LS Marine Engine
Thanks
Mods: I wasn't sure where to put this so feel free to move is necessary
http://www.crusaderengines.com/Products/6_0.html
Raylar marine used to offer an aluminum block, but might have been discontinued.
Then there's the LSA powered outboard.
http://www.seven-marine.com/
http://www.marinepowerusa.com/
http://www.kemequipment.com/kodiakmarine.html
Also, you can look around at some sites like michiganmotorz.com. They sell marine engine parts.
Link in my sig for my conversion into my boat. Its not done yet, still have an assembly to do, but I have all the parts I need except a few jet pieces and impellers...
also, pm'd ya
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I have just finished repowering my boat with an LS. All the parts are available "off the shelf". Mine is carb'ed but, fuel injection would be just as easy, if not easier. If you'd like, PM me and I'll give you my contact info.
Bob S
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
A parts lists would take too much time. A good place to start for a home builder can be found right here in the forum,
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...-ls-motor.html
Most marine drives are built for older style BB & SB gm, ford or mopar engines. Speaking specifically of the gm type the biggest hurdle you'll face is adapting the drive to the metric style crank of the ls's. A simple fix can be had in a locally built (your favorite machine shop) .400" spacer and re-drilled splined shaft flange from your drive to connect the crank to your drive. This is what I did. Fly wheels with this spacing incorporated are now available from Jeg's or others like them. As are simple motor mounts to convert back to the old 3 bolt gm pattern.
MSD's 6012 ignition will drive the coils on a 58 reluctor crank if you want to run a carb. GM offers an ecm setup for efi but you'll then have to figure out how to operate the "fly by wire" throttle. That's not what I did so, I don't know what it will require.
Because mine was an older boat with an analog helm I had to find sending units (oil psi & water temp) to match. I'm also running egt & afr indications just to be safe because I'm not running a knock sensor. Cam profile makes the egt just about useless though.
Marine starters, alts, spark arrestors are easy. Jegs, marine engine depot, wholesale marine, amazon...everybody's got'em. Ain't cheap though.
Regards,
Bob S
Last edited by Bob S; Feb 5, 2014 at 05:03 PM. Reason: additional info
I think this is what the OP is looking for. (Along with guidance on setting the engines up to counter-rotate.) It would be great if someone who has completed this type of project could post a how-to on the site.
They are expensive, but very important on a boat! (A lot of folks choose, unwisely, to skip these parts.)
All mercruiser out drives are available in a CR prop for a standard rotation engine. Velvet drive also makes transmissions that can turn the prop either way with a standard rotation engine.
Counter rotation is handled with the drive systems.
My first attempt at repowering with an ls was with a used L76 I got from a dealership as a warranty exchange. They thought the cam bearings had failed. Paid $300. Deleted the vvt, afm, dod and changed the cam. By the time I got it running in the boat I was 16K plus into the project. What I didn't do was pull the bottom end on the L76 to check it out. It was the #1 & 3 rod bearings. My bad. That annoying squeak was not tensioner or idler pulleys or even the $500 marine alternator...all of which I swapped out.
The learning curve is steep for slow people...:-(
Bob S
that video is exactly what i want to do.
I understand the special alternator/ starters ect... but will i need special coil packs? special tinned wiring harness? or will i be ok with the regular MSD coil packs and copper wires?
Any idea as to what drives i should be trying to mate these LS's to? currently has 427 FE's mounted to Paragon transmissions. I really dont plan on doing a dy sump so i will need to figure out how to get the prop on the port side to counter rotate.
I realize this is in the wrong section... Mods can please move to correct section.

My understanding is that with the prevalence of fuel injected engines, the common technique for counter-rotating props is to do it in the gear cases. (Letting the cranks spin as they do off the shelf.)
I put an '05 5.3 EFI truck motor into a '97 ski centurion. Used Marine Power exhaust manifolds, alt, starter, Indmar fresh water pickup pump.
3 years running without issues. Its for sale








