Engine I.D.

I dig vintage flatbottom ski boats, hell, most vintage boats. While perusing photos on another site these pictures showed up with the owner not knowing anything about, well, anything. Wanting to help to at least ID the engine, I blew up the photos of what I thought was an early Cadillac engine. Nope, the distributor is in the front. Not a Packard, Not a Rambler. Not a Mopar Poly. Is it a later Cad?
I give up. What is it? I was common enough for Edelbrock to make exhaust manifolds for it. ???

 

How many engines had a front mounted distributor,,,,leaning to the left side ?
Looks like a GM cap there on the distributor .

Tommy

 

Well Mark, I think you hit the nail on the head. The water outlets on the end of each head look correct and the water pump plate looks right, the same "step" on the end exhaust ports. It's the valve covers that kinda threw me. The Edelbrocks look pretty square-ish on each end whereas the stock Cads are round-ish on the top edge.
Great motor for an old flatbottom ski boat! Smooth and torquey. The time frame, 1963-67 is perfect too.
Thanks....

 

If I'm not mistaken the Edelbrock parts like the valve covers and marine exhaust would interchange with the 62 and earlier engines. The 63 engines seemed like a cross over of sorts..

 

I guess it could be a second series 390. Doesn't matter.
The boat looks to be an early Mandella. Boy, did he score if he bought it.
Needless to say, I've been thinking of doing something with my old Rickshaw flatbottom. I need to find a boat painter in central Ca.