Hey guys. I'm thinking of making some changes in boating. I am considering this Liberator 201. I can get a SMOKING deal on the boat. It has some hull rot here and there, nothing major. Just the transom and stringers and interior are shot. But, I have a unlimited supply of plywood scraps, as a buddy works for the local lumber yard. other than that, the boat just needs some TLC. There was a small fire under the dash, too. Anyhow, as it sits, the engine is locked up (boat been left out in the rain uncovered since 1992). Which is ok, because i am highly talented in rebuilding engines and woodworking, and should be good to go there. Here is what I would like to build for power.

Reuse the stock cast crankshaft. It will need to be cut 40/30, but I am not rich, and buying a new crank is not in the budget.

Reuse the stock 3/8 GM rods. They look to be in good shape, along with the bolts after i soak them in marvel mystery oil for a few weeks. I am not rich, so new rods are not in the budget.

The pistons are gonna need to be replaced. I will be going with some used ones out of my buddys 454 truck engine. I am not rich, so new pistons are not in the budget.

That should take care of the bottom ends. I think they will hold up to 6000RPM, or so I have heard. Which brings me to the good stuff.

I Found a used flat tappet cam and lifter set on ebay. The cam is a 194/203, with .398 lift. I plan to retard it 2 degrees, for a little more top end. I am not rich, new cams are not in the budget.

I am going to keep the peanut butter port heads. I have seen, i mean heard, they can support 700HP. Probably just derust them and throw a couple shims under the stock valvesprings, since i plan to turn about 6000 wot. I am not rich, new heads are not in the budget.

Which brings me to my question. I am in a real pickle here. I am really undecided on which route to go for an intake manifold. I have seen, i mean heard, that a dual plane will be the way to go, as long as i am under 7250RPM. Just not sure. Either that, or my buddy has a single plane weiand intake that he would give me if i mow his lawn. I am not rich, so new intakes are not in the budget.

If you guys can give some thoughts on this, I'd really appreciate it. By the way, my total budget for this build is 672 dollars. I would like to show everyone you dont need to be a spoon fed rich boy to make some BIG horsepower. Which, btw I am shooting for 650-700HP on this build. Keep in mind, I am looking low end TORQUE and MIDRANGE punch. I think when i am all done, I'm gonna be embarrassing quite a few of you big shots with your Fountains and Cigarettes, especially when it gets rough. The liberators are a deep vee. Any thoughts?

funny, but if you saw the insides of my jet boat engine, it is not far from what you described. I didnt want to have any money in it in case I sink it. (it gets rode hard) I have about $400 in the whole engine including buying it and several cylinders have rust pits big enough to feel with your finger but the stupid thing keeps running so I keep trying to kill it. of course I should have tried the peanut ports as my oval ports are only turning 5000 so I must have picked the wrong combo.

I am mocking up an efi conversion. What do you think?

I say use the intake and carb you already have. I'd rather c you out possibly floating/ sinking around. Save your money on parts I have a 25 gallon drum of nitro methane and a 55 of alcohol ill donate to the project as long as I can video the maiden voyage. I think a 25% mix and and 80 degrees of timing might get the old girl moving. I say weld some material to the tops of the pistons to get the compression up and just j&b weld the heads to the block to.

Great idea!! I was gonna fill in the valve notches with JB weld at minimum. Maybe I should try milling the heads at the lumber yard where my buddy works. I think they have a planer there.

Tie a ski rope to your truck strap each head to your buddies feet pull him down the road. Once you get the heads close to where you want find a nice concrete highway and pull your buddy 100mph+ for about 10 miles and the finish will be perfect.

What do you think about a belt sander with some 60 grit emery cloth? I dont plan on using MLS head gaskets.

im not sure if i would go with the libetator 20,i like you am not rich so for your money u can get a better boat.a few oso members have better,faster hull,s that can be bought cheeper.one is a trovar that the owner is building a bad azz 496 for.he is not rich so he went with a cast crank because the forged unit cost to much and is not needed.if i remember correctly it had a rotted transom but he is repairing it.the engine should be done in the early part of 2016 and it no doubt will be a bad azz boat.the other project boat is also owned by a fella who is not rich but he did remove the origional 6 cyl engine and replaced with a bad azz 350 he built that runs strong to 7500 rpm and is really fast due to the bigger lower unit.all this just prooves that all them rich guys with the cigar boats dont know shiit about making boats fast.i am not rich so i will be in the market for a late70s or early 80s bayliner with a 6 cyl engine in it,im going to have this engine builder from texas do his MAGIC to it .see you on the water!

I didn't know you had money for sand paper I was trying to stay within budget...