540 Efi
 

I am restoring a boat powered by twin Merc 540 EFI . I remember Merc 500 EFI open class motors but not these . The merc tags on bellhousing match the block #S so they must be a Merc product . The Brodix BB 2 cyl heads are marked Kevin Self Racing . I spoke with them and was told they did heads for Merc Racing years ago .
Does anyone have any info on these motors ? Specs ? Who built them ? What were the original cams ? Spare EFI boxes ? Harnesses ?
There was an old E class perhaps only in the NPBA , and I think thay ran these motors .
I was told when I bought my Chris Cat in 1988 , numbered E - 27 that she previously had these motors .
I repowered to run D and had no interest in those motors back then . ( E class had been eliminated )
I just fired them up and they sound great . I'd like to freshen this set up and come up with some spares .
Hey Charlie M , do you know anyone that played with these motors ? I think they are mid to late 80S vintage , but not sure .
Please Help !

540
 

Here are some photos .

Please Help !
 

Anyone have any info or leads on this matter ?

never seen it......and if it was any good there would probably be a bunch of them out there.

I have seen many of those motors. They were pure race motors, probably about 11.5:1 compression, race fuel motors. I can`t recall any of them that were put into a non racing boat at the time. Since they are 540`s I would say they were some left overs from the Miami New York record run we did back in 1982 or 3 ?????? Most all the boats used that combination, I ran a 46` Scarab triple V-bottom, did a lot of testing at Lake X to figure fuel loads, burns etc. Then last minute switched to the Gentry Turbo. motors. Most all the motors built at the time were 500 cu in motors to meet the open class rules, so the 540`s you have are great motors, Motors were configured from High deck GM performance blocks, usually we ran Brodix Heads, open chamber, incanel valves, Cranks were either Hank the Crank or Moldex, rods were Carillo. Motors should be bullet proof, I think we turned them 5,800 rpm. Randy Garcia over at Cobra engines in North Miami has all the parts you will ever need for them, Motors should also have the dual oil cooler bell housings. If so make sure you pressure check the coolers real well, probably should be replaced. Enjoy the motors, they are some of the best ever built. 7XCHAMP

Every race boat from the early 1980`s to mid 1990`s ran those motors, all were custom built by Merc. The EFI versions were the latest motors, before that they were all hi press, mechanical fuel injection dating back to the early 1970`s. Trust me there were a lot of those motors around. Probably they are the equivalent of the popular 500 EFI `s of today. Only main difference they were twice the motors of today`s motors, each one was entirely hand built. 7XCHAMP

[QUOTE=t500hps;2120719]never seen it......and if it was any good there would probably be a bunch of them out there .

Actually , merc built many of this type 500 inch open class motor with symmeric port heads that made as much as 950 HP normally aspirated in the early 90s .
The 540 inch old style head motors are still exotic , make a ton of torque and sound insane .
I guess you just need to know how trick and reliable these units are to appreciate them . They are not for everyone , and are era correct for my boat .
Thanks 7X Champ for the info . You know the virtues of this induction system .

They look like Can Am motors! They also look a lot like the photo of the motor that Top Banana is putting in the Benihana Cig. Beautiful stuff.

AEX, your boat is going to be amazing when the resto is done. I love seeing all this vintage heavy metal (and plastic!) come out of hibernation.

Is that a Kinsler injector set up that was converted to EFI?

Made in early to late 80's....I was still in school and messing around with my Dad's bassboats. That explains why I haven't seen them. Hope they work out as well as they apparently did back then.

AEX, your boat is going to be amazing when the resto is done. I love seeing all this vintage heavy metal (and plastic!) come out of hibernation.

Thanks . This boat is not as old or rare as some of the boats other members are restoring , but it represents my time . It is a 1986 Chris Cat . I am restoring the to it's original American Express / D 19 livery . I won a few races in this hull .
Most of these boats were balsa cored , however mine was foam cored and a little lighter than the norm .
I think in the late 80S I was the only guy turning big blocks 7800 RPM against the advise of many experts and had good luck with my short stroke engine combo . We had to run cast exhaust manifold single 4 barrel 500 inch motors . Back then I payed $ 1200 for custom 1150 Dominator carbs that flowed 1380 cfm and big bucks for titanium valves . These were mandatory to pull the revs .
The injected motors make a ton of torque and run really well . They were legal in the E class of the mid 80s and were original to my boat .
I am doing a stem to stern restoration / rerig , including carbon fiber reinforcements and replacement of wood transom and stringers .
Work will be concluded for next season . I can't wait . And yes those are Kinsler manifolds Merc converted to EFI .
Still looking for spare computers , harnesses etc .

