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MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 8:03 am
by Hyperjump
Work in progress.
1- new heads for 327 fireball Graymarine , rebuild or new.
2- trim tabs, make and size
3- paint , top and bottom , she is racked stored
4- windless
5- covers , bimini

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 10:09 am
by ddependo
nice!

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 9:10 pm
by honestcharlie56
are you asking questions in the order of 1-5? If so, don't buy new heads and not know where they come from. Find a reputable machinist and use him. We can't see where you live, but I would bet wherever you are someone on this forum knows a guy close enough to use. If your in Texas I'll refer you to my guy. He charged me about 2,000 for heads on two motors, but he does awesome work (stainless valves, hardened seats, new guides, new seals, decking, etc, etc. ). What makes you think you need heads?


PS- that is a gorgeous boat and I know everyone here appreciates you sharing! Let us know she comin!

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 6:09 am
by Fastjeff
Hold it! If that's the AMC 327 cube motor, you'd better look around for exhaust manifolds BEFORE spending dime one on it. Damn hard to find.

Jeff

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 4:27 pm
by Hyperjump
No, not asking questions. just order of things needed done. I am in NE Ohio. Ashtabula to be exact. The motor run great. It burns a quart of oil every 2 - 3 times out though. Carbon blowing out the exhaust. When running her she dose not smoke. Just on start ups when smoke and carbon blow out. Had 1 mech say motor needs replaced. Had another mech ( didnt look at the motor) say sounds to me new heads. He was familiar with that motor. He said that year of motor was made to run leaded gas not this stuff these days. He will look deeper in spring. This all came about last year when winterizing the boat , so neither got a chance to look deeper into problem. If i do need new motor then its a chevy 350 , or chrysler 360 . Thanks for all info....

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 5:46 pm
by Busia
If it is running good, leave it alone. Pull the sparkplugs and check if they are fouling. Normal for an engine to burn some oil until it warms up. Make sure you are not overfilling it by draining all the oil and then put in the right amount. Then check the dipstick. If wrong, put a new "full" mark on it. (file a scratch on it) Oil is cheap, just add more if that is all it needs. If you want leaded gas, take a 5 gallon gas can (metal, not plastic ) to the airport and get some 100 low lead Av gas. 5 or 10 gallons of Av gas to a tank will help a lot. Also good for your lawnmower.--Ed

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 6:02 pm
by EWRice
It does sound like you may need valve stem seals. They can be replaced without pulling the heads. The only reason I would pull heads is if there was a burned valve or bad valve guides. Leaded gas only affects the valve seat and face on these early engines, not the guides. The "lead" helped soften the pounding of the valve and seat before they were hardened. I've seen engines run for years without leaded gas and never burn a valve.

If in fact you need a set of heads, I believe that all three engines share the same head (250,287,327) and there is no differences with the automotive head. Given the choice, I would go with an automotive head. Being that it had antifreeze in the engine it's whole life, it will be in better shape. The later heads (post '64?) Had AIR bumps cast into the top of the exhaust ports, but that will not make any difference.

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 6:51 pm
by bill
BigM
Hyperjump
Great looking Marinette. :)
When you get a chance please add a signature to your posts. 8-)
bill

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 8:26 pm
by honestcharlie56
Is carbon actually blowing out or are you referring to oil smoke? If carbon is shooting out of the exhaust....take her out and put her through her paces. Getting some heat in those cylinders will do her good. I've fixed plenty of tractors by putting a bush hog on the back and backing the mower into a pond to run the tractor loaded up, sometimes people idle/just putt with engines and they run too cool and collect carbon. If the engine runs good, I would just let it be. Put oil in as needed and spend your time engjoying (sorry for the pun) the boat.

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 5:55 am
by Fastjeff
"Run the hell out of it!" has cured many a problem.

Jeff