i think you will sink it. i don't think you have enough boat to float the engine and drive. will be grossly overpowered. the engine is fine for an i/o or inboard application, but you'll have to deal with marine add ons, alternator, ignition, seawater pump, etc.
this will be you, i love the boat, don't destroy it.
Facey, The tower weighs about 300 pounds. The 350 small block and outdrive weigh more than 1100 pounds. I also think it will sink. I know it will take up most/all of the interior space. Put five of your friends in the stern of your boat, with the Merc still on and see if it sinks. They need to sit on each other's laps to be a real test.PS that boat looks a bit like my '74 Avenger!
Look up v drives and boats of that nature. I know that the majority of the smaller boats with V-8's as v drives are usually 18 or mor feet long. Not a project I would even consider.
Not necessarily so! I know a guy who has a 350 with jet drive in a 16 footer. I dont remember the hull name, but it is factory original; came with that set-up. Only thing though is that it only goes about 65. A lot of new jet skis can beat it. Only has a front seat also. Not much room.
So, the question is: Is it worth all that work for a boat that won't be that much faster than if it had a big outboard and has a lot less room?
Even if it doesn't sink, the cost/work to make it work with a SB V8 would be really high. Plus, as was pointed out, the horsepower to weight ratio would suck. It would be faster with a V6 Merc. 150 than it probably would be with a V8 in it. A V6 outboard would be literally less than half the weight of that V8 engine.
