377 Upgrades and Repairs
#1
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377 Upgrades and Repairs
Happy New Year everyone! Thought I would share the upgrades and repairs happening on my 377.
2023 recap:
Bought the boat in June, Dave at Wesco found a bad cam in the port side engine. Original cam was a HR 236/236 @ .050 .578 lift on a 112 LSA, replacement cam is a HR 242/254 @.050 .575 lift on a 113 LSA. Dave put the engine back in the boat and I took it out labor day weekend. Boat ran best of 70mph at 5000rpm trimmed out in 1-2 ft chop. Found a leaking bellow and pulled the boat. October I pulled the stbd side engine to have Dave match the cam to the new port side cam. Found some water contamination in the trans, Dave and I both think the water seeped in the tailshaft seal from the leaking bellow since there was a rust line around the trans from all the water sitting In the bellow. The stbd side helmet has a considerable amount of play, looks like ill be needed a different transom assembly. When draining the drives, found metal In the port side, looks like it will be time for a rebuild on that one. Yay!
Winter work:
The boat came with freshly built 540 long blocks in 2020. Dart Big M tall decks, Eagle cranks key wayed for the blowers, Molnar rods, JE dish pistons, Brodie Big Brodix aluminum heads, topped off with used Weiand 177 blowers making about 3psi of boost. After advice from Dave and many others, I decided to upgrade to 871's for less heat and more boost. Plan on running 5psi, goal is 800hp on a reliable tune up (fingers crossed). Won't be running intercoolers this year since I'm quickly approaching the max budget for this winter. I found really nice set ups of used Hampton 871's and everything else I needed.
Now have to upgrade the fuel systems to feed them. Pumps with the 177's were holley 110 gph mechanical with regulators. Been looking at bigger pumps with bigger fittings in the 130 gph range, and also possibly adding electric pumps for insurance. All the fuel line needs to be upgraded from -6 to -8 at the least or -10 more ideally. Also picked up nice used marine machine hydraulic steering helm to stern. Picked up a nice set of used gaffrig guages too.
The boat is not perfect, has its fair share of stress cracks and signs of its age . Ideally I'd like to run it for another 2 seasons and then do a full restoration while putting my power package in another hull during the course of the resto so I can still go boating. But for now I plan on enjoying it until then. Hope you guys enjoy this thread as it continues and i appreciate any input or advice! Thanks!
2023 recap:
Bought the boat in June, Dave at Wesco found a bad cam in the port side engine. Original cam was a HR 236/236 @ .050 .578 lift on a 112 LSA, replacement cam is a HR 242/254 @.050 .575 lift on a 113 LSA. Dave put the engine back in the boat and I took it out labor day weekend. Boat ran best of 70mph at 5000rpm trimmed out in 1-2 ft chop. Found a leaking bellow and pulled the boat. October I pulled the stbd side engine to have Dave match the cam to the new port side cam. Found some water contamination in the trans, Dave and I both think the water seeped in the tailshaft seal from the leaking bellow since there was a rust line around the trans from all the water sitting In the bellow. The stbd side helmet has a considerable amount of play, looks like ill be needed a different transom assembly. When draining the drives, found metal In the port side, looks like it will be time for a rebuild on that one. Yay!
Winter work:
The boat came with freshly built 540 long blocks in 2020. Dart Big M tall decks, Eagle cranks key wayed for the blowers, Molnar rods, JE dish pistons, Brodie Big Brodix aluminum heads, topped off with used Weiand 177 blowers making about 3psi of boost. After advice from Dave and many others, I decided to upgrade to 871's for less heat and more boost. Plan on running 5psi, goal is 800hp on a reliable tune up (fingers crossed). Won't be running intercoolers this year since I'm quickly approaching the max budget for this winter. I found really nice set ups of used Hampton 871's and everything else I needed.
Now have to upgrade the fuel systems to feed them. Pumps with the 177's were holley 110 gph mechanical with regulators. Been looking at bigger pumps with bigger fittings in the 130 gph range, and also possibly adding electric pumps for insurance. All the fuel line needs to be upgraded from -6 to -8 at the least or -10 more ideally. Also picked up nice used marine machine hydraulic steering helm to stern. Picked up a nice set of used gaffrig guages too.
The boat is not perfect, has its fair share of stress cracks and signs of its age . Ideally I'd like to run it for another 2 seasons and then do a full restoration while putting my power package in another hull during the course of the resto so I can still go boating. But for now I plan on enjoying it until then. Hope you guys enjoy this thread as it continues and i appreciate any input or advice! Thanks!
