One Eyed Gator
Well-known member
New to airboating. Recently bought a 15' rivermaster w a 472 caddy motor push a72x38 LXL. carb is a 600 2b holley on a stock manifold w 1" of spacers/ adapters. It will turn-up 2800-2900 maxed out. Motor has a RV cam and pistons.
Airboating is awesome. I like the caddy motor.
The 1st two times out it run great, temp hit 200 ( clam no wind conditions, not running hard . The 3rd time out temp climb up to 240 (windy condition running in the gulf. I shut it down to let it cool off. Ran back and never got over 210. The water pump bearings had play and a small leak. I replaced the water pump with a stock pump (could someone recommend a better water pump). Tested it on the trailer never got above 180 and took forever to get there. 4th Trip ran most of the day in the gulf loaded ran ok, Kind a felt like it lost power, sounded different. At the end of the day it ran up to 240 ( loaded into the wind). Once at home I noticed that there was a 11/16" freeze plug at the top inside of the head that was rusted through. No water. confused .... should there be water there was no loss of coolant . I started boat and could feel what felt like head pressure. Installed new freeze plug.
Boat sounds good again, seems like the freeze plug screw-up up the engine vacuum.
At this point I am unsure what steps to take next.
1. What is the passage that the freeze plug covers. coolant or something else.
2. What heat sensor should been used a temp gauge, I was told that the stock one only worked an idiot light??
3. How can I check gauge??
4. Radiator is 23x21, is that enough capacity?
5. Who makes an engine oil cooler for a caddy and how does it install?
Any help would be greatly appreciate.
Airboating is awesome. I like the caddy motor.
The 1st two times out it run great, temp hit 200 ( clam no wind conditions, not running hard . The 3rd time out temp climb up to 240 (windy condition running in the gulf. I shut it down to let it cool off. Ran back and never got over 210. The water pump bearings had play and a small leak. I replaced the water pump with a stock pump (could someone recommend a better water pump). Tested it on the trailer never got above 180 and took forever to get there. 4th Trip ran most of the day in the gulf loaded ran ok, Kind a felt like it lost power, sounded different. At the end of the day it ran up to 240 ( loaded into the wind). Once at home I noticed that there was a 11/16" freeze plug at the top inside of the head that was rusted through. No water. confused .... should there be water there was no loss of coolant . I started boat and could feel what felt like head pressure. Installed new freeze plug.
Boat sounds good again, seems like the freeze plug screw-up up the engine vacuum.
At this point I am unsure what steps to take next.
1. What is the passage that the freeze plug covers. coolant or something else.
2. What heat sensor should been used a temp gauge, I was told that the stock one only worked an idiot light??
3. How can I check gauge??
4. Radiator is 23x21, is that enough capacity?
5. Who makes an engine oil cooler for a caddy and how does it install?
Any help would be greatly appreciate.
