351 Ford Questions

Tranner · Posted: May 02, 2004 12:35 pm Post subject: 351 Ford Questions

Hoping for some quick technical advice since none of the shops around me are open today (Sun).

I have an 85 Nautique 2001 with 351 Ford. My problem is that it won't start so I thought it was the starter and battery. I replaced both but have a question about the starter. I installed an automobile starter from Autozone and that didn't do anything. My engine is making a very slow cranking noise like it is struggling turning.

I already pulled all the spark plugs out of it and my it seems to turn over a little better but still not good enough to start. It's perplexing because I just used the boat the other day and it worked ok.

So here are my questions: Does it matter if the starter is marine or not? I heard that new SANs spin the prop in reverse.. is this true with my boat also? If so, does that mean the starter (the Autozone one) is spinning the flywheel the wrong way?

Please Help!!

Jack V · Outlaw Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 207

you need a marine starter on that boat.

tryan · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 257

assuming your boat is sporting the original driveline, you need a reverse rotation starter. napa can order one for you, but i don't know if autozone can. i would haul butt down to autozone, retrieve your old starter before it is gone ( assuning you turned it in as a core) and take it to a shop that repairs/rebuilds starter and alt's.

'just used it the other day' do you mean with the new starter?

sounds like lack of current. how many cranking amps is your new battery? is it fully charged? cables and ends good? block ground tight and clean?

AZ$tyle · Newbie Joined: 30 May 2003 Posts: 45

automobile starters turn the wrong way.. I did the same thing with my 89 nauty.. Plus they do not have the marine grade gear cover.. I picked mine up from the dealer turned out to be about the same price.

Hope this helps. Laughing

Tranner · Posted: May 02, 2004 10:04 pm Post subject:

Here is the scoop. We messed with the motor for the past two days and nothing seems to help it. I think the motor may be seized because the motor turns but it is extremely resistant. I can barely turn the prop by hand. I can barely turn the engine by hand. We spit a little water out of the spark plug holes when trying to crank the engine without plugs in it. What do you guys think? Engine? Tranny? Both?

tryan · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 257

head gasket blown or improper winterization( cracked exhaust, intake, block or heads). if the oil pan does NOT have water in it, you may have gotten lucky. my advise would be to pull it and tear it down. is shagged a word? you shagged it. bummer. Surprised

ps. spinning the prop will never turn the motor.

Tranner · Posted: May 03, 2004 6:43 am Post subject:

A couple of my friends want to pull the block and tear it down starting this week. Any suggestions on if I should buy a remanufactured long block or just do the rebuild myself. I've found remanufactured blocks for $1300. Not really sure if that is a good price or not.

tryan · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 257

that is a very good price if it's a reverse rotation long block of good quality. if it's a regular rotation short block , it's is over priced.

find the problem first. you might have cracked a manifold and the new motor will fail in short order.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Tranner, That sounds like a good price to me. I've been looking just for general info and the cheapest I've found for a PCM 351 Ford was $1600 rebuilt. Where did you find yours at? Do you know how to take it out yourself or is there documentation for that?

vette74 · Posted: May 03, 2004 7:28 am Post subject:

Try to find out why it seized before you tear down the engine. It might be a cracked exhaust manifold that is leaking water through your exhaust port. If this is the case pour about a table spoon of transmission fluid into your spark plug holes every day for a week and rotate the engine by hand. If it is not to bad this would free the engine up. If it works change oil put a new exhaust manifold on or repair the old one and fire it up. Do a compression check if you are satisfied with the results you are done.

marcg · Addict Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 944 City: Salt Lake City

They have always been backwards (the starters).

Did you try to start it in the water with that backwards starter?....or did you just start it dry?

I recall someone had the same issue with a starter in his 2001 89'...they put an automotive starter on there and somehow the reverse rotation pulled the water into the block...something to that effect.

Call Correct Craft in Orlando...ask for the parts department...if possible ask for Woody:
(407) 855-4141

Inquire about the new starter and tell them what you did.

Let us know.

x2hoss · Criminal Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 75

the 351w DOES turn backwards and you need a pcm starter or backwards turning starter. if you tried starting the engine with the wrong starter in ,you WILL get water in the cylinders and the engine Will go under a hydrolic lock(if you had water hooked up to it)The reason is because the exhaust valves become the intake when spinng backwards......Put the new starter in (right one) pull all the plugs , turn the engine over with the key a few times ,to get the water out, put plugs back in and fire it up....... I just went through all of this in the shop a couple days ago...customer never told me about him replacing the starter...just told me about water in the cylinder...Man sent me for a loop

x2hoss · Criminal Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 75

Also most 351w in cars are NOT backwards turning, so getting that starter at an auto parts store may not be that easy....i owned a 76 nautique..and went through the same problem