And please pay no attention to the mess that is my garage. The place is full of engine/trans assemblies, exhaust for two boats, motorcycle, etc. Out of room!

Aren't we all out of room. Just wear your purple helmet there so if you trip and fall your noggin is protected. :helmet:

Hahaha!!

Don’t knock it... the foam cat ears really help break falls!

:santa:

Scraping and painting!!

Because my heads were seeping, some brackets really took a beating. I'm reusing the cool fuel bracket to support my Holley pump> Last night we sanded the heck out them, then washed and wiped them down with solvent to paint. We painted with an oil-based satin black Rustoleum and they came out "okay." They'll be in bilge-land so I'm no worried about appearance... just need them to not rot away so I think we accomplished that mission. They were wasted!


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...77d098507.jpeg

The fuel filter heads were also in really bad shape. Same treatment - these came out much better. Still, they'll be hidden, but the work will make them last.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...c9b7bdfa6.jpeg

These pieces are ready for regular paint. I had some chipped areas that needed help so I took care of them, and if I manage not to drink my face off (serious girlfriend issues right now), I'll paint tonight.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...4aed64ad1.jpeg

This is my heat exchanger bracket. I got all the right bolts, spacers, bracket and felts for $270 for both engines. Merc wanted $377 per bracket - that's right - per bracket. I got them from Performance Products Technologies out of Oklahoma. It took a little time for delivery, but everything made it with no issues and the parts were on the money. Their prices aren't all deeply discounted, but I've had great luck so far. Still waiting for my ARP water pump bolts.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...596a24eb0.jpeg


Aside from painting, I might work on the rest of the fuel plumbing tonight. My USCG Push-Lock hose came in today. It's time to put all the fittings I've bought to use!

And today was another $500 parts ordering day.

In pic above... you’ll notice the crank pulley is still off. I have a brand new pulley that’s waiting on clean bolts for the install.

A lot of this stuff will need to come back off to go back in the boat. The transmissions make it tight going in and out. To go on the dyno, they need to be dressed.

In pic above... you’ll notice the crank pulley is still off. I have a brand new pulley that’s waiting on clean bolts for the install.

A lot of this stuff will need to come back off to go back in the boat. The transmissions make it tight going in and out. To go on the dyno, they need to be dressed.

Trying to get fuel line routing right. I think this is going to be my plan.

I’m sure you al have noticed that the feed to the carb is from the rear. With the pump being on the opposite side, I figured I’d run it from the back similar to how the MPI feed was run. The return regulator will mount on the head. The return hose on the regulator is actually a duplicate of the “regulator to fuel log” hose. I’m duplicating everything as I go.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...1179b646e.jpeg

I worked on some of the oil routing, too, but nothing to really show until I have the brackets painted and mounted.

Everything is being band-clamped. I know the USCG likes that on the fuel hoses, but I’ve seen some warnings about clamps damaging the hose. The bands are not worm gear clamps and produce uniform pressure. I guess I’ll need to watch the connections.

If there’s a better idea with fuel line routing, I’m listening.

Instead of the 90 and the more complicated routing of the line between the distributor and carb, maybe a 45 that can squeeze between the coil and the distributor?

What’s the benefit , or reason why you have to, run fuel lines from rear ?

The fuel pump is mounted on the lower left-side of the engine (old cool fuel bracket) so running up the back is convenient. I’ll also not have to deal with fuel and closed cooling plumbing all in the same spot. The accessory drive for the MPI makes things tight up front so this alleviates issues there.

I will be back with my boat next week and I will try to check to see how the engine build shop ran my fuel lines

Tom, do you have electric pumps on your 311?

frankly I'm embarrassed to say I don't know so I'm going to start checking

I looked through the paperwork you sent me Tom, and I saw everything was replaced except the fuel pumps. LOL

Guess you'll need to look. I'm guessing you have mechanical pumps. :)

Getting parts has been a major pain these last few weeks. On top of supply chain issues, Jegs got hacked last week so orders were all jacked up. You couldn't even contact them for status updates or cancelations. I think I'm supposed to receive some parts tomorrow. We'll see.

I'm picking up my valve covers and intake from the powder coater this afternoon so at least that will be done.

I will check in the morning...I just got here this evening.

It looks like my fuel pumps are front starboard on my Big Blocks.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...d89fe2341c.jpg

Looking great there buddy!

Parts are starting to come in. I've got the heat exchanger mocked up, plug wires have been fit. Last thing to do is to get the wiring on the engine and configured to work without the MPI. Getting close!

I'm considering ditching the Merc raw water pump for a Johnson J6-9b crank-driven pump. Changing the Merc pump in the boat has always been a pain. Even though I've got the procedure down well and can get it done in a few minutes, access is terrible especially with a hot engine. The crank driven pump would make changes easier, and from what I've read, this model flows more water than the Merc pump. The only rub is adapting it to the serpentine pulley.

More to come this week. If I can get some pics, I'll post them up.

Oh, valve covers came back from the powder coater. They look great!

You have to be close now Tom.

I’m trying!!

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...aeaea9e34.jpeg

The list is still long but mostly brackets, plumbing and wiring.

I need to make brackets that will hang the fuel pumps off the engine mount. I may even mount the pumps directly to motor plates. I also need to make brackets to mount the circuit breakers and solenoids.

Plumbing has been a pain because parts have been hard to get. I also need the wiring in place to do it right.

Finally, I need to add some weather-pack connections to split the harness where it went to the injection harness. I already have the GM connector off and I’ll split it into two sections: one for the ignition (power and relay control, and tach) and the other for sensors.

I was out there the other day complaining some, and my buddy reminded me that I changed, “everything.”

