WETTE VETTE

Les,
I finally figured out who you are. I remember well the day you were at Pine Lake with your new 26 Howard Cat and you asked me if I would take your boat for a ride so you could take pictures. I was all over that. It looks like you have an Eliminator now. What model, motor, and how fast? I know your Howard ran great. Why did you sell it? Pine Lake is small but there are about 4 or 5 other local racers that have a lot of fun out there trying to out do each other and our boats are really too small for Lake Michigan. I may be taking you up on your offer to try your 30 lab prop sometime this summer. Good to chat with you.

Craig AKA WETTE VETTE

WETTE VETTE

I know what you mean sometimes. It could be a pain fighting it around the docks. I imagine if you accidently shift into gear at the wrong time with that blower surge it could do some clutch damage. The 865 HP isn't the best thing for it either. Hopefully it is minor and you will be boating again soon. Keep us posted on where you end up. Oh ya I got the cam specs Erson recommended for a 12:1 plus compression 540" with ported cylinder heads. 278/286 @.050 114+4 install with .731" lift.
You will need that good fuel to run this combo.

Brad Perry

Well, I just talked to the mech and the news ain't good. Looks like the clutch and the bottom of the gears are damaged. I'd like to know what caused all this!

I'd also like to get a hold of desktop dyno to do some checking.

BTW, I currently have the Dart 355cc CNC heads. I hope they wouldn't be too large for a N/A setup. I think the trick for me would be to get the idle quality reasonable and still get the most out of the motor. If I can get a N/A motor to idle around 800rpm reliably, then max out everything else that won't endanger that idle, I think I'd be happy. I don't care how high within reason the rpm is where it makes peak power, don't mind running expensive fuel (as long as I can find it). This would lead me to think of 11 or 12 to one compression. The cam is the biggest question and unfortunately, the desktop dyno can't answer idle quality questions.

What are the specs on your cam??

WETTE VETTE

272/280 @ .050 on 112 + 4 installation. .714" lift. My heads are fully ported 325 pro 1 Darts w/ 2.3"/1.88 valves. Keep in mind this cam is for 498" My next motor is going to be a 12 - 13 comp. 540 and the cam I mentioned in the last post was desinged by Steve Tanzi at Erson cams. He used my current set up as a basis for the 540. Your heads flow a little more than mine which usually means less cam to achieve the same results. I think your boat is still light enough for those 355 heads to work great. You will want to spin 6000 to 6500 rpm if you really want to take advantage of your full head flow potential.

jdnca1

Brad;

The current cam I run in a Merlin 632, 10.5:1 comp, dart 360 fully ported and polished heads (flow 422 @.800 lift), dart tunnel ram with 2X775 race Demons. Comp 280/288 @.050 115 centerline, .785/.760 lift. Motor idles @900-1000 in neutral and 600rpm in gear. The 632 wanted more cam on the dyno 2yrs ago so I stepped it up last summer. My original specs were Erson 272/278 @.050 114 centerline, .772/.740 lift. As you could guess, this cam idled even better. I think your 355's will work great on a 540, coupled to a 1150 or 1250 Dominator you shoulod have a Nasty set-up. The key to idle is to keep your velocitys up, thats why I went with small carbs on my tunnel ram. I agree with Wette Vette, 11.5:1 should be no problem on 100LL aviation fuel. If you have an interest I would sell you my old Erson cam cheap, I have no use for it. One lobe has some very slight damage from a lifter going, but nothing a $75.00 regrind can't fix.

For reference I know someone running a Merlin 540 with similar cam as mentioned 1250 Dominator, dart ported 345 pro 1's, 10.25:1, that made 774hp @6700.