I picked up a core to build my stroker which leaves me with my original 97 motor. I used my original aluminum heads on the new motor. I am freshening up the old motor with rings, gaskets, seals. I have obtained a set of LT1 cast heads. I don't understand the cooling difference in the LT1. Will this motor work in my inboard boat that has a standard 2-piece 350 now?
Chas

 

you might need to reroute some cooling hoses. The LT1 typically used a sealed cooling system.

Personally, I'd be hesitant simply because the opti...

 

Very good point about the opti, I didn't even think of that.

 

It wouldn't be hard to put a different manifold on it and run a traditional style distributor in a boat.

Btw, I *think* some boats have LT1's in them.. I have seen a motor in a Supra Launch boat that I remember the water pump looked exactly like an LT1 water pump. I can't remember what the ignition looked like on it tough.

 

the stock intake can be machined etc. to use a standard dist.

If you have a 2pc. seal now you will need an adapter b/c the 1 pc. rear main in the LT1 is smaller bolt patern

Lots of boat guys do the swap

 

A few years back my friend had a boat that came from the factory with an LT1. It had the delteq coil pack set up on it.. This was before i had it on my car, and even new about it.. I'm not really sure how it was wired up to work.. But it had it.. And it ran goooood! Wish he still had it, i'd go take some pics and look it over. I don't even remember the name of the boat..

 

i thought 4th gen f-bodies were boats?

 

the stock intake can be machined etc. to use a standard dist.

What ECU would I need to use to run a standard distributor with the injected manifold? From what I understand I need the signal from the opti to run the injectors. Do you know of a site that would have more info on this conversion? This is my winter project, so I want to get a start on it.
Thanks

 

you could just use an aftermarket syatem.......Accel, F.A.S.T, Holley etc.

or just use the opti or add a deltec

 

I'm sure you already know this, but don't forget to swap over your marine alternator. And is there a special air filter too, your suppose to use on a inboard or inboard-outboard? Something that would help suppress a backfire?

 

Not the f-bodies, but Impalas and Caprices are !

 

Just get the MSD opti, I think they fixed all of the "water sensitivity" problems.

 

ive been wakeboarding since i was 13,14 and ive seen lots of boats with lt1's they all are corvette style. They all have vette plastic pieces about the valve covers. I think i even seen some ls style motors in some recent v drive wakeboard boats but not completely sure.

 

Opti in a boat, thats just ironic.
Wont have to worry about rain and deep puddles, kind of.

 

I would not worry about water with the Opti, any boat motor I've seen looks brand new since they are not exposed to the elements like car engines are (no mud, splashing, etc).

I would worry about the opti falling apart... I've went through 3 Accel opti's and 1 MSD Pro Billet opti all failed due to loose rotor screws... whatever you use make sure you red loctite the rotor screws... both of my MSD pro billets only had locktite on one of the screws - seems someone forgot to get the second screw..