What year 454 Block
 

I bought a 2000 26' Excalibur with the 385hp 454 got it cheap because the dealer said it needed the engine rebuilt, the oil was a milk shake. I was told it got over heated so I figured it would need a head or 2, I pulled the intake off, and it was full to the top with a water oil mix, so I drained it out. After pulling the engine out and heads off and cleaned the heads looked ok then I checked the valley and found a crack at the top of the valley just above the middle water galley. So, I am wondering what year block the 502 heads will fit.

Also, I was wondering what manifold and carb the best would be to replace the FI system.

I’d find a 454/502 take out and put it in and call it a day. JMO.

The Gen VI heads should work on any BBC if you use the correct head gaskets

Always sucks dealing with cracked blocks.
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How are the crank and rods?

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...3d3b0b6998.jpg
This is a page from Grumpy's BBC info pdf.
Do you have the 088 Rec port heads?

Mark IV Gen V and ​​Gen VI heads can be interchanged, but they requires the correct head gasket to account for the different coolant passages.

Gen V blocks are from 1990-95
Gen VI blocks are from 1996-2001

Both 1 pcs rear main.

Tartilla

Yes, I have the 088 heads. I will pull the block apart after Christmas, but I think the internals are ok so I think I can rebuild it for around 3K depending on the block I get..Thanks for the info

IF engine is original to boat, it will be a gen 6 block with 6 bolt timing cover. IF you plan on switching to a different series of block, it will cost you more. A slightly older gen 5 454, was used from approx 1990 to 1995/96 will work BUT you will be buyng new lifters to use it and a 10 bolt timing cover. A mk 4 block will work (1989/1990 and older) but you will need a different flywheel, a different crankshaft, different balancer, different oil pan just to name a few. The l29 pickup truck engines used gen 6 454s from 96 to 99 or so. Those blocks bare pop up on FB for 500 to 1000 all the time. A local yard had a gen 5 454 turn key engine sitting in a truck for 600$ complete a week ago, I woulda bought it at that price but i get very few calls on bbc that small and even less on gen v stuff.

If you can rebuild for $3k do it! My guess more like $6k rebuild? Good luck plenty long blocks out there

It costs me ~$3000 to rebuild a SBC in the mid 90's. That was with me doing everything except the machine work. Prices have gone way up for everything. Then there's the "while I'm at it" costs that can really jack up the total.

You may be able to put it back together for 3k, but not with doing full rebuilds.

Sourced Gen VI block
Hot tank
Hone/re-ring
Gaskets
Bearings
Valve Job & head work
possible timing chain
Carb kit
Water pump?

Doesn't take much to add.up $3k just for a minor refresh.

Just doing 12q oil change can be rough these days.