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Tech Talk => Projects => Topic started by: riefer jet on July 29, 2013, 08:50:36 PM

Title: 79 Horizon
Post by: riefer jet on July 29, 2013, 08:50:36 PM
Figure I'd start a project thread for my first boat since I continue to do work and need to catch up on posts. Pulled the motor tonight so I can tear into it... would have been a lot more painful without help from you all.
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: ka0tyk on July 29, 2013, 09:22:43 PM
whats the deal with the super long vent hose? 
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: riefer jet on July 30, 2013, 10:35:48 AM
Previous owner had it routed that way. Blower mounted on the back of the engine, hose runs under the motor and dumps out under the front of the rear seat. Kind of goofy and yea it vents to where you are sitting but it seems to work. The rear corner vents take on water which is why they probably ran it out the front. I haven't come up with a better solution myself
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: riefer jet on August 07, 2013, 10:45:29 PM
Finished tearing down the motor. Overall looks ok but did find some metal bits in the oil pan. Getting quotes for the rebuild. What cam do you guys think for my setup?

22 foot mini day. 454 BBC. Berkeley with AA. Was looking at the comp extreme marine level 1 or 2 cams.
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: riefer jet on August 17, 2013, 03:18:17 PM
I tore down the motor to the block because I had to know where the metal came from... main, rod, and cam bearings all have damage. Some have discoloration. Everything else appears ok. At least I know where I stand before the rebuild starts
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: riefer jet on October 25, 2013, 01:55:23 PM
Finally got all my parts in; oil pan was backordered. Dropped off the motor at a shop today. On a positive note after researching multiple shops and builders, I feel there are a few very solid shops in socal for building good motors. Here's the pan... Canton marine 10 quart, nice piece.
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: mash on it on October 25, 2013, 04:56:53 PM
How deep is that pan?
My cruiser would only fit a 7.25" pan (Chevelle type), and a standard BBC truck pan was 8.5"+

Dan'l
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: 81sprint on October 25, 2013, 06:25:32 PM
Ya that pan looks pretty deep


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Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: riefer jet on October 25, 2013, 09:00:05 PM
Its actually only a half inch deeper than the stock truck pan. I looked for a smaller marine pan, but they were all really deep and I didn't have the room.  This one kicks out the sides about 3 inches each side. I also needed it to be a rear sump with my 3 point engine mounts

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Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: riefer jet on October 25, 2013, 09:02:10 PM
It measures 8.5 inches deep. Canton part number 18-360

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Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: mash on it on October 26, 2013, 07:49:45 AM
It measures 8.5 inches deep. Canton part number 18-360

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On my junk, I tried to use a big 'bread box' type pan (Clearly made from a BBC truck pan) and it hit the mounting bosses for the loader/rock grate.

Next up was a BBC pan for a 78 dually, It hit the mounting bosses too.

I had to go with an aftermarket Chevelle/Corvette pan (chrome too :thumbup:) It was July & I was boatless.

It only holds 6 qts, though.

My jet other pan, for a gen V/VI, is the same depth as the Chevelle pan, just longer and a windage tray, and 10 qts, i think. Dooley? Indmar? I dont know.

Dan'l
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: riefer jet on October 26, 2013, 08:05:58 AM
Well my measurements say it will fit but it will be tight. Hope my measuring was good that day
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: riefer jet on October 30, 2013, 08:47:29 AM
Well bad news on my motor; crank is already 30 under and with the scoring from the bearings would have to go down to 40... guess I need a new crank. On a positive note the rest of the motor looks awesome. The shop said whoever did the last rebuild did good work
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: icecreaman on October 31, 2013, 08:16:42 PM
So if you're going to replace the crank, are you going stroker?  Now would be the time, and if you buy new I believe the price is pretty much the same. Just curious if you don't mind sharing, what shop's building the engine?
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: riefer jet on November 01, 2013, 05:10:09 PM
I looked at going stroker but figured it would snow ball with cam, carb, jet work and so on. Right now that doesn't fit my budget. I went with Osborne automotive in Murrieta. I've had them do some work for me before but never a full motor
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: jamiemwedmore1234 on November 01, 2013, 06:30:34 PM

I looked at going stroker but figured it would snow ball with cam, carb, jet work and so on. Right now that doesn't fit my budget. I went with Osborne automotive in Murrieta. I've had them do some work for me before but never a full motor
arrow engines in Temecula if Osborn doesn't work out for you. He built me a pretty nice 496 stroker


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Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: riefer jet on November 01, 2013, 06:36:53 PM
He was my 2nd choice. I only chose Osborne because he's done some work for me in the past. Thanks for looking out
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: icecreaman on November 01, 2013, 10:25:13 PM
I looked at going stroker but figured it would snow ball with cam, carb, jet work and so on. Right now that doesn't fit my budget. I went with Osborne automotive in Murrieta. I've had them do some work for me before but never a full motor

Ya I get that, if everything else is good why mess with the combo.
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: riefer jet on January 30, 2014, 09:15:49 PM
Well latest update... fired my rebuilt motor and tuned today at Westech performance. Absolutely recommend those guys for any dyno service you need; they know their stuff. My mild 454 made 420 HP 510 torque. Can't get it back in the boat fast enough.

On another note I cannot recommend the "professionals" who built my engine. The end HP/torque numbers do not represent the amount of crap I had to put up with to get there... ridiculous delays, lost parts, and using the wrong parts during assembly are just some of the demonstrated signs of incompetence. Live and learn I guess
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: Horizonjet on January 30, 2014, 09:36:54 PM
 :thumbup: :thumbup:

Looking good!
Are you going to make any events this year? I am going to try to make the fathers day one at big river.
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: riefer jet on January 31, 2014, 04:14:03 PM
I'm planning on it, just have to work around the work schedules of the wife and I
Title: Re: 79 Horizon
Post by: riefer jet on June 02, 2016, 08:09:05 PM
Well it's only been a year and a half so it's probably time for a thread update. It's been interesting, especially being the first boat I've owned, but it's also been a lot of fun and learning. Here's the short version... pull motor for rebuild (wrong dipstick from previous owner), rebuild and put motor in, exhaust takes a crap, replace exhaust then motor takes a crap, pull motor, have same shop fix motor, put motor back in, motor takes a crap. Take to an actual engine builder (Bostick), put motor back in, motor runs great... now pump cavitates like crazy. Pull motor to pull pump and get rebuilt (Bostick) and everything work and all is good in the universe. I'm leaving out many learnings and improvements (rev limiter, large oil pan clearance, failed oil cooler, trailer brake issues) and the bad stuff doesn't matter, I still love boating. Here's a few pictures from the last year or so. The last 2 pictures I had to share. The before and after shifter cable mount. Sometimes you just have to get on the water
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