Conversion to Deisel?
 

With allot of the newer boats coming out with diesel's for power has anyone ever converted Say big block boat over to diesels? What does it take? can you use the bravo's? I must be getting old...or just sick of wrenching....

he!! I dont know.....what ever yanmars seem to be popular with Nortec....could you slam a couple powerstroke fords in there?

I was at a shop here in west michigan the guy is a fabricator from he!! builds all kinds of custon stuff.... he was converting over a 419 Formula for some Arab guy with what I thought were GM deisels.....

Dyno-Try these on for size
www.marinedieselusa.com
www.peninsulardiesel.com
I've been thinking the same thing as you.

The marine diesel looks like the ticket and drops right in.

Thanks 30ss that one place peninsular is about 15 miles from my house!!!

would you need to switch to Bmax's to take the torque??

that super charger looks like a whipple!!!I like It!!!

I'd go straight to Arnsons, Bravo to ASD-6 conversion.
The super charger is much the sam eas a Whipple it's a screw type .
I really like those 400hp Tigersharks
I love spending virtual income:D :D

Come on Lotto!!! that would be too cool! The cost would be unreal!!!motors and drives!!!!ouch!

Well, lets see here. Lets assume you have stock bravo's. Max torque capcity of 600lbft? The Dodge Cummins (96-98 manual) made 450lbft of torque and 215hp. Now power mods are like stupidly simple with these engines. Add a simple torque plate and the engine will now put out 330hp and 750lbft! That'll frag a bravo for sure! The marine versions of these engines were rated at 370hp, so they are more than capable of the sustained power. So watch ebay or pull the engine from the junk yard. They run around 5k complete. The motor mounts will be pretty easy to hook up. They are right on the side of the block just like a small block. Fuel wouldn't be an issue either. The engine comes with a pump that is capable of lifting the fuel. The only thing that you would need to cool the turbo. Remember these are available as a marinized engine, so that would be another stock part. The engines have key off fuel shut off so, no kill cables. The only thing that you have to remember is that these are really really heavy engines. Even if you have more power, you'll proably go slower. Then again, you'll be slipping fuel and looking at 2,000+ hours rebuild times.

2000 hrs thats a good thing!!!

Dyno:
The Bravo XR's or Imco reworked Bravo's will take diesels up to around 600ft.lbs of torque, but you will have to go to a 2.0 to 1 ratio or possibly a 1.85 to 1 ratio and new props to keep the diesels at peak rpms at your top speed. I talked to the people at Marine Diesel at Miami and they have done a few of these conversions. If you are really interested give them a call.
Raylar

I'm thinking retirement boat about 15 years from now...45 Sonic with Deisels...

Yea cost would be unreal.....but you'll be the only kid on the block with that set up and who said being a pimp daddy was cheap anyway?????:D

Ron Dibartolo od Challenger runs a 42 (old Axiom hull) with 3 Yanmars through Bravos.
Still more expensive than 502s but you might make the difference up in fuel this year.
Gary

I'm looking at the reliability factor....if you can get 2000+ hours thats like 20 years up here....that would be great!!

Be careful, a lot of the newer, high reving diesels do not have nearly the lifespan of the old low rpm engines.
Gary

The Arneson Drives for the Yanmars are less costly than their I/O alternatives by far.

So the cost of the diesels is the only ouch factor in this project.

I wonder what the cost of the Bravo to Arenson conversions are?

That's not the drive package for the Yanmar diesel engines.

First you need to pick an engine and boat.

Then look at the hull displacement.

Then choose the appropriate reduction ratio and drive sizing.

One the larger boats you are not going to be using anything smaller than the Yanmar 440 or the new (500????) Yanmar.

If you go with the “Hamerhead” 400 or 450 or more even you would still using the same Arneson ASD8 in line drive unit as with the Yanmar 440.

This is less expensive than a BMAX or others.

The biggest issue that I've run into with diesels over the years is the smell. The women just don't care for it, and if you're idling through the channel with ther wind at the stern you'll definitely notice it. Yeah, I know the newer engines with electronic controls are a lot better but it's still there.

Crazyhorse The woman don't like the smell?????
With all the money you'll save on fuel and repairs you could load the boat with more expensive and less winey woman :D

Now, I aways thought of that as a benefit. It's the outboards that really stink. :D