1200+ hp Skater 399 V
04-20-2009, 10:00 AM
#173
Registered User
Gold Member
Thank you for the support guys.
Get Real, one thing that I neglected to mention. You say that my customer is a guinea pig. He is not paying for any of this. The only thing that was unexpected was the lifters. I replaced them, parts and labor, at no charge to him. My engines have a warranty. As far as the tuning, I fully expected to have to do some fine tuning to the engines once they were run in the boat. Try as we might, we can never completely duplicate a boat on the dyno. There are to many variables(weight, type of hull, steps or conventional, prop, gear, etc) I personally test run and tune every engine in the boat before I give it back to a customer. I want him to have the best possible piece that he can have. We manage to get them about 98% on the dyno, but we always check them and fine tune them in the boat. Again, there is no charge for this.
Not only do I run the ones that I install, but if I sell someone a new engine and they, or another shop, performs the install, I will go to there location and run the engine for the first time and do any necessary tuning. Again, this is to be sure that the customer gets everything that he paid for and his boat runs the best that it can. I will fly anywhere in the country to be sure my engines run 100%. This also does not cost the customer anything. It is done free of charge.
We also expected to have to do something about the oil draining out of the tank. Everyone that I talked to about this problem said that they did nothing. They just let the dry sump pump pick up the oil and put it back into the tank and then it went on to the engine. I didn't want to do that. Like I said, this was not a surprise. The customer has owned dry sump engines before, so he knew what to expect.
Eddie
Get Real, one thing that I neglected to mention. You say that my customer is a guinea pig. He is not paying for any of this. The only thing that was unexpected was the lifters. I replaced them, parts and labor, at no charge to him. My engines have a warranty. As far as the tuning, I fully expected to have to do some fine tuning to the engines once they were run in the boat. Try as we might, we can never completely duplicate a boat on the dyno. There are to many variables(weight, type of hull, steps or conventional, prop, gear, etc) I personally test run and tune every engine in the boat before I give it back to a customer. I want him to have the best possible piece that he can have. We manage to get them about 98% on the dyno, but we always check them and fine tune them in the boat. Again, there is no charge for this.
Not only do I run the ones that I install, but if I sell someone a new engine and they, or another shop, performs the install, I will go to there location and run the engine for the first time and do any necessary tuning. Again, this is to be sure that the customer gets everything that he paid for and his boat runs the best that it can. I will fly anywhere in the country to be sure my engines run 100%. This also does not cost the customer anything. It is done free of charge.
We also expected to have to do something about the oil draining out of the tank. Everyone that I talked to about this problem said that they did nothing. They just let the dry sump pump pick up the oil and put it back into the tank and then it went on to the engine. I didn't want to do that. Like I said, this was not a surprise. The customer has owned dry sump engines before, so he knew what to expect.
Eddie
Joe
04-20-2009, 11:12 AM
#174
Registered
Platinum Member
It's the problems that we run into on these projects that lead to greater knowlege and understanding. They also lead to innovation and creativity, which increases enjoyment. It takes a lot of confidence and courage to admit when you have had a problem with a project like this. I don't know anyone who has ever treid to do a re rig, or modification that hasn't had to go back to the drawing board at some point. I also agree with Eddie and consider this stuf to be pretty minor since he caught this stuff before it turned into a problem.
You have to give him credit for knowing what to listen for to know that there was a potential problem, and fixing it before it turned into something big.
I think THAT is what defines a good builder. Think of all the cash and money that was saved by recognizing the problem this early on.
Good Work Eddie, and I look forward to seeing some video of this thing run.
You have to give him credit for knowing what to listen for to know that there was a potential problem, and fixing it before it turned into something big.
I think THAT is what defines a good builder. Think of all the cash and money that was saved by recognizing the problem this early on.
Good Work Eddie, and I look forward to seeing some video of this thing run.
04-20-2009, 01:57 PM
#176
Registered
Thread Starter
Joe, Jeff1000, Ed, I really, really appreciate the support and kind words. I consider it an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as Randy Garcia, someone who has been successful in this business for a very long time.
I shot a short video clip of the engine funning yesterday but I am having problems loading it on Google video. I will try it later on. Everything is done and it is ready to go to the water. Just waiting on some decent weather. Will run it in the next day or so and I will definitely get some video. Again, thank you guys for your support....it really means a lot.
Eddie
I shot a short video clip of the engine funning yesterday but I am having problems loading it on Google video. I will try it later on. Everything is done and it is ready to go to the water. Just waiting on some decent weather. Will run it in the next day or so and I will definitely get some video. Again, thank you guys for your support....it really means a lot.
Eddie
04-20-2009, 02:24 PM
#177
VIP Member
VIP Member
If you needed lifters Eddie, I have some green ones, I cant say where they came from, they are top secret.. 
...just foolin ya...
...just foolin ya...
04-21-2009, 10:30 AM
#178
Registered
04-21-2009, 11:31 AM
#180
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