That might still be true if this was 1985, such is not even the case nor a valid arguement today. As for price, that is no longer the issue either today. Some people like to be different and unique, others like to be able to get a camshaft and lifters while they shop for their groceries at the local corner pantry.

ya that was my whole intent of this thread was to see if there were boats utilizing small ford power thus enabling me to procure the appropriate items. Im still looking. Nice Fords by the way, amazing the head technology that has come about in the last 5 years huh?

I'm a diehard chevy guy, but I say go for it woody. I had a donzi Z25 with a king cobra in it and it ran great, even had omc outdrive. To me what would be trick is to see a high reving cobra 4.6 DOHC motor sitting in there stroked w/ efi and maybe a blower ala out of a cobra mustang. I'm sure it would be good and quick as well as reliable...Rob

Woody;

I am using A460 heads which are really a 15 year old design.
They still flow over 450/340 cfm though . I use them because the hemi heads and the big Yates heads are bigger than any Marine exhaust system can accomodate. A460 have BB Chev exhaust patterns. Boss 429 heads would need a header with a 3" ID primary. Probably could be done for a price.

I have gotten a lot of S***t for using the fords. Most of it is good natured teasing. The quality of parts out of the Ford motorsport catalog are fantastic. All engines are air pumps when it comes down to it.

Main obstacles will be mounting and quality exhaust. Let me know if I can help.

Don't by chance have the speed shop 'Woodys' in Clarkshill, IN?

Yeah, the "expensive" and "hard to mod" Ford smallblocks became "cheap" and "easy to hotrod" with the advent of the 5.0 Mustang.

Inexpensive aftermarket heads are everywhere, and Ford's own GT40 head (no relation to the GT40 car) was developed to offer a cheap blue oval alternative to the aftermarket TFS (and others) heads.

Cam profiles have come a long way, too.

Ford smallblocks slow? Where've you been lately?
SBC held the honors for a long time. The Ford and Chevy both are now playing on a fairly level field.

But he should still stick with more cubes. Something on order of 348 or so.

The A head is still a great head by all means. When the 460 cylinder head gold rush started 5-6 years ago it really opened up th eyes of many. No longer having to rely on Iron heads from the 70's. Hell I started back when building 351 clevelands were the real deal, winding em up to 10,000 rpm, cuttin the old cleveland heads apart for plates and all that good stuff. I just talked to drew Marine and he gave me a contact to find the necessary bellhousings I need. This is gonna be fun. Ahh the rumble of 2 347 inch Fords in this boat will be a beautiful thing

No im just a small guy here in chicago that does stuff for some local diehards. Not a volume shop by any means. I like to keep it that way, so I dont actively pursue any new clientel. Just my old faithful guys that have been doin Fords for 20 years

keep us posted as you put er together Iv'e been a Ford man all my life(I even have the Logo tattooed on my shoulder)I have built a few hondo and cole flatbottoms with BB Fords(FE and 385 series) but I have never seen Fords in a high performance sterndrive app. would love some photos from both of you.

i had a 68 mustang fastback j code car it was puss and i had fun with it but i built a 383 sbc stroker for the next car project and it was amazing how hard that thing pulled stock 5.7 rods and a 200.00 scat cast steel 5140 crank cheap as can be with 202 461 heads. a friend had a 406 sbc he built for next to nothing with all oem parts except the pistons. it was a torque monster. of your going sbf why not a least built something with some stroke and cubic inches?