SoCal Jet Boats
Discussion => Topock / Laughlin => Topic started by: Northernhoon on July 12, 2020, 10:51:12 PM
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Looking to get into jet boats. I gotta pretty healthy 383 to put in one. And found a 16' wieman set up for a sbc and Berkely pump. Wondering if it will be good for the Laughlin river? Avi area in particular. Would it handle the chop and river goin to havasu well? Or should I look for a slightly bigger boat?
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Welcome to SCJB. Weiman made a pretty good boat. Those areas you mentioned can be great for our low profile boats, if it’s not busy. But it might be unpleasant if it’s too choppy.
Just know that jet boat motors are usually built a bit different than car motors. They have constant load at higher rpms and a cooling system that is always on. Clearances are a bit bigger and a few other things. Not to say that you can’t make your motor work, but it is something to be aware of.
It is a bit harder to find boat stuff for a small block as well.
Sent from my iPhone using SoCal Jet Boats
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Thx man, ya I'm seeing it's hard to find stuff for a sbc. I'm hoping my motor will work. It was built to tow my 10klb toy hauler through the mountains in my 84 suburban with a 3 speed trans. So it was built with being under constant load in mind. Thats why I think it will be a good boat motor. But I'll run it til t goes then have it rebuilt.
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Did you pull the trigger on that boat? Are you moving forward with the all block? If so, you may want to pull it down enough to measure (if you cannot get the info from your builder/machine shop) your piston to cylinder wall clearance. If you know what pistons were used, you can look at their specific reccomended clearances for automotive use vs. Marine use. They would have been set to automotive use clearances, most likely. Additionally, if you are not willing to correct that, you could at a minimum check your ring end gaps and ensure that they are set appropriately. If that ring closes up and binds, it could snap the upper edge of your piston off and ruin stuff in a hurry! No sense wasting that freshly built 383! I think that you are on a good track with that boat. At least it will get you out on the water so that you can determine if it is something that will suit your needs appropriately. Good luck and welcome to the forum!
Nik