I've heard of engines being "boat anchors" before, but...

I know the term "that engine is good for a boat anchor" but these guys took it seriously... wonder what kind they used to be?

 

heres some more. 2 flathead fords.

 

#3 is SB Ford, #2 I think is SBC

 

the "complete" engine is a small block Ford.
The first engine in the row is a 429/460.

 

Second picture is big block Chevy.
Third is small block Ford.

 

Runs good. Just needs a little cleaning.

 

I'm a retired fireman and yes we had many of those. The Continental 866 ci inline six was the champion of all of them. Dual plugs, dual magneto's, three up draft Zenith Carburetors and a long time to start engine. It was a 12 volt (in 1956 that was just coming into the market place) and we even had the back wheels up on a ramp for a "Roll-off" start.Compared to the 935 and 1091 Hall Scott engines we had this thing was a costly problem. The power plant weighed 970 lbs too. It would have been a great anchor!

 

Pretty common when junk iron was cheaper than concrete and a sbc bare block weighs right at 150 lbs and some of the big blocks go over 300.
When those were dropped in the water you could probably get clean cracked blocks at the local machine shop for hauling them off so they didn't have to. Now days it's a wonder that a scrapper doesn't haul them off at low tide in the middle of the night.

 

So what is the story behind these?

 

There are those, and literally dozens more, maybe up to 100 of them, sitting in the harbor in Trinidad, CA, about 15 miles North of Eureka. I was down doing some shopping last weekend, stopped by my favorite beachfront seafood joint, and there they were... that's all I know.

 

That'll hone out... maybe .010 at worse case!

 

#3 is a SBF but looks like a 351W judging by it's width

 

whats this I keep hearin about molasass

 

Good on bread...

 

I see one still has pan gasket material stuck to it. Now that's some good gasket cement!

 

Little electrolysis bath, and those will clean right up.
-Brad

 

The wide 351 is the M. I know because I'm the unlucky sap who has one in their vehicle. C and W motors were the narrow (small block) ones

Around home people used motor blocks as anchors for their floating duck blinds.

 

Just needs a little TLC.

 

"Ran when parked"!

 

Ha. Beat me to it.

 

FACT! A 351W is wider than a 302. Hence why I say that it's a 351W. It's not a Cleveland or an M due to the wet intake ( in this case a VERY wet intake) Now it's just semantics and I'm being pedantic while being didactic! and now to be pragmatic it's just a rusty boat anchor!

 

More like ran when sank.

 

Huh? The W was for Windsor.
?

No?

 

Those in the first pic are pontiac & olds. The second is a small block chevy 400 it has 3 core plugs. The third is a 351 winsor ford. Anyhow that it my guess OldWolf

 

You can tell the second one is a big block by the main caps, small blocks use all "squared off" caps like the front cap in the picture.

The third is 351 Windsor. The rocker arms are in line (wedge) so it's not Cleveland or Modified (canted valve, like BBC or 429/460 Ford). The intake is wider than a 221-302 so it's 351.
Larry T

 

The one on the end of the chain appears to be a Barnacle Block !

 

Ran when parked.

Have you ever considered that statement. Unless it was scattered it most likely did run when parked or at least ran until it was parked.

 

hmm seasoned blocks ready for magnafluxing ,

 

"running when pulled"

 

I need those chains...can they be Plated...??