Help with Identifying the motor in my Nordic
 

I just purchased a 1996 Nordic Scandia 25' Mid-Cabin Open Bow and need help identifying the motor! I was told it was an 8.1, but how do I find our for sure? Anyone know what power packages/horsepower ratings Nordic was putting in these boats in 1996?

I had a '99 & it came with a 330 hp fuel injected 454 Mag & Bravo-1 drive. There was probably an option for a 502. It should be clearly marked on the air filter cover unless it's been altered. You could also reference the s/n on the block.
They also didn't make an open bow, so yours is probably a conversion & I've never seen one on a triple axel trailer. Looks nice!

Thanks!

It actually has a billet flame arrester on it, so it is not marked there. I found a serial #10068286 on the back of the block where do I reference it to?

Is it possible that all of the Chrome/Billet accessories were installed by Nordic or are these aftermarket?

Are you sure that Nordic did'nt offer an open bow -According to NADA, they did offer this boat in an open bow configuration. Also the trailer is not the original trailer it was new in 2003.

Above serial # is the block s/n. The serial # on the Mercury tag by the starter is: D429218 (which I have not been able to reference on the Mercury Parts websites).

I have a 1993 copy of Hot Boat that tests an open bow
Scandia.

I'm of little help on your engine ID however.

Pesky Varmint

I can't swear to it but I do not believe the stock Merc 8.1 was in existance in 1996 and they were never carbed only FI. I believe that a 454 can be stroked to 8.1 but this would not be a stock Merc.

Call Merc Tech Line and ask then to ID the SN

hey shady ! i too have a 96' scandia closed bow that was bone stock when purchased and doesnt look like yours. i think the billet add-ons are aftermarket (looks bad ass too) and the exhaust manifolds and carb dont look like merc. either.....my boat came w/ a 7.4 330 hp that was only gettn 55-58mph...what kind of #'s u pushin w/the 8 ltr ? Rydda 1 Go Nordic !!!

Slim Shady,
I think you have a gen 6 454 with aftermarket bolt ons.
Maybe some internal work. Have you talked to the former owner?
Welcome to the Nordic forum. Pretty boat.
Best Regards,
Steve

I stand corrected. Wasn't aware.

Thanks Rage, I called Merc today and they told me that it is a 1990 454 (350HP). It's not the original engine to the boat, it was first registered in a 1991 Eliminator Edge! I'm going to try and contact the original owner & see if I can find out more info.

Thanks for the compliments!! The billet is all from Eddie Marine, the headers/risers are EMI Thunder and not sure what else has been done to the motor. The guy I bought it from is not the original owner and he was told that it was a Stock 8.1 (which it isn't). I am getting 67 MPH by the speedo, gonna try it out with GPS to see if that is accurate.

67 mph is a strong number i just got rebuilt w/ all new goodies and cant wait to get in the water....i'm told high 60's is what i shoujd expect....i'll keep u posted. how do you post picts, and a avitar?

Yeah 67 is pretty strong, I kinda expect that number to go down a little when I run it with the GPS. I just got the boat last week and have only ran it once!

To post an avatar go into your member options and you can select a generic avatar or upload a custom one!

To post pictures in a thread you have to post using the "Advanced Reply" option. Then there is a button to "Manage Attachements" you can upload photos there. (it also depends on your membership level, on some plans you can't post pics)

Thanks Steve,
OK I got in touch with the the previous owner (twice removed). He is the one that installed the motor. It looks like the boat came with a stock 330HP 7.4 and 75 hours ago, he built the 1990 Mark IV 365 HP 454 Mag and added all of the aftermarket parts. Here is what he remembered: Fresh rebuild, milled the original sq. port heads, new timing gear/chain, S.S. water pump, new drive coupler, blueprinted 24P 4-blade prop, drive shower, EMI polished headers, (4) Optima batteries, etc.

Not an 8.1 as I was told, but doesnt seem like a bad thing! What are your thoughts?

Sounds like a nice strong motor.

Chris

Nothing wrong at all with what you have. Actually a lot of the aftermarket blocks (Dart/World-Merlin) are based on Gen IVs.
Why I don't know (I would have gone Gen VI). The 454s are tough, long lasting motors. If you do get the bug for a 496" 1/4" stroker, it's pretty easy to do, and would result in a nice increase in torque and horsepower. In addition to the 1/4" stroker crank, you'll also need longer rods and new pistons. Or, you could also pick up a 502". I see them for sale all the time in classifieds.
Short term, go to lake, drink beer, and just enjoy the boat :drink:..........
Regards,
Steve

I've been thinking about the aftermarket Gen IV blocks, vs the Factory Gen VI. GM/Chevrolet doesn't have a manual fuel pump boss on the Gen VI blocks, I assume because they were switching over to EFI from carbs, and generally used electric fuel pumps in the automotive side.
Since most of these high performance blocks (Merlin/Dart) are used for automotive applications (like drag cars), they needed that manual fuel pump mounting boss for carb applications, also good for the marine side. Is there any other reason Dart and Merlin based their aftermarket blocks on Gen IV, Dave, Bob? Just curious.
Regards,
Steve

Thanks Steve, That is just what I plan to do! I need a season to get used to it anyway. It handles a little different from my last to boats (34 Sea Ray & 30 Rinker)....:drink: