anyone DIY 540 build up?
12-17-2005, 03:47 PM
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anyone DIY 540 build up?
Did a bunch of searching on 540's. I'm not looking to buy anything now, but would like to plan out a 540 with 550-600hp for my boat. I'm not racing it, but mostly cruising around at 3000rpm with lots of WOT runs too. Only running a 3500 pound 22 foot boat, so I don't need anything too radical, but aluminum heads would be nice to keep the weight down.
I've assembled engines before, so I can check bearing clearances and build a motor. I'm no machine shop though, nor do I have the capabilities to degree a cam.
Some options are to buy a 540 short block kit and assemble it, throw on some AFR aluminum heads and then swap most of my 454 stuff over and then add an Nickerson carb.
I could also spend a bit more for a built shortblock, then add the heads myself. I'm mostly concerned with all the parts working together perfectly.
Does anyone have recommendations? Shops to get a nice shortlblock from? What would be my cost breakdown? I'm rough guessing $4000-5000 for a shortblock, then $2500 for heads, and $1000 for a carb.
I think I'll need a bigger oil cooler as well as a bigger fuel pump too. I don't know how much fuel the external merc pump puts out- it's the one that is part of the sea water pump.
I've assembled engines before, so I can check bearing clearances and build a motor. I'm no machine shop though, nor do I have the capabilities to degree a cam.
Some options are to buy a 540 short block kit and assemble it, throw on some AFR aluminum heads and then swap most of my 454 stuff over and then add an Nickerson carb.
I could also spend a bit more for a built shortblock, then add the heads myself. I'm mostly concerned with all the parts working together perfectly.
Does anyone have recommendations? Shops to get a nice shortlblock from? What would be my cost breakdown? I'm rough guessing $4000-5000 for a shortblock, then $2500 for heads, and $1000 for a carb.
I think I'll need a bigger oil cooler as well as a bigger fuel pump too. I don't know how much fuel the external merc pump puts out- it's the one that is part of the sea water pump.
12-17-2005, 06:20 PM
#3
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Re: anyone DIY 540 build up?
Originally Posted by zimm17
Did a bunch of searching on 540's. I'm not looking to buy anything now, but would like to plan out a 540 with 550-600hp for my boat. I'm not racing it, but mostly cruising around at 3000rpm with lots of WOT runs too. Only running a 3500 pound 22 foot boat, so I don't need anything too radical, but aluminum heads would be nice to keep the weight down.
I've assembled engines before, so I can check bearing clearances and build a motor. I'm no machine shop though, nor do I have the capabilities to degree a cam.
Some options are to buy a 540 short block kit and assemble it, throw on some AFR aluminum heads and then swap most of my 454 stuff over and then add an Nickerson carb.
I could also spend a bit more for a built shortblock, then add the heads myself. I'm mostly concerned with all the parts working together perfectly.
Does anyone have recommendations? Shops to get a nice shortlblock from? What would be my cost breakdown? I'm rough guessing $4000-5000 for a shortblock, then $2500 for heads, and $1000 for a carb.
I think I'll need a bigger oil cooler as well as a bigger fuel pump too. I don't know how much fuel the external merc pump puts out- it's the one that is part of the sea water pump.
I've assembled engines before, so I can check bearing clearances and build a motor. I'm no machine shop though, nor do I have the capabilities to degree a cam.
Some options are to buy a 540 short block kit and assemble it, throw on some AFR aluminum heads and then swap most of my 454 stuff over and then add an Nickerson carb.
I could also spend a bit more for a built shortblock, then add the heads myself. I'm mostly concerned with all the parts working together perfectly.
Does anyone have recommendations? Shops to get a nice shortlblock from? What would be my cost breakdown? I'm rough guessing $4000-5000 for a shortblock, then $2500 for heads, and $1000 for a carb.
I think I'll need a bigger oil cooler as well as a bigger fuel pump too. I don't know how much fuel the external merc pump puts out- it's the one that is part of the sea water pump.
Best Regards,
Dean Gellner
Gellner Engineering Marine Power
12-17-2005, 07:09 PM
#4
I hate the winter!!
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Re: anyone DIY 540 build up?
Here is my 540 combination. I built it last winter. It ran flawlessly this season.
Dart Big "M" Block
Callies dragon slayer crank
Lunati Pro Mod rods 6.385"
JE Pistons 9.23 final compression
A.F.R. 315 cnc heads, Ferrea 2.25 intakes, 1.88 inconel exhaust
Dart single plane oval port intake, gasket matched to heads
Isky hydraulic roller
intake .578 lift--- 238* @ .050
exhaust .608 lift---248* @ .050
114* lobe seperation
Nickerson prepped 1050 dominator
Wilson tapered 1" spacer plate
CMI Full Dry Headers
Here are the dyno numbers
RPM Horsepower Torque
3300 381 607
3400 394 609
3500 407 610
3600 416 608
3700 427 606
3800 438 606
3900 450 606
4000 464 610
4100 479 613
4200 503 629
4300 518 633
4400 539 643
4500 558 651
4600 575 657
4700 590 660
4800 603 659
4900 616 661
5000 627 658
5100 638 657
5200 648 654
5300 657 651
5400 665 646
5500 670 639
5600 672 630
5700 674 621
5800 678 613
5900 679 608
Dart Big "M" Block
Callies dragon slayer crank
Lunati Pro Mod rods 6.385"
JE Pistons 9.23 final compression
A.F.R. 315 cnc heads, Ferrea 2.25 intakes, 1.88 inconel exhaust
Dart single plane oval port intake, gasket matched to heads
Isky hydraulic roller
intake .578 lift--- 238* @ .050
exhaust .608 lift---248* @ .050
114* lobe seperation
Nickerson prepped 1050 dominator
Wilson tapered 1" spacer plate
CMI Full Dry Headers
Here are the dyno numbers
RPM Horsepower Torque
3300 381 607
3400 394 609
3500 407 610
3600 416 608
3700 427 606
3800 438 606
3900 450 606
4000 464 610
4100 479 613
4200 503 629
4300 518 633
4400 539 643
4500 558 651
4600 575 657
4700 590 660
4800 603 659
4900 616 661
5000 627 658
5100 638 657
5200 648 654
5300 657 651
5400 665 646
5500 670 639
5600 672 630
5700 674 621
5800 678 613
5900 679 608
Last edited by Vinny P; 12-17-2005 at 07:15 PM.
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12-18-2005, 08:45 AM
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I hate the winter!!
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Re: anyone DIY 540 build up?
Originally Posted by open72
that's a very "giving dyno" with those #'s....
Exactly what do you mean????
12-18-2005, 09:47 AM
#8
12-18-2005, 10:06 AM
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Re: anyone DIY 540 build up?
Zimm,Competition products in Oshkosh Wisconsin has crank/rod/piston assemblys and unassembled short block assemblys. Their prices meet or beat summit racing and they actually have techs that can help you if you need it.http://www.competitionproducts.com/. Flat lander racing has excellent prices on pistons if your spec-ing out something too. 572's,598's,622's are nice BUT some boats run into transom exhaust hole location problems,Smitty
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