SoCal Jet Boats
Tech Talk => Engine Mechanical / Electrical => Topic started by: el mojado on March 06, 2013, 01:11:14 PM
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I have a 20.5 Caribbean mini day cruiser. Its a bare hull project. I need advice on which engine to run. I plan to run a BBC. I would like to find a low buck 454. I'd like to find a used 454 from craigslist. which model 454 would be best in a boat? from what year? which type of vehicle? RV? Truck? I hope my question makes sense.
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Do you have the mounts or are you going rail kit?
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I have no mounts. The rail kit seems to be the most available so i will do that.
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If your tryin to just buy and drop it in go for a rv motor there usually built better look up block numbers and look for a 4 bolt main casting
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gen iv's have a TON of parts flying around for em and theres a ton of blocks out there. make sure you dont get peanut port heads if you get a RV/truck motor.
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Oh ya forgot about the peanut ports they were on the tbi motors forsure not positive what others
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Cool RV motor it is. Any specific years to look for? I want to have a good foundation. Any years that have better heads or a better cam for a boat? What meleage is too low or too much? Id like to get close to 60 mph with a stock 454 . The boat has a wj jacuzzi pump. Will i achieve this?
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60 might be high with a stock 454 and alot comes into play boat weight how tight your pump is what impeller ypu have im not too knowledgable on pumps theres others on here that are tho and for the motor id look for pre smog and low miles hard to come by but it happens check out what engine casting numbers and head casting numbers have what and go from there in my opinion i would look for a motor with a decent set of oval port heads that has a 4 barrel on it then run an edelbrock or equal high rise
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I don't want to rain on your parade but finding a low buck BBC is unlikely, and you've got to be careful of any good deals you do find.
It's a lot of work to rig a boat anyway, and having to do it twice because the low buck engine failed would really suck.
I'd seriously recommend spending the money necessary to get a quality engine, built by a quality shop that knows what is required to make a boat engine survive.
Good, Cheep, Fast, you only get two ;)
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This might be a good starting point if you're willing to collect the needed parts and have someone do the machine work needed.
I wouldn't bother with the heads but you really can't go wrong with the other pieces for the price.
http://www.socaljetboats.com/random-boat-parts/2-bolt-454/ (http://www.socaljetboats.com/random-boat-parts/2-bolt-454/)
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It still for sale too, also will include the pto if I can find it and a ski tow!!!
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This is very true ive had to pull my motor a few times till i did it myself then had to pull it again to move tanks shoulda thought that through a bit more
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You should be able to find a lot of the stuff you'll need used (main caps, connecting rods, pistons...) if you're willing to do some searching.
The Long Beach High Perf swap meet and racingjunk.com can get you started.
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I have a complete bbc 402 from pan to intake and harmonic balancer to flyweel and glenwood 4 point mounts along with it. Pretty sure it needs to be rebuilt, motor was seized when I got it but I got it to run somehow. Low compression in 2 cylinders.
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im not realy interested in doing a rebuild on a motor. i'm looking to purchase a used running engine. i don't mind having to change gaskets and cleaning it up. i just dont want something thats underpowered. i guess i'm looking for the best stock motor available. i just want this thing running as soon as possible. something that will respond well to a simple intake manifold and cam change.
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im not realy interested in doing a rebuild on a motor. i'm looking to purchase a used running engine. i don't mind having to change gaskets and cleaning it up. i just dont want something thats underpowered. i guess i'm looking for the best stock motor available. i just want this thing running as soon as possible. something that will respond well to a simple intake manifold and cam change.
Just look for something you can hear run. If you are going to change the cam, a decent cam will need good springs, any cam that dosent need a spring upgrade isnt gonna be much better than a stock smog cam. Or find a short block, put some 781 or 049 heads, comp 280 or 292 cam or similar (with good springs), single plane manifold, headers. Jet boats=cubic dollars ;)
Daniel
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Thanks for all the suggestions. This helped out. My next question: Do all Gen V and VI BBCs have roller cams? Would these be a good place to start? Or Mark IV with retro fit roller cam?
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Not all Gen V & VI are roller. The roller provisions are in the block. Roller is the way to go though. MK IV & Roller :thumbup:
Daniel
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any specific year on that MARK VI i should be looking for?
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Here are specif years you might consider (Gen IV 1965-1990, and Gen VI in 1996) I personally run a '74 454ci bored to .60 over had no issues after rebuilding it.
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http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/pts/3665805696.html (http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/pts/3665805696.html)
hows something like this?
gen V
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/pts/3622774115.html (http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/pts/3622774115.html)
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/pts/3641121282.html (http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/pts/3641121282.html)
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The middle post is tbi gonna have peanut ports on it
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The bottom is clean but its less "blower setup"
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I have a 20.5 Caribbean mini day cruiser. Its a bare hull project. I need advice on which engine to run. I plan to run a BBC. I would like to find a low buck 454. I'd like to find a used 454 from craigslist. which model 454 would be best in a boat? from what year? which type of vehicle? RV? Truck? I hope my question makes sense.
Buying a used engine is kind of a crapshoot, and putting a used engine out of a car, truck or rv usually means one that would have cast pistons.
A later model, Gen 6 engine should have a roller cam, but out of a truck or rv will almost definitely have the tiny, "peanut port" heads. Also a Gen 6 block (unless you found one of the 454 crate engines) will not have provisions for running a mechanical fuel pump, so you would have to run an electric pump.
I will PM my number to you so that I don't have to type an entire novel, but can give you a little more education that may help you decide which way to go.