At this point, the engines need to come off the stands and set-up on the motor plates so that I can finish the rigging and test-run/seat the rings. Then it’ll be off to the dyno if there’s time. I haven’t quite made up my mind on that part yet.

Looking good Tom! I don't know if you saw my posts or not, but your cam is running great in my boat now. I'll be splashing by Monday I hope.

Any idea why the location of my fuel pumps are different than yours?

Good to hear Dave. I saw you had some
oiling issues; I’m glad you got it figured out! Thankfully, the mains get oiling first on that block so you had at least some pressure at the bearings. I think minimal is 4 psi at idle per the Merc manual.

Good luck on Monday!

Yep - yours uses the HP500 accessory drive with V-belts. That system uses a mechanical pump driven off the raw water pump. The Gen V block did not have a mechanical fuel pump provision so the raw water pump was designed to do both. My Gen-VI is the same (no provision for a fuel pump) but the system was designed for fuel injection so the accessory drive and parts were simplified by using a standard raw water pump and a serpentine configuration to drive everything with a single belt.

I was tempted to try to find a Gen V accessory drive, but the costs to procure as well as refinish everything made it not worthwhile. The raw water pump alone was more than double the cost of my electric fuel pumps combined.

Your mechanical setup will require maintenance. There’s oil to lubricate the pump arm and cam, and it needs to be changed periodically due to fuel contamination. If you’re like me and change impellers each season, change the oil while you’re maintaining the impeller.

I spent most of today working on the Cigarette with the guys. We’re close there. Some hoses, shoring up some rigging, and drive/throttle cables. Probably firing later this week or weekend.

Tomorrow (or tonight if I get really bored) the engines come the stands and will be put on the engine mounts so I can mock up the plumbing with the everything attached. The engines are filled with break-in oil and ready to be primed. Really really close now.

Yesterday’s view...

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...2f0328839.jpeg
The starboard engine was covered up because I was going to cut some aluminum for brackets.

THANKS! Don't mean to distract you from getting yours on the water but I think I will need a little more detail/direction on this maintenance...maybe a link to a service manual.

You’re welcome Tom.

If you do a Google search of “water pump fuel pump offshoreonly” I’m sure you’ll find everything you need.

Impellers should be replaced every season. It’s pretty easy. You need to remove the assembly to do that and in the case of the combined fuel pump/water pump, the fuel lines need to be undone. Then it’s just a matter of replacing the fluid in the cavity as well as the gasket. Something like that.

:)

THANKS!!! I had done my raw water impellers on my last 311 and this one has Hardin stainless steel sea pumps but the fuel pump system/interface/interaction seems to be a new wrinkle that I have not seen before. I will start my learning process.

It won’t be much of a task, Tom. And you have a lot of room in the bilge to work around everything. Bring tools and supplies, a beer or two, and get comfortable.

Making progress!

I’m at the point where I can set the engines down on their mounts and bolt on the flywheel cover to get the final oiling, cooling, and fuel lines run.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...e4e3df917.jpeg
Port

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...e8a39082d.jpeg
Starboard

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...c7ec54c54.jpeg
And the pair.


I’m glad the iron heads are gone... the stands are a little unhappy!

Looking good Tom. I know how frustrating those last needed bits can be. You’re right around the corner from first fire now. We may have to plan a bird migration to perdido key this summer. There’s a lot of off season upgrades this year that would be great to see in person. I know a guy down there that keeps inviting people to come boating and I think it’s almost time to plan a visit. Right waterjet?

Looking good when do you expect to have it wrapped up?

You and TomZ are at the top! I gotta repay all the help from this forum.

Blake,

I’m still trying to get the Bullet finished. I think we have one more solid day of work to button up stuff and get steering filled and bled, then it’s off to Top Rack. Then I can really work on the 311.

I plan to get the last of the wiring done today. From there, they’re on the floor so I can finish plumping. I think I have everything that I need.

Shoot… I also need to get the tail pipes welded for O2s. I’m going to see if Jeff has some time to do it for me.

Two weeks to finish to get to the point of dropping in the boat. If work doesn’t get in the way.

I might have "issues" with my drives (see the drives section)...so the boat lift and dock are open/available.

Man… off the main page!

The Bullet is finally at the marina. It’s not running yet, but we’re at the point of just a couple little things. One more day and I think we’re good.

The 509s. What a pain rerigging everything is. I’ve got the wiring mostly figured out and now I’m onto plumbing. I found that the placement of my oil filter heads wouldn’t work so I’m making brackets to relocate them to the port cylinder head. That cleans up some of the hose routing and keeps stuff away from the exhaust. I’m also making new brackets for my oil coolers. Cutting aluminum plate is a pain. The cutting wheels get jammed up with aluminum slag. Just saying.

One area of real concern was the fuel pumps. I wasn’t comfortable using my Holley blue pumps (not USCG rated) so I bit the bullet and ordered a pair of Aeromotive 140 gph marine-rated fuel pumps. I figured $600 added was a much better direction vs blowing up the boat (and friends and family). They’re mounted and now I just need to plumb them in.

Work is stupid busy right now and I’m spending a lot of free time doing just that - work. And some short but fun traveling (my gf surprised me with a weekend in Ocean City MD to celebrate my bday). This week once some work fires settle down, I’ll be able to finish things up.

I need to get my tails welded for O2 bungs. That’s something that needs farming out. That’s about it to wrap up. Haven’t decided on dyno yet. I’m not even sure if there’s room or time to get it done with our friend out here. Will check though.

Some pics…


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...d8276e7b8.jpeg
This the mock-up work-in/progress for the coolers and filter heads.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...884a903ca.jpeg
Starboard engine.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...fd1791f3e.jpeg
New Aeromotive 140 GPH pump.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...4d195c243.jpeg
Port engine.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...2cc10d898.jpeg
Spaghetti.

Fantastic!!!