Ford vs. Chevy

[nautique95]

Sorry if there has already been a thread on this! I am not trying to start a big debate here, but I have always liked the ford engines. I feel they have proved themselves over the years and have done a great job handling the high RPM's that these boats turn. I had to get the chevy in my 206 because ford no longer makes the 351 anymore, and I was just wondering how the chevy has been holding up and performing for others? I had three ford engines before this one and really liked the performance of them!!
Just waiting for warm weather!!

[83sn2001]

RE: Ford vs. Chevy

Mercruiser and Indmar have used them for years. I personaly owned a mercruiser 5.7 magnum in an 89 Marlin skier. Put 900 hrs on it with nothing but regular maintenance. I don't think you will have a problem with the engine. The electronics are what usually acts up, whether it is in the fuel injection or ignition.

[wakejunky]

RE: Ford vs. Chevy

I've had both and would have to say between the GT-40 and the Excalibur 330, I'd go with the GT-40 again. Better lower end torque and probably a little meatier in sound. I've had the Excaliber now for 2.5 years with not mechanical problems only electrical.

Too bad the Ford module engines couldn't be fitted.

Chris

[nautique95]

RE: Ford vs. Chevy

The GT-40's did have a great sound to them, no question about that!! I do notice a ticking noise in my Excalibur, but I do know that is common in the chevy engines! I did talk to the rep from PCM at the Cedar Point Reunion and he said they have had very good luck and reports on the Excalibur, so that is good to hear!!

[MARK-S]

RE: Ford vs. Chevy

GMs use less gas Sets per gallon, same performance.

[SGY]

RE: Ford vs. Chevy

The Ford 4.6 Modular motor was on its way to being fitted when Ford pulled the plug on its Marine division. PCM spent lots of time and money getting it ready before Ford pulled out.

I've always been a Ford fan. The GT-40 is a fantastic motor. I do love the Excalibur though. Very smooth and quiet. I've noticed no meaningful performance drop off either. Now, didn't I read somewhere on this board that PCM may bring back the GT-40? Not sure how?

[ag4ever]

RE: Ford vs. Chevy

The Ford 4.6 Modular motor was on its way to being fitted when Ford pulled the plug on its Marine division.

Thank goodnes for that. The modular motors are a joke IMPO. I had one loose it's bottom end in a mustang at less than 10,000 miles, and that was with my wife driving the car easy all the time. I think they suffer from severe oil supply problems, and would NEVER want one in a boat.

[Mikeski]

RE: Ford vs. Chevy

The GT-40 was a great marine motor, tons of torque, great out of the hole and strong up top. The 330EX seems strong until you start loading things down and pushing it hard, it does not respond as well as the GT-40. So you are forced to switch props which causes a loss of a couple MPH on the top end. Unfortunately for me, this is the difference between being able to pull 1 footers and not...

[gotpwr]

Re: RE: Ford vs. Chevy

As a Powertrain Engineering Supervisor who lives, breaths, and sleeps Ford, I can't tell you how disappointed I was when Ford walked away from the marine business. I don't know the details behind the decision, but I had a short conversation with a couple of the Ford Power Products guys and they were similarly frustrated and disappointed with the decision. One of the reasons I chose my Nautique over a Mastercraft was the fact that I could get a Ford engine. Maybe by the time I'm ready for a new boat Ford will be back in the marine business.

The Ford 4.6 Modular motor was on its way to being fitted when Ford pulled the plug on its Marine division.

Thank goodnes for that. The modular motors are a joke IMPO. I had one loose it's bottom end in a mustang at less than 10,000 miles, and that was with my wife driving the car easy all the time. I think they suffer from severe oil supply problems, and would NEVER want one in a boat.

I'm sure that the premature failure in your Mustang was due to a special cause defect and is not indicative of the durability of the vast majority of 4.6L's. Unfortunately, if that was your only experience with a 4.6L, that would tend to bias your opinion, so I understand your point of view. I spent some time in the Romeo Engine Plant dyno lab as a test engineer and I was always amazed at how well the internals of the 4.6L engines looked after a post-durability teardown. The 4.6L and 5.4L are without a doubt more durable than the 302 and 351. With that said, I think the new 5.4L 3V would make a great marine engine due to the combination of nice top end power and a broad torque curve.

[SGY]

Gotpwr, thanks for the info. I would love it if Ford power was back in a Nautique. I'd buy a new one just for that. ONce a Ford guy, always a Ford guy.

[CHassmann]

I have a preference for Chevy cars but do like the Ford engine in my boat. When I attended PCM School a few years ago, they said that the supply of engine blocks was cut off to them because Ford wanted to do their own marinization of the engines. I haven't seen any Ford offerings yet after just over three years..............

[jthooker]

The Ford engines in my '92 and '97 SN196's were outstanding. Both were the high horsepwer versions. Like CHassmann, I've always preferred Chevy cars but I really liked the Fords in my boats for their smoothness and low RPM torque. I was disappointed when I couldn't get the Ford in my new '04 SN196 but I haven't been disappointed since I've owned it. Hole shots are a lot stronger and we're up to speed into the slalom course a lot sooner which is important on our short lake. Total rated horsepower on the Chevy is higher so that probably helps.

[ag4ever]

Unfortunately, if that was your only experience with a 4.6L, that would tend to bias your opinion, so I understand your point of view.

Unfortunatly I have seen a few others with similar problems. I am sure it is fine in a light duty truck or even car engine, but when you put it in a boat with high constant load and high rpms, I seriously doubt it would be durable enough. Also, it was not the failure that soured me on Ford, but more so how Ford delt with it (resulted in a lawsuit).

Then again I am not to thrilled about the 6.0 from chevy, as they have a history of piston slap. Don't know if they have the same problem in the marinized versions.

[SGY]

My 6.0L in my 02 Sierra slapped like a doctor in a delivery room. Sounded like a diesel. According to GM, not a problem. Yeah, right.

[Mikeski]

One more thing to share...

My dad was a tried and true Chevy man, back when we were getting promo boats once or twice a year he paid the upcharge for a Chevy 350 in one of the boats. Much to his disappointment it didn't run as strong and it used more fuel than the Ford. So, we went back to the cheaper better performing Ford from then on. Like Dad I am more of a Chevy fan than a Ford fan (I have a Chevy Silverado and Tahoe) but if had been given a Ford option to get a Ford in the new boat it would have been a Ford. In reality I am somewhat disappointed in the performance of the the 330EX considering it'r rated to have more power than the Ford. On the other hand it does run quieter and smoother than any Ford.

Maybe a supercharger is in order?