You inspired me to update my avitar photo with one of my all time favorite photos of one of my all time favorite boats! (I got tired of looking at my own race car all the time. I can go to the garage if I want to see it!)

Wow, big project, but well worth it. Keep us posted and good luck!

avatar
 

That's a good one . I remember , I thinks it's the 35 conquest .

I was always under the impression that the 30' Jesse James (sans canopies) was a Chris Cat. Don't know for sure though (T2X could probably answer that). I have a gap in my boating from 1988ish through until 2006 so my recollection is a bit fuzzy. I have to rely on you guys who've been there and done that!

You are correct the 30' Jesse James was a Chris Cat . They ran modified class , rules were 2 small blocks single carb , most guys ran 372 ci . The photo you have is of their 35 Conquest Cat open class boat . Those motors would have been 500ci and may have had EFI or Lucas timed units .

Ah ha! Right on. Thanks!

See, that's exactly what I'm talking about... Nice to hear things from people who actually know what they're talking about!

Call Innovation Marine Corp In Sarasota,fl. Rick Will Help You Out

Those motors sounded unreal when they were set up with the Y-pipes like that.

any Video/sound clips ?

Is hasn't been mentioned....but I am sure that everyone knows that AEX is a HORBA member.

Another great race boat saved and another era...80's.... that will be represented.

Looking forward to it!
Thanx Charlie and AEX for your efforts!

540 Efi
 

Started disassembling my boat for the resto . Still looking for spare efi boxes and engine harnesses .
This boat ran almost 130 in sea trials with wrong props and arcing spark plug wires , I think when completed this vessel will raise some eyebrows .
I am trying to sell the IV small shaft drives , gimbals , boxes and steering as a package . It is all in good shape and would be ideal for someones project . I am using big shaft Merc V drives I've had in storage from my racing days .

You could always use modern ECUs and have them inside the old ECU Boxes...old electronics aren´t anything to prefer IMO.
Not even in a restoration.
And Looking forward to the numbers you´ll get with it once it´s sorted out but remember take it easy on the old girl.

540 efi
 

Mikey , I don't want to deal with tuning new computers , however , I may just do that . The electronics are working fine now . If I found suitable suitable spares that would be great , if not no problem .
The rebuild will include replacing bulkheads , grid work , stringers and transom with foam / carbon / epoxy reinforcements and also adding a stringer in the fuel tank area Chris Craft left out .
This hull is foam cored , most Chris Cats were balsa . Taking it easy is not an option , we are all good guys who become villains when we strap into one of these toys .
After beating one to near death I now know this hulls deficiencies and intend to correct them without adding excessive weight .
Thanks for your input , I'll post some photos when the glass work commences . Jim

There´s a couple of those 500 EFI´s converted in Sweden to modern EFI (Haltech).

540 Efi
 

I wonder who made those boxes for Merc ? They may just be marinized Haltechs . A friend who ran a few open class boats told me the Merc electronics are very reliable .
Merc must have had different programing for their 500 open motors . The 540 versions must have been for superboats , hot pleasure boats , or that E class ( my Chris was originally numbered and raced as E 27 by Stuart Hayim and I think Joe Imprescia ) . They had the best of everything on this boat including beautiful , classic graphics I would't dare change , I did however add canopies for the 1990 season .
I changed to 500 inch carb motors to run APBA D class , E class had been eliminated .
I think in the mid 80s the mechanical injected 500 cube versions were rated at 800+ then they went to EFI rated at 850+ and finally the big chief versions which were rated 900+ .
I will definitely dyno them prior to installation to make sure the EGT is within range . I've melted a piston or two in my day and don't intend to repeat that feat .

put an up close picture of the ECU´s and lets start looking around.