Stroked 540's reliability questions
 

Hey Guys, The time has come for me to step up and play with the big boy's. Growing up around multiple 42 fountains I have gotten an itch to pull the trigger on one and I think I might have found one that would work for me! A restored straight hulled non-staggered 42, with stroked 540's and TRS drives, an odd match I know... I have grown up with 500's and 600's but never anything built up like these are. I am extremely mechanical, so the potential problems don't bug me however what scares me is I have no idea of a rebuild or maintenance schedule for these motors or drives. 250 hours were always when we would have the engines torn down and gone through and refreshed and the drives every other year. This package I have no idea. The price is right which is the only reason I am considering this. I figure If I can get 3 years out of this it will let me build up enough cash to get to the next level of something newer and faster.

Does anyone have experience with 540's? do you like them, HATE them? Ticking timebomb? Let me know! Thanks in advance!

A 540 is no different from a 502 in terms of reliability. It all depends on how it was built and to what hp level.
If its well built with around 500hp, then it should go for 400-500 hrs. If its a 700hp engine, then expect it will need top ends by 150-200 hrs and full rebuilds by 350ish hrs. If its SC'd and 850 hp, then maybe 100-150hr top ends and 200-250hr full rebuilds

Its like anything - quality of parts for the build, All machine shop services and there quility of tools & machines plus work standards, also all spec correctly , and of course the engine builder - how is his work and does that person stands behind his builds.

What kills me alot times advertised boats for sale with fresh rebuilds and after one starts digging into the rebuilds - I would nt want it if it was free, Many good marine rebuilds out there but alot of bad rebuilds out there for the marine side of the things as well.

Most likely the time bomb isn't the 540's, it's the TRS drives. You say the price is right, but what is that price?

Check the IP Griff......

I read somewhere , rather by discounted blown motors boat, than someones freshly rebuilt engines boat lol

I got better idea for ya , forget that fountain , buy my cig , with proven power , by a top end engine builder , paul pfaff .. fountains are nice , but I think cigs are better built : ) plus its knows lake winni well . shes done the 4 horseman run lol

Unique to him and from WI as listed

no way, the trans will hold way more power then the drives...72C is pretty tough

As far as the engines assume they are not 540,s and just run.... anything else is a bonus.... I know 3 people with engines apart right now that were all running boats with 2 having a good back history and we are all fixing issues they had, myself being one of them, I do not trust any builders besides a select few these days to be right and honest.. hope it's cheap in case you get burned..

$20 this dude never responds, lots of one hit wonders lately.

I will take the $20 in either cash or check

Drives were rebuilt by offshore doller marine in Florida before performance boat center bought them I guess, and motors are built up to 650 hp. A newer trailer as well! I'm looking to be under 50k if anyone knows of a 35 or bigger boat that can cruise at 50 for sale.

must be an old 42 if it’s for sale under 50 k. With everything rebuilt. Iceppl glad you said he was one hit. I was thinking same thing. Good luck. I’d get a survey n a test ride.