Offshoreonly.com

Offshoreonly.com (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/)
-   General Boating Discussion (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion-51/)
-   -   Doing a Donzi differently - out with the 502MPIs in with the LSA blown 6.0s (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion/349193-doing-donzi-differently-out-502mpis-lsa-blown-6-0s.html)

boatlessatm 06-01-2018 11:12 AM


Originally Posted by corey331 (Post 4629541)
I just stumbled across this thread. I ditched the 454 in my Checkmate 253 and installed a 408ci LS. I'd say you are pretty close on your 1000lbs weight saving estimate. My 454 (carb'd 310hp) weighed just over 1100lbs, fully dressed. When we dropped in the LS, we did it on the scales at my buddy's farm. I dropped 620lbs. This was with an aluminum LS2 block. Last year I rebuilt the engine into an iron block in preparation for possible boost and to add a little more weight back into the stern of the boat. The iron block weighed 96lbs more than the aluminum block. So, as of now I have a 520lbs weight saving out of the stern. The boat now handles a million times better than it did with the big block, especially in rough water. I have zero problem with balance and the thing carries the bow better than it did before.

I'm looking forward to seeing this thing come together. You're gonna love it!!!


speed and acceleration after the change?

GrannySShifting 06-01-2018 11:23 AM


Originally Posted by Wildman_grafix (Post 4629556)
If I have this right you say the iron block LS is only 96LBs more then the Aluminum?

Yes they are about 90# heavier not a big deal.

If you have a 408 LS you can accidentally make 600hp, we regularly make over 500 to the rear tires in cars every day in the shop

At the engine they will make 530-570 ft lb depending on combo and power will depend on how long you can carry that out with headflow and cam timing. Weve made nearer to 700flywheel with stuff that gets driven on the street

How much camshaft in yours Corey and hows the exhaust setup/reversion? Thats what Ive wondered about how much you can get away with there. Done custom LSx cams for 15 years, but not with so restrictive exhausts on them

Wildman_grafix 06-01-2018 11:43 AM


Originally Posted by GrannySShifting (Post 4629603)
Yes they are about 90# heavier not a big deal.

If you have a 408 LS you can accidentally make 600hp, we regularly make over 500 to the rear tires in cars every day in the shop

At the engine they will make 530-570 ft lb depending on combo and power will depend on how long you can carry that out with headflow and cam timing. Weve made nearer to 700flywheel with stuff that gets driven on the street

How much camshaft in yours Corey and hows the exhaust setup/reversion? Thats what Ive wondered about how much you can get away with there. Done custom LSx cams for 15 years, but not with so restrictive exhausts on them

Hey man I don't want to derail your thread but what block are you guys starting with? Is the LSA 427 easy to come by?

Also, looked at some programmers, have you kept the VCT when you modify? Seems one nice thing about the stock computers is cheap and a ton of capability. I am not worried about reversion, no noise laws, I run dry so I don't need to worry.

corey331 06-01-2018 11:46 AM


Originally Posted by GrannySShifting (Post 4629603)
Yes they are about 90# heavier not a big deal.

If you have a 408 LS you can accidentally make 600hp, we regularly make over 500 to the rear tires in cars every day in the shop

At the engine they will make 530-570 ft lb depending on combo and power will depend on how long you can carry that out with headflow and cam timing. Weve made nearer to 700flywheel with stuff that gets driven on the street

How much camshaft in yours Corey and hows the exhaust setup/reversion? Thats what Ive wondered about how much you can get away with there. Done custom LSx cams for 15 years, but not with so restrictive exhausts on them

My cam is 243/250, .621/.613 112lsa, and it reverted like CRAZY!!! Even with the water entering the exhaust 1/4" from the end of the tip it reverted. I had to make the exhaust completely dry. It sounds like it should be a lot faster than it actually is now, lol. That cam was spec'd according to the flow numbers that PRC gave me on the port job that was done. I'm guessing that either their numbers weren't right, or that the heads hadn't been ported as extensively as they thought, cause on the dyno you could see how the heads were choking the motor. Also, I didn't want to push it so the tune is really conservative, I think my max timing is set at 27*. I wanted something turn key that I wasn't going to constantly be messing with. It runs good, but I know there is a lot more in it with just a head swap, so that'll happen after this season.

This video was taken last weekend when I de-winterized it. You can see what I mean about the damn thing being loud!!!

corey331 06-01-2018 11:53 AM


Originally Posted by boatlessatm (Post 4629600)



speed and acceleration after the change?


So far I have seen a best of 75mph on GPS at 5600-5700rpms, but I still have a lot of playing with props to do. I want to get it where the rpms are up to 6000-6200 at full throttle. When I get it up there I think I should be in the upper 70's. After the head swap, I would like to see over 80mph. As far as acceleration, the thing actually pulls really hard once you get it spinning and trimmed up. From 3500rpm to 5600 or so is a blast!!! On plane time is actually better than with the big block that was in it. I attribute most of that to the weight savings.

GrannySShifting 06-01-2018 11:57 AM

Thats actually a good bit of timing Corey, on our NA stuff Ive NEVER had to run more than 27-28 degrees to make max power. Im assuming you run it on 93?

PRC heads have never had any consistancy to them, I used to use them with some pretty good results when i first opened up shop on my own in 03-04ish, but every once in a while Id get one same combo but was a bit of a dud so I got away from using them. QC department was always lacking a bit

Thats a pretty typical average street car cam, I definitely would think that wouldnt pan out well in a boat app unless you had some reallly nice headers

No wirries on thread derail, thats what its here for. Never understood why these motors didnt get used more. The LSA is a 6.2 not a 7.0 (427) its the supercharged CTSV/ZL1 engine. Blocks are not easy to come by but not really necessary. Im using 6.0 motors, weve made 1000-1250hp on stock ones in the cars, but Im pretty good at tuning them. Stock ECUs for me, yes if you use the drive by wire ECUs you can retain the variable cam stuff etc. Mine will be setup flex fuel capable so it can be filled up at any marina, but if I want to make some steam I can load it up with e85 from the gas pump for a poker run or something

Wildman_grafix 06-01-2018 02:42 PM


Originally Posted by corey331 (Post 4629606)
My cam is 243/250, .621/.613 112lsa, and it reverted like CRAZY!!! Even with the water entering the exhaust 1/4" from the end of the tip it reverted. I had to make the exhaust completely dry. It sounds like it should be a lot faster than it actually is now, lol. That cam was spec'd according to the flow numbers that PRC gave me on the port job that was done. I'm guessing that either their numbers weren't right, or that the heads hadn't been ported as extensively as they thought, cause on the dyno you could see how the heads were choking the motor. Also, I didn't want to push it so the tune is really conservative, I think my max timing is set at 27*. I wanted something turn key that I wasn't going to constantly be messing with. It runs good, but I know there is a lot more in it with just a head swap, so that'll happen after this season.

This video was taken last weekend when I de-winterized it. You can see what I mean about the damn thing being loud!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C-30yHAhlQ

That is not loud,,,,,,,, sounds good. Lighting headers?

corey331 06-01-2018 03:14 PM


Originally Posted by Wildman_grafix (Post 4629639)
That is not loud,,,,,,,, sounds good. Lighting headers?

Yes sir, lightning headers. And the video doesn’t do it justice on how loud it is. I borrowed a dB meter from work last year and at idle in the cockpit it’s 98dB. Lol. It does sound healthy though. Last year at the Lake Cumberland Poker Run I had a guy that runs a 50ft Nortech Cat with quad 1075’s stop and tell me my boat sounded good. Made me feel kinda cool for a second. Lol


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:16 PM.


Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.