PCM 5.8 Engineys

HkySk8r187 · Newbie Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 42 City: Oxnard

Is this a good engine? I hear it is a Ford motor but it says PCM all over it, and no Ford, so I'm not sure what relationship PCM and Ford have, if any. Also, I'm considering picking up a boat with this engine in it, it's got 250 hours on it. I'm wondering how good these engines are and what their expected lifespan is before they start requiring a lot of fixing.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Gmcc · Newbie Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 22 City: Gambrills

Boat engine manufacturers, such as PCM and Mercruiser buy Ford and and Chevy blocks and and marinize them to their specs. Most 5.8 liter engines are Chevy 350 blocks. Just because it is a Chevy or Ford block does not mean you can use Chevy or Ford parts. 250 Hours is not a lot by, but hours are just one thing to consider. 250 hours at WOT would be like running 50 Indianapolis 500's, but in normal use, 250 hours is nothing. I frequently put about 150 hours on the boat every year.

Cbrown · Soul Rider Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 301 City: Memphis

The 5.8l is the ford 351 block and as stated above indmar, PCM and mercruiser all buy the engines from ford in this case and marinize it for our uses. Now all the inboard manufactes are using a chevrolet block with the 5.7l 350 being the most commonly found.

I would not hesitate to buy the boat due to having the ford block.

HkySk8r187 · Newbie Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 42 City: Oxnard

biglouie · Outlaw Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 135

WOT=Wide Open Throttle

Gmcc · Newbie Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 22 City: Gambrills

Fresh water or Salt? It makes a big difference. If you are in salt water can you flush the engine after every use? I had a 89 Donzi that I ran in the Bay for a few years. I kept it in the water and there was no way to flush. I could count on replacing the high rise manifolds about every 300 hours. I sold the boat to a friend and the engine is still going strong with well over 1200 hours but the manifolds have been replaced several times. You didn't say if this is an inboard or an I/O. I/O's require maintance. You can check compression and look for other wear signs -rust, fluid leakage. Try to get any meaintaince records they have.

bchesley · Newbie Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 25 City: Whitehouse

You can ask any boat mechanic and he will tell you that the 5.8 liter was the staple for the marine industry for engines. Until 2002 or so I would bet that 75 percent of new boats had them. The GT-40 being the most popular because of its power and longevity. I have had several 5.8 ford motors in my boats and love them. Power is good and parts are readily available. I just got a set of GT-40 heads for my 83 nautique that will add 40HP with just bolting them on. Add a cam and I will have a 300hp motor that will last for as long as I own the boat. I bet if you did a survey on inboards on this forum you would be shocke at how many boats run them......

Brad

bchesley · Newbie Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 25 City: Whitehouse

I forgot to tell you that I have 1180 hours on my boat and still have compression within spec. The bottom end of a motor that is taken care of shoud run 2000 hours. If it abused maybe not!!!

Brad