What do you do in this scenerio...

Plan on using a 540, but don't have the dough for the Whipple. Is it ok to build the 540's internal's for the Whipple and run it in the boat until winter?

Can the Whipple be installed with the motor in the boat?

Also, is anyone running carb'd Whipple 540? If set up professionaly waht are the drawbacks?

I was asked to do this about 6 years ago for a large company in the after market. Our 540 combo was targeted for 600HP @5000 and 600#/ft @ 4000


1) Best Block to use: Merlin, stock, Dart............
GM Short deck VI. Cost effective.
My Choice, Merlin.

2) Tall deck or not
Target crate price dictated short. I would chose tall to reduce side loading of cylinder walls.

3) Crank
Lunati Racer series BQ427. 4.250" Refer to these as Pig cranks, 2 hole lightened, but they hold up.

4) Rods

Lunati Pro Mod I beams. Due to the constant rpms and the fact that I beams are stronger.

5) Pistons
JE flat tops. Like a full skirt piston over the T-skirt. Less rocking in the bore . Compression was 8.5 to 1
6) Heads
Canfields, unported with good valve job. 119cc heads, actual CC was 122. This head was designed by Joe Petelle of HVH. Because of its low lift numbers it makes very good power.

7) Valves
Dynagear 6000 series. Sorry due to Chinese and imported ****, they are out of business. Best damn valve made in the USA. Now no valves are made in the USA 2.250/1.88

8) Intake
We tried, Brodix dual and single/Wieand Dual and Single/ Dart/ Edelbrock Dual and Single. Chose the Wieand Single plane. It was not the most HP or the most torque. . .dual planes made more tq then any of the singles, chose because it was cost effective and for LOOKS. You Powerboaters don't like looking at little itty bitty dual planes when you're showing off the engine compartment.

9) Cam
That was my doing. Very small. it was in the 230 range and lift was a tad over .600



So on and so forth

Lets figure it out together

MSD Ignition, 950HP carb stock jetting 94/94 , BH9 NGK's, 38 degrees total.

dyno Numbers:

RPM HP Torque BSFC VE%
3600 438 639 .439 91.7
4000 497 653 .401 95.0
4400 568 678 .419 99.7
4800 622 681 .432 101.6
5200 645 652 .433 100.7

Correction factor was 1.2%. These are corrected numbers.

These engines had good idle qualities and would run on 87 octane.

Chris

Cam:
Would a "tad" be in the .630/.635 range?
How about 236/240 @.050 duration for the same cam?
Hydraulic Roller, AFR 315 CNC Ported, 9:1 CR also.

Where can you but those tall deck blocks for 1400.00?

anyone, anyone?

RLW, I would say real close
 

RLW

I would say you are right on cam - 741 Crane, correct?
I run a Gen VI std deck 9.800" with GM forged rods
540 cu. in. - GM rect 325cc heads, ported, gasket matched, polished, bowl blend, 3 angle, etc, etc
Dynoed at 600hp 5500 rpm, 600 lb ft @ 4700 rpm
Hp was still climbing when I shut the test down - didn't want to spin faster. Guess the heads are just really starting to breathe at 4500 and up...

With the Canfields flow #'s in the above set-up, would say that power looks right on...

Zack

RLW,
With the numbers on the AFR's, you need less exhaust duration and lift. With good exhaust ports you don't need the lift and duration to crutch them, if used you are just blowing torque out the pipes.

Johnny, I sold Competition Products about 100 TD BBC Marine/Truck blocks a few years back. They are HD blocks and have heavy cylinder walls. They would bore 4.350 or 4.375" no problem. You may get a deal on those, I think they still have some left.

Chris

Chris

Russ,
This was one of the custom cams discussed for the 540 build. It would go along with Chris' comments.
Only a 2* split on int/ex due to the heads flowing 77-81% I/E ratio in your configuration.
Bob
Dur @ .050 233 intake and 235 exhaust
Lift 600 intake and 612 exhaust
Lobe seperation 112
intake centerline 108

Thanks Bob and Chris.
Looking forward to seeing what this looks like on Carl McQuillen's dyno.