hello there, this thread is really to ask for some others input and/or advice on what i'm thinking of doing to replace my 5.7L mercruiser. if anyone one has done this exact swap before please chime in and leave me some advice. i've searched thruogh hundreds if not thousands of forums for tips and tricks but have not really run acrooss what im looking to do. Im thinking of buying a crate motor from gm. it's 5.7L 290hp gm longblock. 1900.00 and its brand new. what i'm going to do before it comes near the boat it swap out the head gaskets and intake manifold gaskets for a set of ss marine grade gaskets. say another 150.00. after that i'm going to get a brand new marine cam and lifters from meling another 200.00. so now i'm about 2300.00. i have all my other marine engine parts like marine starter, alt., mech. fuel pump, brand new manifolds and center risers, new marine circ. water pump and my old quadrdajet carb which i guess i'll put back on. now my problems are with intake manifold since i need to replace it. i'm looking to find an exact used one like i had. but what would be a choice on intake manifolds i would have, also the heads are 76cc and i was wondering if i could just look up the specs on the mercruisers cam and order one identical. i'm not sure if the stock 5.7 mercruisers heads are 76cc, so thats a qustion i need help on. so really i'm not sure what intake manifold i can use if i can not find an exact one like i had for a reasonable price. then i'm not sure about the heads cc and size camshaft i should go with. I guess thats it for now and anyone that can leave me some advice would be awesome. i still think i can do this for under 2500.00 more dollars and have a good engine for many many years if i keep up the matience. and it really beats spending 5-6000 dollars on a new mercruiser engine. anything i'm missing here please let me know. i can do all the work since i've done it before. there's not really much needed or involeved. i can do the entire project with not much more that a ratchet, sockets, tourqe wrech and screwdriver/nut driver. Ive got an engine alignment tool for when i do sit motor in boat. this is going to be my project for the fall so it'll be ready for next year, fresh and ready to go. but it's looking like i'll be bumming a boat ride for the fall rockfishing this year or might have to stick to the surf. we will see. anyway any help will be awasome and ideas and advice appreciated. thanks in advacne to everyone. also i forgot to mention that;d i'd be re using my thunderbolt IV ignition system also. i forgot to mention that iimportant info. thanks again
