Originally Posted by carcrash

Me too. I've spent more on f*king with the engines that I did to buy the boat, on both my last 2 boats. I think I've learned that boats should have boat engines (outboards) or truck engines (diesels), not car engines. They just don't hold up to the sustained load. Think about it: the dyno runs last seconds, and that was OK. Put it in the boat and run for minutes and it blows up (of course you want it to run for hundreds of hours).

These leaks can be caused by inconsistent heating, particularly across the top of the block and the head, combined with very high cylinder pressures. Getting the temperature consistent is not easy. The German car manufacturers need to do this because the Autobahns allow people to cruise at high speed (high load) for extended periods of time. There are very few non-German cars in the left lane on the autobahn. Ferraris? Vettes? Jaguars? Nope. BMWs, Porsche, Mercedes, Opel, VW, yes. I've seen so many GM V8s blown up on the side of the autobahn its bizarre, considering there are hardly any at all over there.

Over the past several decades of owning power and sail boats, and sometimes running serious yachts for much more wealthy individuals, I've seen that maintenance is about 10% to 20% of new boat cost per year.

But I still expect maintenance to be as on a car or house (a very small percentage of original cost). My expectations do not meet my experience...

Originally Posted by RaggedEdge

Now that's an interesting question, one that just beggs for an interesting answer.

Originally Posted by TRL505

Update....I spoke with Tyler this morning and he has consulted with some of his peers (Richie Zuhl, Keith Eickert) and there seems to be a consensus, based upon the burn pattern on the tops of the pistons, that the issue is related to a timing issue. Long story short, we are installing new Billet MSD distributers, and replacing the PCM on the Stbd motor just to eliminate any goofy computer glitches. Tyler is sending down a leak down gauge to Lil R and he will do a leak down test on port motor. IF all is good then we will move forward. If not..then I will probably send port motor back for Tyler to look at.

CMI tested the headers and they held 60PSI with no leaks. However, they are 7 yrs old and we are going to replace the Stbd headers with the new Gen X style. We will then send the old Stbd headers to Tyler and he is going to weld AF bungs into each tube so he can read AF on each cylinder..as opposed to a left bank/right bank average taken @ the Tailpipe when he re-dynos the Stbd motor.

Shooting for another visit to RF at the end of this month. Do any of you guys wanna loan me some money?? Or maybe let me live with you?....WE ARE TAPPED!!!

Originally Posted by TRL505

Ummmmmm.......well.....ummmmmmmmm......hmmmmm..... .....uhhhhh well......riiiiiiiight. LOL.

Originally Posted by RaggedEdge

Now that's an interesting question, one that just beggs for an interesting answer.

Originally Posted by bcfountain

i bet i know the answer to that and probley so do you,,,,,,joe boater

Originally Posted by 29scarab10

The engine builder in this case did not build complete new engines with all new accessories. He rebuilt 6 year old engines with some 6 year old accessories. If one of these 6 your old accessories caused the problem why should the engine be one the hook?

If it were me, when the engines go back in the engine builder would have his laptop hooked up looking at the called for timing numbers and being verifyed with a timing light First through out the rpm range under no load and then again while under load.

Ofcourse most engine builder will not like this comment because who wants to be in engine compartment at speed with lots off hot stuff and turning belts. Most would agree to due it on the dyno, but ultimately the engine lives (or not) inside the engine compartment.
Allen

Originally Posted by TRL505

New blocks, cranks, cams, pistons, rings...etc. Old blocks were gen 6 502's. These are brand new DART 540's. So...all in all with the exception of intake, blower, ignition, heads etc...a lot of it was actually brand new. Furthermore, the heads, valves, valve springs etc.. had just been re-worked by Tyler last year...and that engine (OE 502) had been rebuilt by him 2yrs prior to that. This all being said, I am not saying anyone is at fault, and I have faith that Tyler is going to figure all this out. But what I am saying is that in the last 4 years I have had 3 sets of motors built for this boat, and could of bought another 42" Ftn with all the money that has been spent since 2007. These are the facts. Again, not laying blame..just informing all that are following the thread.

Originally Posted by Marginmn

I appreciate your candor. Asking somone like yourself who has been through this process and getting a straight up answer is what helps people like myself make an informed decision about wheather or not they ever want to (or can afford to) go down the path of building/owning a pair of high hp custom engines.

Sounds like you guys are due for some good luck - hope you get it.

Originally Posted by TRL505

I would think very long and hard if I were you...

Thank you, I would just like to drive my boat more than two times a year...it never got wet this year. Oh well...maybe 2012 will be the year.