Where to purchase crate motors?

[fund razor]

I think that if you really love Sunsations, then it makes a difference.

I certainly paid more than a "steal this boat" price for my Apache, but.... I divide that out over some years and call it the cost of having what I want, how I want it.

 

[dockrocker]

Go with a single - I believe it has been done before

Or a pair of 502's

I think your best bet will be a set of low hour take-outs, based on budget. Hard to get a pair of new motors for what you can spend.

 

[Wobble]

I think a thirty two would be fine with a pair of small blocks. I not sure if the weight is comparable, but a friend had a 31 scarab with twin scorpions and that boat ran upper seventies. It had good acceleration also.

Bam marine offers them at good discount off the prices listed here http://www.mercruiserparts.com/mercruiser_gas_sterndrive_engine.asp

 

[MattBMiller]

Go with a single - I believe it has been done before

Or a pair of 502's

I think your best bet will be a set of low hour take-outs, based on budget. Hard to get a pair of new motors for what you can spend.

The 32 singles are no fun around the docks, especially in the wind. The boat is already rigged for twins. BBC's are the way to go.

 

[Sutphil]

Michigan Motorz is close to you and sells a nice Vortec 6.0l that looks to make nice hp and torque with closed cooling and fuel injection. Maybe they could provide you with some references.

http://www.michiganmotorz.com/6.0L+Complete+Engine+Package+FUEL+INJECTION+(INBOARDS+and+Sterndrive)

 

[Wobble]

Michigan Motorz is close to you and sells a nice Vortec 6.0l that looks to make nice hp and torque with closed cooling and fuel injection. Maybe they could provide you with some references.

http://www.michiganmotorz.com/6.0L+Complete+Engine+Package+FUEL+INJECTION+(INBOARDS+and+Sterndrive)

That looks like a smoking deal for a turnkey package.

 

[Knot 4 Me]

Which 32 are they going in? Waterboy's old boat?

 

[Sunsation96]

Well I learned the boat has no drives or motors, so that is a no go on the deal for me and the price once you put the power in the boat would be higher than to purchase a complete turn key boat the same year. I would like to thank everyone for thier help. Thanks again SOS. May the boat search continue on....

 

[Sunsation96]

Which 32 are they going in? Waterboy's old boat?

Not Waterboy's boat, just a newer 32'

 

[fund razor]

Well I learned the boat has no drives or motors, so that is a no go on the deal for me and the price once you put the power in the boat would be higher than to purchase a complete turn key boat the same year. I would like to thank everyone for thier help. Thanks again SOS. May the boat search continue on....

So... would your search be Sunsation only, or would you consider anything else?

 

[Magic Medicine]

So... would your search be Sunsation only, or would you consider anything else?

Once you've owned a Sunsation is hard to go anywhere else, because of the customer service. Johnny lives very close the factory so I am sure that is in the back of his mind

 

[Sunsation96]

Once you've owned a Sunsation is hard to go anywhere else, because of the customer service. Johnny lives very close the factory so I am sure that is in the back of his mind

Magic is 100% correct, I would not say that I don't look at other boat builders but as of right now I would not emagine owning anything else than a Sunsation no offense to others at all. Customer service is beyond great:26:They are local to me which is good for me and bad for them:rofl:Alot of people where I live are employed there and friends of mine too:26:They build a great boat that is fast and fuel efficent hull, that others need big power to run the same speeds of a Sunsation. The owners of Sunsation talk to me at the same level as the guy that just purchased a $800,000.00 boat there is alot to be said about that. This post is no way to turn into who builds the best boat. These are my thoughts of why I will only own a Sunsation Boat. Unless MTI/MYSTIC is in my future which I would switch real quick sorry Sunsation:rofl:

 

[fund razor]

Magic is 100% correct, I would not say that I don't look at other boat builders but as of right now I would not emagine owning anything else than a Sunsation no offense to others at all. Customer service is beyond great:26:They are local to me which is good for me and bad for them:rofl:Alot of people where I live are employed there and friends of mine too:26:They build a great boat that is fast and fuel efficent hull, that others need big power to run the same speeds of a Sunsation. The owners of Sunsation talk to me at the same level as the guy that just purchased a $800,000.00 boat there is alot to be said about that. This post is no way to turn into who builds the best boat. These are my thoughts of why I will only own a Sunsation Boat. Unless MTI/MYSTIC is in my future which I would switch real quick sorry Sunsation:rofl:

Great service goes a long way when it comes to loyalty. Being local is a big plus too. I just had the feeling that you wanted to stick with them. That's why I asked.
Good luck with the hunt.

