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View Full Version : 1969 Donzi GT-21, 427 (NOT MINE)



Just Say N20
09-11-2010, 09:38 AM
http://annapolis.craigslist.org/boa/1947356005.html

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJWMqDYHAiM

Craig S
09-13-2010, 11:46 AM
They didn't all have consoles?

mattyboy
09-13-2010, 12:29 PM
Interesting Boat, not in bad shape looks to have many of the original touches to it . and some items and mechanicals have been updated

I am not a super motor guru can't tell if that is a 427 side oiler or a stroked 351.
To my knowledge they( holman moody/donzi) NEVER mated a 427 side oiler to an outdrive they only used v drives with 427 side oiler power.

anyone have a hull number??

anyone know if the 427 SO and the 351 have the same back end???

Eplebnista
09-13-2010, 02:43 PM
From what little I know, the only real way to verify if it is a SO is to look for the SO hump cast into the block and even that doesn't get you all the way there. From what my research indicates, even the characters cast into the block are not reliable indicators of whether the engine is truly a 427 SO.
If I am wrong, I would love to know. Cobra restorers/builders are always looking for this engine and ways to verify a "true" SO and some time spent looking on Cobra enthusiast forums led me to conclude that it is really hard to pin down.

If this is truly a 427 SO and it is in reasonable condition or reasonable rebuildable condition, the value of the motor makes up a substantial percentage of the asking price. OTOH, if its a corrosion filled mess and the block needs to be sleeved .....

This is clearly not a boat that lived its life on a lake in Minnesota but it still could be a real find. Unfortunately, I would think you would have to pull a lot of stuff apart before you knew what you were getting.

axelkloehn
09-13-2010, 02:53 PM
They didn't all have consoles?

console is easy to remove, some people do it to get more leg space. You need to put the 5 gauges and the 6 switches somewhere else. His instrument panel layout does not look original to me.

mrfixxall
09-13-2010, 05:51 PM
If you can get a pic of the intake manifold that can be a tell tail.the 390 and the 427 have a similar intake set up,it goes 1/3 of the way under the valve cover..

Ghost
09-13-2010, 06:13 PM
http://annapolis.craigslist.org/boa/1947356005.html

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJWMqDYHAiM

You're not dropping me a hint are ya Bill? :)

mike o
09-13-2010, 07:15 PM
HAS SCREW IN THREADED FREEZE PLUGS IN THE BLOCK....... A FRIEND HAS ONE IN HIS SHELBY COBRA. I WAS CHECKING IT OUT LAST WEEK AND ASKED. IT CAME FROM A OLD BOAT IN RI.http://www.hotautoweb.com/classics/ford-fe-427-side-oiler-block

Just Say N20
09-13-2010, 10:49 PM
You're not dropping me a hint are ya Bill? :)

No. :wink: :crossfing:

CHACHI
09-14-2010, 05:53 AM
If you can get a pic of the intake manifold that can be a tell tail.the 390 and the 427 have a similar intake set up,it goes 1/3 of the way under the valve cover..

All ford FE motors have this valve cover/intake arrangement, 352, 428, 390, 427, etc.

Ken

CHACHI
09-14-2010, 05:54 AM
HAS SCREW IN THREADED FREEZE PLUGS IN THE BLOCK....... A FRIEND HAS ONE IN HIS SHELBY COBRA. I WAS CHECKING IT OUT LAST WEEK AND ASKED. IT CAME FROM A OLD BOAT IN RI.http://www.hotautoweb.com/classics/ford-fe-427-side-oiler-block
Yes it does.

Ken

HOWARD O
09-14-2010, 06:29 AM
Whether 427 is original or not, looks like a nice boat and even a brand new aluminum trailer under it. Looks like a nice deal to me. Motor has that sound, doesn't it?

Here's the price list from 1969 and agree with Matty about not being a v-drive:

http://www.donzi.net/cat/cat69/price6.jpg

FFR428
09-15-2010, 08:18 PM
Pretty easy to tell a 427 sideoiler if you know what to look for. On the left side of the block right above the maincap crossbolts you'll see 3 allen head plugs in the "hump". Follow those horiziontally to the front of the block and you should see a bolt head (if original plug is there) or allen plug if replaced. These are simply the oil galley plugs. There's also one in the rear of the block along with the oil pressure relief valve and allen plug. If those allen plugs are not present it's not a sideoiler. You can see all the plugs in the link posted above. Screw in freeze plugs along do not make a sideoiler or even a 427. Any FE block can be tapped for the threaded plugs. Brass screw in plugs were used in marine apps and steel in automotive. The engine is clearly a FE series but much better pics are needed to tell exactly if it's a sideoiler. Remember some of the big Chris Crafts got twin screw 427 power. Many were 427's cast as sideoilers but machined as topoilers. On some makes of boats (Trojan/Hatteras? sp.) the sideoiler hump was ground into a bit to fit the exhaust. But a few big boats have been found with actual sideoilers with steel cranks and LeMans capscrew rods. Where the normal 427 topoiler marine engines got the nodular cast iron 2U cranks and std bolt/nut rods. I know a guy who worked at Holman Moody marine in the 60's who might know about the boat if someone here's interested. I've been a FE engine nut for some 30+ years myself. :)

FFR428
09-15-2010, 08:48 PM
BTW the block posted in the link above is a 68 or later hyd lifter 427 sideoiler block. I can't quite read the date code sorry the pic is to small. The 2 allen plugs at 10 and 2 o'clock around the rear cam plug show that it's a hyd lifter block. The main lifter oil galley can simply be plugged or restricted for solid dumb bell lifters. 65-67 production solid lifter 427 blocks wouldn't have those 2 allen plugs by the rear cam plug. The "66-427" on the rear bulkhead mold pattern was also used on many non 427 FE blocks. Just something else to watch for while 427 or FE block shopping.

mrfixxall
09-15-2010, 09:20 PM
All ford FE motors have this valve cover/intake arrangement, 352, 428, 390, 427, etc.

Ken


I was aware of that, didn't want to add confusion to the trend :)

Eplebnista
09-16-2010, 09:44 AM
This boat was the subject of this thread:

http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthread.php?t=63070

CHACHI
09-16-2010, 09:57 AM
I was aware of that, didn't want to add confusion to the trend :)

Mike, I thought so, but why should we change now? :wink:

Ken

mrfixxall
09-16-2010, 10:10 AM
Mike, I thought so, but why should we change now? :wink:

Ken


ok ill add some :) just like some people think pontiac made a big block, it cracks me up when the say 455 big block,,from the 326 to the 455 they all look the same..:lookaroun:

gcarter
09-17-2010, 06:39 AM
Here's some side oiler blocks for sale (new).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/427-FORD-SIDE-OILER-BLOCK-NEXT-GENERATION-L-K-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem45e8996909QQitemZ30025 5111433QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries

If you enlarge the pictures, you can definately see the oil gallery plugs, and screwed in core plugs.

mattyboy
09-17-2010, 07:15 AM
if anyone goes to see the boat in person . I would be interested to see if this is a true 427 or a stroked 351. to my knowledge there was never a coupler made to connect to volvo outdrive for the 427. also a holman moody serial will tell me exactly what it is and if it is the original powerplant. the drive looks to have been upgraded.

FFR428
09-17-2010, 07:53 PM
I sent a email asking for engine pictures. I'll see if I get a reply.

CAPTBEACH
09-24-2010, 03:07 PM
Man I was within a 1/4 mile of this boat yesterday...and didnt even know it...