I've researched all the posts about 427 marine engines but I still have a few questions that perhaps you folks could answer.
I know where there are 2 427 marine engines complete from carb to pan that have been sitting assembled for quite some time. They both came out of the same boat.
My questions are -
How can you tell if they were closed loop cooled as apparently these are the only ones that would not be severely corroded.
What would they be worth in an assembled state since it's impossible to tell if there are any problems inside?
Even if the blocks are toast, are the other parts worth considering? What about the heads?
Any list of identifiers that could decipher what these are?
Pulling the water pump allows you to look inside at the cylinder walls. There should basically be no rust on them, and the surface should be fairly smooth. If rusty and spongy, the block was a salt water block.
I believe that salt water blocks are usually used in performance applications, where the closed circuit cooling system adds too much weight. Also, salt water blocks are not as easy to find nowadays, as most dissolved away many years ago. It is most likely that your blocks are from a closed-circuit cooling system. I have more info on these systems, but haven't studied them deeply, nor have I studued them recently, so I can only offer vague information. I do believe that the bolt-on exhaust manifolds and water pumps can tell you which type of cooling system the engine has, but am not certain.
The heads are usually the same as C6AE-R, but with C6TE/C7TE/C6JE/C7JE casting numbers. They are good, but not particularly valuable.
The reverse camshafts, reverse distributors, and reverse starters have a fan club following, as do the other FE marine items. The marine-specific parts are HEAVY, and may or may not fetch good prices on ebay. Depends on whether one of the many FE marine enthusiasts are watching the auction.
The FE marine engine forum here at Net54 has all the information you seek.
if the engine had a closed system it would of had a heat exchanger ..this usually located at the front of the engine and ..looks like a tank with a radiator cap on it, where you would of add'd anti freeze