 

[Sunsation96]

Great service goes a long way when it comes to loyalty. Being local is a big plus too. I just had the feeling that you wanted to stick with them. That's why I asked.
Good luck with the hunt.

Thanks for the Help Fund Razor, don't get me wrong with all the great deals out there I look at everything and anything. But another issue is the price I have a budget in mind of what my wife and I would like to spend and the Sunsations have been in my year range that I would like and the size for the dolloar amount. Cig's are awesome but the prices are out of my "wife wants kids budget":rofl::willy_nilly: I thought to my self 32' that is just right but then I look at Cig's and others and think wow that would be sweet. After all this is a buyer's market and I am approved and ready just waiting for the right deal to come up.

 

[2112]

marine engines are "looser" for lack of a better term...more like enduro engines..... a little more piston to wall and healthier ring gaps, even bearing clearance can be higher, they're not all equal. in terms of parts such as the block, yeah, same stuff...

I've seen many a car engine blow up in boats

More bearing clearance? I know that the valve guides need to be loosened up.

I have posed this question before; If you have closed cooling, what difference would there really be between a marine and endurance circle track/Baja motor?

I will concede that cam profiles and marine specific oil pans are a given but what else should be different?

I just don't buy the argument that a quality car engine builder is not capable of building a custom boat motor.
.

 

[Geronimo36]

More bearing clearance? I know that the valve guides need to be loosened up.

I have posed this question before; If you have closed cooling, what difference would there really be between a marine and endurance circle track/Baja motor?

I will concede that cam profiles and marine specific oil pans are a given but what else should be different?

I just don't buy the argument that a quality car engine builder is not capable of building a custom boat motor.
.

In a lot of cases yes.. it's not 1:1.

Run tight bearing clearances in a boat, chances are it wont last long.

An engine builder who can build a good car engine can also build a good boat engine so long as they are educated on the differences, proper clearances and what to look out for. I'm sure they can do just as well... It's not rocket science, it's just knowing the differences. another example is copper head gaskets...the car guys love em in blown or turbo'ed apps but in the marine environment they leak water... I've seen it and learned the hard way... Only good copper head gasket in the marine environment has graphite inserts around the water passages and those are custom.. Car guys also like to run tight ring clearances and in a boat you'll have butting of the rings cause they run more load and generate more heat. Unfortunately a lot of car guys don't know the differences and that's why I urge most to stay away....

I wouldn't take a Porche to a Chevy guy.


PS, a lot of car guys were turned marine guys... Richie Zul is a good example... I believe Gellner is the same..

 

[2112]

Let's get more specific on bearing clearances as I agree on the examples you listed. I have been running .003" for 18 years and to my knowledge, that is what the roundy round guys run too. Say it is too tight, how about switching to a lighter viscosity synthetic oil to compensate? For the first 7-8 years I ran mineral oil now I run high viscosity top dawg synthetics....same clearances. When I do have a problem, it is usually related to fuel or big valve train pieces spinning high rpm for long periods of time.

BTW. I just had some new top of the line Diamond pistons made up. They specifically stated .006" for closed cooling, .009-.010" for raw water cooling. I can tell you that in my experience the loose piston to wall causes a lot of crankcase pressure blowing a lot of oil out the breathers.
.

 

[Geronimo36]

.003 isn't too tight for a BBC, you can even go .0025 but no tighter than that. #5 should be more though (0035 - .004). Rods should be .0025 - .0035.

As far as closed cooling, if you're running closed cooling in a boat it's typically set up for 160-180 degrees. A closed cooling car engine is usually higher, so now you have a potential problem. The looser piston is better for sustained high rpm/load.

But don't rely on all that I say, just ask the experts like Zul, JC, Gellner, Eikert, Chief, Randy @ Cobra etc etc for verification.

 

[2112]

But don't rely on all that I say, just ask the experts like Zul, JC, Gellner, Eikert, Chief, Randy @ Cobra etc etc for verification.

I am not arguing with you, I just want to get to the bottom of this. Just stating some of my own experiences. You are the first one to engage me on this subject matter to any degree. I have posed the question many times over the years with no real response.:USA:

It always kind of bugged me when someone stated that you can't be a automotive builder and a marine builder.
.

 

[Geronimo36]

That's cool! Unfortunately most don't know the actual differences so my guess is that's why they don't talk about it and the builders don't want to give the house away.

To me, a good builder is a good builder!! I just think the important thing is being educated on the differences and knowing what to expect and look for so if you got that half you should be good to go!