The following 5 users liked this post by Franks292:
1983ScarabIII (01-09-2024), 87MirageIntruder (01-08-2024), AmiableDave (01-07-2024), hblair (01-08-2024), tommymonza (01-08-2024)
#2
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Cool old ride , was that a factory staggered or was that a old triple engine that got converted.
I remember Van Andels had a 377 in Holland with triples back in that era called Warp Factor, but they had a 377 before that I think was a staggered boat that was all white like yours though can’t remember the name of that boat.
I remember Van Andels had a 377 in Holland with triples back in that era called Warp Factor, but they had a 377 before that I think was a staggered boat that was all white like yours though can’t remember the name of that boat.
#4
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I wish I was smart enough to have a "budget" lol
It's looking good Frank! Also looks like you're doing it the right way. My advice would be to not go way overboard with trying to make it perfect. Those cracks are probably just in the gel. My boat had about 3.89 million cracks in the gel and took forever to get them fixed, and I have found a few I missed here and there. If you have a nice original boat, you may be better off keeping it that way. (I wouldn't listen to this kind of advice and don't expect you to either lol)
It's looking good Frank! Also looks like you're doing it the right way. My advice would be to not go way overboard with trying to make it perfect. Those cracks are probably just in the gel. My boat had about 3.89 million cracks in the gel and took forever to get them fixed, and I have found a few I missed here and there. If you have a nice original boat, you may be better off keeping it that way. (I wouldn't listen to this kind of advice and don't expect you to either lol)
The following 2 users liked this post by hblair:
1983ScarabIII (01-09-2024), larslindroth (01-11-2024)
#5
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I will measure them them tomorrow. I have to get them ceramic coated since they are all rusty and cruddy. The exhaust was custom fabbed so the water mixes it at the end of the pipe right at the transom.
#6
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Cool old ride , was that a factory staggered or was that a old triple engine that got converted.
I remember Van Andels had a 377 in Holland with triples back in that era called Warp Factor, but they had a 377 before that I think was a staggered boat that was all white like yours though can’t remember the name of that boat.
I remember Van Andels had a 377 in Holland with triples back in that era called Warp Factor, but they had a 377 before that I think was a staggered boat that was all white like yours though can’t remember the name of that boat.
The following 3 users liked this post by Franks292:
#7
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I wish I was smart enough to have a "budget" lol
It's looking good Frank! Also looks like you're doing it the right way. My advice would be to not go way overboard with trying to make it perfect. Those cracks are probably just in the gel. My boat had about 3.89 million cracks in the gel and took forever to get them fixed, and I have found a few I missed here and there. If you have a nice original boat, you may be better off keeping it that way. (I wouldn't listen to this kind of advice and don't expect you to either lol)
It's looking good Frank! Also looks like you're doing it the right way. My advice would be to not go way overboard with trying to make it perfect. Those cracks are probably just in the gel. My boat had about 3.89 million cracks in the gel and took forever to get them fixed, and I have found a few I missed here and there. If you have a nice original boat, you may be better off keeping it that way. (I wouldn't listen to this kind of advice and don't expect you to either lol)
As to how far I want to go with a future restoration would be determined by funds and priorities when that time comes. I used to have alot of hobbies (playing music, hot rods, snowmobiling) but have been shifting my focus more to boats and starting my marine service and transport business. Right now I don't have a girlfriend or kids but that can definitely change by that time.
I'd like to redo the stringers and bulkheads and go with Cossa board, reconfigure the stringers in the bilge, add a bigle bulkhead similar to the apaches and set the port engine back about a foot. Move the cabin entrance to the center of the cockpit and build a new dash similar to the cigs with steps built into the cabin door. Holy crap that sounds like a big project but man would it be cool I plan on having this boat for a very long time, so whenever it happens. I plan on keeping the current graphics and the wing.
Only cosmetic change will be a purple powder coated aluminum swim platform this year with a telescoping ladder.
The following 2 users liked this post by Franks292:
1983ScarabIII (01-09-2024), hblair (01-10-2024)
#8
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Their triple engine they replaced it with was black and named Black Magic.
Devos old KV just surfaced out of a barn.
Last edited by tommymonza; 01-09-2024 at 05:32 PM.
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larslindroth (01-11-2024)
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Yup, I know who owns Conquest now, I see it every time im at his shop, definitely a cool boat!
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tommymonza (01-10-2024)