markings are d4he-9510-ca, list 6822-1. 1974 ford... clearly not Marine!

Looks like I get to go bankrupt on a $600+ marine carb. Almost as cheap to put a marine sniper on it. But I dunno if I have enough spare 12v and it'd be a complete fuel system rework. Nah...

Edit: found another tag, this one from Ford:

[ArdWrknTrk]

I didn't mean right now.     

My buddy Tommy is a retired/disabled marine mechanic.
Even he has no idea what all the stuff he has in his shed.
Let me see if I can get over to his place this weekend.

[ratdude747]

No, but I leave town tomorrow morning for Gary's show (and a buddy in MO before that). And I want to take the carb to the show (since if it's useless to me, might as well rehome it).

Found the "correct" carb for it... $1000: https://www.holley.com/products/marine_and_powersports/marine/marine_carburetors/parts/0-80364

Yeah, I better hope for a used unit. Heck, that's not far off a marine sniper EFI for the same setup:

https://www.holley.com/products/marine_and_powersports/marine/sniper_efi_marine/sniper_efi_4150_marine/parts/550-510

(although that'd be a lot of fuel system mods... and no idea how/if an O2 sensor would fit there).

Maybe look for a used carb?

[85lebaront2]

What that Mercruiser had originally was a 302 two barrel intake with an adapter and a Rochester 2GC marine carburetor. My department manager at NNS had one. Engine should have 351W heads.

The D4HE prefix is 1974 model year for introduction, but could easily be later. If you could find someone with a big truck that used the SD engines and needs a carb it would be great.

[Gary Lewis]

Bill - Specifically a 475 or 477.  

[85lebaront2]

Thanks Gary, I knew it came off one of those old SD gas engines as I rebuilt a few for the cities of Hampton and Newport News VA.

[Gary Lewis]

I would have thought that a carb for a 475 would be too rich for a 302.  But maybe that's not the case?

And, for what its worth, a buddy of mine had a Cobalt with a 302 in it back in the 70's.  It had a 2bbl intake and carb on it and we put an Edelbrock intake and 4bbl on it without much difference.  Yes, it had a little bit more on top end, but not much.  And there was no discernable difference coming out of the hole.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Gary, it's not about "too rich", a carburetor meters fuel to air.
An oversized carb is more likely to be too lean because the smaller displacement wouldn't provide enough signal (depression) to suck fuel.

Regardless, Larry needs a carb that fits his manifold, and that's obviously a 4V at this point

Looking at 1975 Mercrusiers with a 302 I see this:   https://www.mercruiserparts.com/888-2-bbl-ford-302-v-8-1971-1977-31


I will definitely try to pick Tommy's brain while y'all are having a truck gathering.

[Gary Lewis]

Ahhh!  That makes sense.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I'm seeing an Edelbrock knock-off 1409 "marine" carburetor on Amazon for under $200....

All the usual caveats about Chinese 'junk' apply, but it's worth knowing about.

Edit, link didn't work:   Trucktok 1409 Marine Carburetor Performer 600 CFM 4 Barrel Square Bore with Air Valve Secondary Electric Choke Carburetor Replacement for Chrysler Chevy Marine Engine https://a.co/d/4jWRQlD

[ratdude747]

Before leaving town, I scanned some of the documents from the glove box. They're not pretty but it's something. But, being images, they're too big to upload.

If we want them here, I'll be happy to provide.

[ArdWrknTrk]

It doesn't work to use the 'large size' option in the right column of the insert image window?

[Gary Lewis]

85lebaront2 wrote

On a side note, I have an idea for a good high output ignition system that hopefully can be triggered with a DS-I or DS-II distributor (it would still need the large cap and rotor but use a E-core coil and no ballast resistor. If you or someone else has a DOA DS-II box (can even be aftermarket). The issue will be if a DS-II pickup will trigger the module, I know a Chrysler pickup will as that is what is used on MGs and Jaguars.

Bill - I rescued this yellow-grommet module from the stuff going to the show.  Seriously doubt anyone would buy it, even for a buck which is what we'd be asking, so it would get tossed at the end of the day.  As you can see, two of its connectors are broken and being a yellow-belly no one wants it.

It is now with the other stuff coming to you - some day.