The summer of 2007 I was excited to finally get the "Sonic Project " wet with it's new 600 hp BBC's and let fly.... unfortunately I had nothing but problems of all sorts.In August 2007 I pulled the intake on one engine & found immediate problems. Bottom line was new valve guides were falling out of the heads, the valves were contacting the pistons, head gasket leaks, etc. Pulled the second intake & found the same thing!!The builder who had a good rep around here said: Whoops!! Partly his fault & partly the machine shops fault, but he would rebuild for only parts cost. Well, that turned out to be pretty substantial what with all new bearings, rings, etc. New Brodix heads, new carbs and so on...... engines dyno'd very well 589HP @ 6000.
Well, there I was 2008 ready to go again....... started to work out new propping for the boat & could not get anything to work except 23- 3 blades. So I bought some shorties to break the props free.... immediate progress!! 26-28" to start!! Except one engine would never turn over higher than 4500rpm & the engines were throwing oil like crazy out of the breathers..... the boat sat on the lift alot as I had other irons in the fire so to speak, but finally I just pulled the "slow" engine & took it back to the dyno shop to get checked....... they found upward of 85% leakdown in several cylinders!! So I pulled the plugs on the port engine & did a leakdown...... same thing!!!
I am waiting on the dyno/machine shop (Boyd's Machine Norman, Okla) to tear it down for diagnosis, but I have a bad feeling...... I have spent a ton of money on these engines with the last builder & will never go back there. His rep is now toast!! I really don't think he rehoned the cylinders or installed new rings as instructed..... even though I paid for it.... I cannot think of another reason for the quick failure of both engines & with new aluminum heads too......
What's your opinion???

With all that screwing going on I hope you at least got a kiss !! Sorry to hear about your luck hope the new place works out a lot better for you .

couple of things from info given, making almost 600 hp @ 6000, thats a hight RPM for a boat setup...what did it make @ 54-55 ?? that where you need to be, also cam ?? maybe not correct and revision it's doing the engines in ?? just some thoughts from my armchair ! Rob

Another sad story of an Offshore only boater who has not learned the lesson of using proven, reputable high performance marine engine builders for the "right" motors the "first" Time! There are enough good shops right here on OSO to take care of all. don't be afraid of shipping motors to the "right" shops, its not important that your engine builder is "around the corner" its important that he has "been around the bend"
IT'S PAINLESS and CHEAPER in the long run!!

Best Regards.
Ray @ Raylar

hey send me your email on pm

i know eric at boyds very well...

My mechanic can help you out. we work with boyds on a lot of projects.

andy

DEAR RAYLAR,
I don't think I have ever posted a reply such as this.... but I have to...

My builder is a professional with over 20 years experience & has built 6 other engines in boats for me. I cannot name all the other people he has built engines for & none have blown up yet. This is the 1st time I have had a problem with him or his engines.... but he has gotten a little "strange" acting the last few months so I no longer care to deal with him.

A lot of boaters (myself included) don't have unlimited budgets to buy engines from Raylar, Teague, Boost Power, etc. There is nothing I would like better than to have a $30-$40,000 pair of engines. So we do the best we can.... we buy the best parts we can......some times we win, sometimes we lose. But mostly we come out ok in the long run. I am working now with a consumate professional shop with a pristine reputation that has built thousands of marine as well as race engines. They are also the machine shop that has done all my machine work on these engines, which has never been the problem.... just the assembly work by my local guy.

While I have done a lot of business with OSO advertizers and have purchased a huge amount of parts from OSOer's on this site I have never had or seen anyone (especially an OSO sponsor/advertizer) come out critisizing an OSO member & his judgement on use of a particular local builder...... believe me there are tens of thousands of engines not built by Raylar, etc. that are running the lakes, rivers & oceans very day. I try to support our local dealers & suppliers when possible & I buy based on cost/benefit decisions & reputation.... not criticism of or by other builders. It is better to sell based on why you are better than why someone else is "worse" than you.
Thank you for the meaningless & less than helpful opinion.

and the dyno figures @ 5500 rpm are: 538 hp 563.3# torque